all across Europe
European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities
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EASPD is the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities and represents over 20,000 support services for persons with disabilities across Europe.
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We promote equal opportunities for people with disabilities through effective and high-quality service systems.
Key areas of work
areas of work
Education
areas of work
Employment
areas of work
Inclusive Living
areas of work
Technology
areas of work
Early Childhood Intervention
areas of work
Arts and Culture
areas of work
Workforce Development
areas of work
Funding of Social Services
We must take concrete steps to transform services into person-centered models that empower individuals, while positioning service providers as key drivers of this shift toward a human rights-based approach.
Kirsi Konola, EASPD President
Enhancing communication skills for children and adolescents with intellectual developmental difficulties
Communication skills enable us to express our thoughts, understand others and navigate social interactions effectively. These skills are fundamental for learning, excelling in the workplace, interacting with others, and forming meaningful relationships, thereby promoting inclusion in the community. However, young people with moderate to mild Intellectual Developmental Difficulties (IDD) often face additional challenges in acquiring these skills, which can negatively impact their social inclusion, educational and employment opportunities, and independence.
The COM-IN project has aimed to support youth with IDD between the ages of 10-25 to acquire communication skills that can help them to develop relationships and engage in different social contexts. Together the COM-IN partnership has developed a range of training materials for and to be used by professionals working with young people with IDD.
As the Erasmus+ project comes to an end the COM-IN partners invite professionals working with young people to join them for their closing conference. The event will:
- Equip professionals with knowledge of the communication needs of young people with IDD to promote their inclusion in the community.
- Increase the skills of professionals to be able to deliver communication-related training to young people with IDD.
- Provide resources that can be used by professionals when working with young people with IDD.
This event will take place in person between 13h15-16h00 on Wednesday 16 October at the Royal Olympic Hotel, Athens. Register to participate in person here.
The event will also be streamed online between 14h00-16h00 EEST. Register to participate online here.
Agenda
13h15 | Networking Lunch |
14h00 | Welcome and Introduction
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14h15 | Workshop 1: Supporting the development of Social Communicative Abilities with young people with intellectual developmental disabilities This practical workshop will introduce participants to some tools and resources that they can use when working with young people with intellectual developmental disabilities to promote the development of their communication skills.
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15h00 | Workshop 2: Professional approaches to communication training This workshop will introduce participants to COM IN's online training and will explore the role of professionals working with young people with intellectual developmental disabilities via a series of practical case studies.
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15h45 | Conclusions
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16h00 | End of Event |
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With a focus on innovation, best practices, and the crucial role of services, the forum sought to connect European and Italian perspectives.
- Have we made social progress across the EU?
EASPD's Policy Team has developed a comprehensive summary of the key findings from the 2024 European Semester Country Reports.
- Who will succeed as EU Commissioner?
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Calendar
Enhancing communication skills for children and adolescents with intellectual developmental difficulties
Communication skills enable us to express our thoughts, understand others and navigate social interactions effectively. These skills are fundamental for learning, excelling in the workplace, interacting with others, and forming meaningful relationships, thereby promoting inclusion in the community. However, young people with moderate to mild Intellectual Developmental Difficulties (IDD) often face additional challenges in acquiring these skills, which can negatively impact their social inclusion, educational and employment opportunities, and independence.
The COM-IN project has aimed to support youth with IDD between the ages of 10-25 to acquire communication skills that can help them to develop relationships and engage in different social contexts. Together the COM-IN partnership has developed a range of training materials for and to be used by professionals working with young people with IDD.
As the Erasmus+ project comes to an end the COM-IN partners invite professionals working with young people to join them for their closing conference. The event will:
- Equip professionals with knowledge of the communication needs of young people with IDD to promote their inclusion in the community.
- Increase the skills of professionals to be able to deliver communication-related training to young people with IDD.
- Provide resources that can be used by professionals when working with young people with IDD.
This event will take place in person between 13h15-16h00 on Wednesday 16 October at the Royal Olympic Hotel, Athens. Register to participate in person here.
The event will also be streamed online between 14h00-16h00 EEST. Register to participate online here.
Agenda
13h15 | Networking Lunch |
14h00 | Welcome and Introduction
|
14h15 | Workshop 1: Supporting the development of Social Communicative Abilities with young people with intellectual developmental disabilities This practical workshop will introduce participants to some tools and resources that they can use when working with young people with intellectual developmental disabilities to promote the development of their communication skills.
|
15h00 | Workshop 2: Professional approaches to communication training This workshop will introduce participants to COM IN's online training and will explore the role of professionals working with young people with intellectual developmental disabilities via a series of practical case studies.
|
15h45 | Conclusions
|
16h00 | End of Event |