The ASD-EAST project held its last transnational meeting from the 1 and 5 June 2020, gathering project partners from 5 different countries online to exchange the latest updates about the project and prepare the last results to be delivered. This meeting was due to take place in Brussels, Belgium but due to the COVID-19 outbreak partners decided to host the meeting virtually.

Since the beginning of the project in September 2018, pilot specialist teacher trainings have been held across Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Poland. The trainings aim at improving teacher’s skills in working with learners with autism. Trainings have a strong practical dimension to address the gaps identified by teachers. Out of 259 participants (57 from Croatia, 112 from the Republic of Macedonia and 90 from Poland), 91 percent said that they learned useful strategies they could put into practice straight away.

At the meeting, partners discussed the last steps of the project, including the evaluation of the quantitative and qualitative data collected throughout the project’s lifespan, preparations for the final conference, the finalisation of curriculum and training materials, the impact activity and the dissemination of the project. All project results and training materials will be made publically available on the project’s website.

An overview of the dissemination of the project undertaken over the last two years was presented and featured some figures which demonstrate the high level of interest raised by the project:

  • +2K stakeholders involved
  • +6K website users
  • +1500 subscribers to the quarterly newsletter
  • +300 followers on ASD-EAST social media channels

It calls for ensuring future sustainability of the project’s results and their wider use. Partners therefore also discussed what actions can be taken to ensure ongoing activity of the project within each partner country. They agreed to act as sustainability champions within their organisations and countries.

The ASD-EAST partners would like to thank everyone who has contributed to making the project a success!