On September 28, over 200 teachers, educators working with autistic children, and parents who want to know more about different ways of supporting and including their children on the spectrum participated at the presentation of the TRAIN-ASD project at the University of Bucharest.
Partners from the University of Bucharest Ruxandra Folostina and Claudia Iuliana Iacob introduced the project and its main results so far to participants coming from 16 different Romanian counties, including Bucharest, Bihor, Timis, Iasi, Galati, Constanta, Valcea, Vrancea, Vaslui, Prahova, Olt, Giurgiu, Teleorman, Arges, Ilfov, Buzau and Tulcea. Participants’ attention increased insignificantly throughout the event and TRAIN-ASD partners drew their attention to the increased need for information regarding communication and integration of children on the autism spectrum in the classroom.
Some results of the project so far were presented at this event, including:
- The needs analysis undertaken in Belgium, Greece, and Romania regarding the training needs of the teachers and specialists from the multidisciplinary team in terms of developing communication and innovative pedagogical methods for children with autism;
- The creation of open educational resources (OER) courses for teachers, parents and other categories of specialist. The purpose of the training courses is to provide information and to create the skills needed to support children with autism integrated into inclusive schools.
The event was addressed, in particular, to teachers, educators who work with children with autism, but also to parents who want to know about different ways of supporting and integrating children with autism.
Train-ASD foresees three promotional events, two national events, and one final international conference in Brussels over its two-year lifespan.