Create Future: Creating support models for participation in future work lifePeople with special needs and disadvantaged do face far fewer options for employment than non-disabled candidates. Fewer than 1 in 2 disabled adults were in employment in the EU28 in 2011 and almost a third at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2013 (Eurostat Dec 14). For example across the UK only 6% of young people with learning difficulties are in employment, and according to Disability Rights employees with disabilities earn nearly £1 an hour less than non-disabled workers.Thus new networks, more sharing of experience and involving the end users to the development is needed for example to avoid the prejudices regarding people with disabilities ability to work productively. At this project we will create a diversity toolkit for employers and train the support workers/ career guidance professionals with the latest tools, so that they can support both their clients and the employers they work with. To complete these objectives we are going to implement and develop: •Collaboration model of user-centered design prosess•Toolkit for diversity training for employers •Multidisciplinary cooperation to support diversity At this project we will create a diversity toolkit for employers and train the support workers/ career guidance professionals with the latest tool, so that they can support both their clients and the employers they work with.The main objective of the project is to train support workers/career advisors who support people with special needs or disadvantaged with the latest coaching models tools which have the most impact with regard to career progression and problem solving. In one hand, support workers often face a lot of pressure with regard to the variables faced in the workplace such as the discrimination that still prevails against special needs workers and the pressure they have as career professionals to meet specific work placement targets. On the other hand, there is a need to find the latest tools in coaching to support special needs workers to gain their confidence and improve their self- efficacy. The project will invest in a multi professional cooperation between education and support services as well as companies and working life representatives to develop meaningful interventions in coaching tools in the field of career guidance. This transnational partnership brings a multidisciplinary approach to coaching and will be able to develop methods and tools for the professional development of coaches; for the employers to use for the workers and clients with special needs. A Diversity handbook for Employers will also be developed to provide them with all the necessary tools and guidance to address their needs while employing disabled workers.The Learning training and teaching activities will allow the partners to get to know and understand better the delivery of interventions at special centres who support people with special needs and disadvantaged employability across Europe and bring back home best practices to later apply such practices in their career guidance. The project will have a clear impact in the knowledge and development of skills amongst the staff and clients of partner organisations dealing with employment of people with special needs or disadvantaged. In particular, the project will develop 3 main coaching models and training programmes using: Neurolinguistic Programming; Strengths Based Coaching and Mentoring Circles to equip the staff to use practical tools to support their clients in their transition from unemployment to employment. These models will be used in current housing and day services, both in individual and group situations in order to ensure that there will be a bridge to support disabled workers to achieve and create a better and more promising future working life.

The priority of our project is based on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Countries should ensure that persons with disabilities have their fundamental right to live at the same level as others. The transition from childhood to adulthood is one of the key changes in personal life because it has a great impact on the life of person and the life of his family. The main goal of life long education of persons with disabilities is:1. Social education - Social rehabilitation - support of self-reliance, independence, self-sufficiency, through development and training of abilities, strengthening habits related to self-reliance and basic social activities,2. Work education - Work therapy - developing work habits and skills related to work and spare time activities under professional supervision with the aim to maintain or develop physical and mental skills and to integrate the client into society,3. Cognitive education - Alternative communication, aid with expressing the clients’ thoughts, exploring the world, time perception, memory work. Project team members are working with young people and adults, supporting and helping them to become more independent. They are trying to find better approaches to lifelong learning through alternative methodologies and ways to engage parents in this process. Furthermore, the project team members are trying to work with other institutions, and therefore share experiences with other professionals. Each country has different experiences with alternative methodologies in lifelong education , therefore it is very important for them to meet transnationally. Participants are employees of special schools, social institutions, sheltered workshops with years of experiences, who work in direct contact with young people and adults every day. They are engaged in day-to-day training and participating on creating their own individual plan that respects their needs. Quality of education is conditioned with quality professional training of educators. The main outcome of the project will be the recommendation of alternative methodologies: art-therapy, music therapy, ergo-therapy, hydrotherapy, hippo-therapy and alternative communication, supporting the development of gross and fine motor skills and cognitive functions. New innovative learning processes will help improve the quality of education for people with disabilities - helping them to be independent and being part of the community - social inclusion.Getting new approaches and learning processes will help improve the quality of lifelong education by the standards of each organization and strategy of the European Union that aims to improve the position of people with disabilities in society. We expect participants to introduce and bring new innovative methods and practices in the field of education for people with disabilities, bring the flexibility of teachers' thinking, especially in the search for new ways of education and problem solving. Willing to cooperate and share new insights through internal seminars in partner ´s countries and online material that will be offered to the professionals , families and lay public. Our on-line material with recommendations for alternative methodologies in education will be available on each partner organization´s website for free.