INDIVERSO - Inclusive diverse solutions for VET

Better job opportunities for people with mental impairments and challenging behaviours – this goal was pursued by the European project partnership as part of the “INDIVERSO” project.Education and vocational training for young people with mental impairments is linked with barriers and risks of exclusion. In vocational training the number of people with mental impairments has increased considerably. This is challenging for instructors and teachers who, to date, have not had any sufficient repertoire of actions or received tailored support. Previous educational and developmental concepts frequently failed to meet the needs of this target group because they were geared towards general disability categories and assumed typical deficits.Educational, advisory and support offers of vocational training were developed in the project, which satisfied the individual needs of young people with mental impairments and all people involved in this process. In doing so, focus was placed on providing strategies and solutions for the successful, inclusive vocational training of trainees with disabilities and impairments.Eleven project partners from seven European countries (Estonia, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom/Northern Ireland and Germany) analysed the needs and developed and tested the educational concept. The partnership is composed of a self-help association and institutes for vocational training as well as the University of Kassel for scientific back-up.In addition to pupils and trainees with mental impairments, the project is geared towards teachers and other specialists that are involved in the educational process and the professional integration of the target group. We look at the individual educational needs and learning conditions of each individual and do not refer to a specific disability or impairment. The educational offers can be used by all pupils and trainees as well as teachers and specialists and training organisations.The educational concept that was developed includes seven instruments that are subdivided into 17 modules due to their complexity and can be flexibly used:1. Support Services for trainees with mental impairmentsModule 1: Person driven planningModule 2: Psycho-motor approachModule 3: Creative situations to develop the communication / social skillsModule 4: Peer support2. Information and further training opportunities for pedagogical staffModule 1: Enabling pedagogical staffModule 2: Guidelines with practical aids for school, training and workModule 3: Developing the self-evaluation competences of staff3. Coaching - A coaching approach focused on preparing young people with mental impairments for the labour market4. Supervision and IntervisionModule 1: SupervisionModule 2: Intervision (peer group case advice in inclusive professional training) - A practical guideline for introduction and implementationModule 3: Moderator training for intervision5. Guidelines for prevention and crisis interventionModule 1: PreventionModule 2: Recognising the singn of crisesModule 3: Coping strategies6. Information and training offers for firmsModule 1: Training day for employersModule 2: Counseling and support for the employers7. NetworkingThe manuals on the instruments with guidelines, practices and recommendations are available online free of charge. In doing so, we are providing teachers and specialists of vocational training, self-help associations and people with mental impairments with material on educational guidance or vocational training. However, these offers cannot and are not intended to replace any medical or therapeutic treatments and therapies.This creates permanent educational, advisory and support structures. The project partners have anchored the educational concept into the information and service structures so that the target groups can use the offers and support in their everyday lives. The concept expands the job-related competences of the individuals with mental impairments. For teachers and other specialists, this helps achieve the sensitisation for an individual orientation towards the needs of the individual trainees as well as the mediation of professional competence. Training organisations receive information and concepts for the successful inclusions of people with mental impairments. The multi-professional collaboration of the different specialists and institutions in a regional network is of great importance for the INDIVERSO concept. It will ensure long-term success.