In recognition of this year’s World Autism Awareness Day, taking place on April 2nd, 2025, we proudly reaffirm our commitment as active ambassadors and devoted supporters of individuals on the autism spectrum.
At STANDOUTEDU, we believe that awareness must be followed by action. Over the past year, we have made significant strides in promoting inclusion, accessibility, and empowerment for neurodivergent individuals. These achievements reflect not only our dedication to the cause but also the passion and hard work of our team, partners, and community. From launching inclusive educational initiatives to supporting research and community engagement, we are proud of the milestones we’ve reached—and equally motivated by the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Our efforts align seamlessly with our overarching mission:
To give education a new dimension through innovative programs and instructional practices, and to promote leading-edge research that contributes to the betterment of education in today’s complex global environment.
World Autism Awareness Day serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of creating learning environments where everyone—regardless of neurological makeup—feels seen, supported, and valued. As we continue our journey, we stand united with the global autism community, advocating for a world that embraces diversity and champions every individual’s right to thrive.
Over the past year, we successfully completed and delivered three Erasmus+ projects, co-funded by the European Union, each aimed at educating key target groups such as teachers, trainers, individuals on the autism spectrum, and VET trainers. We currently run another two and submitted 3 for grand award.
All project results are publicly available online through both our official website and the respective project websites. These outcomes have been widely disseminated through our stakeholder networks, associate and international partners, as well as via national awareness campaigns.
Here are some of our proud achievements!
New alliances and collaborations:
In 2025, we are proud to announce the formation of new alliances, including a strategic collaboration with the Cyprus Autism Association. This partnership marks an important step forward in our shared mission to support individuals on the autism spectrum through inclusive education, advocacy, and community engagement.
Attendance and participation in Conferences:
A few months ago, we had the pleasure of attending the Cyprus International Autism Conference, a three-day event that formed part of the 9th BIAC International Autism Conference.
Hosted by Autism Support Famagusta NGO and endorsed by the World Autism Organization, the conference brought together leading experts, practitioners, and stakeholders from around the world to explore the multifaceted nature of autism.
Alongside renowned speakers, we participated in thought-provoking discussions on key topics such as managing autism-related challenges, the intersection of autism and gender dysphoria, sports integration, and evidence-based strategies for enhancing support systems.
Trainings on Autism and Inclusion:
As a certified VET centre, we proudly facilitate a variety of training programmes under Erasmus+ mobility actions and other EU-funded initiatives. These include KA1 trainings, such as Differentiated Instruction for Special Education Students and Game-Based Learning in Education, which aim to equip educators with inclusive and innovative teaching strategies.
We also host Learning, Teaching, and Training Activities (LTTAs), where trainers and educators from across Europe visit our premises to engage in hands-on training. One of our recent highlights was a programme focused on Music Interventions in the Classroom, designed to promote the development of soft skills in students on the autism spectrum through creative and interactive music methodologies.
Successfully completed and recognized as best practice projects
ABC’S OF Autism: Mobilising Diverse Approaches to Training ASD Professionals
A project led by STANDOUTEDU in its role as the applicant organisation, this initiative is dedicated to developing an innovative and comprehensive handbook for VET trainers, focusing on the education and support of individuals on the autism spectrum.
The project draws on a wide range of established principles, methodologies, and interventions found in leading autism-related training and educational materials. Its goal is to equip VET (Vocational Education and Training) professionals with practical tools, evidence-based strategies, and inclusive practices to better understand, engage with, and support learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in diverse educational and training settings.
By bridging research with real-world application, the ABC’s of Autism project aims to foster more inclusive vocational education environments, enhance professional capacity, and ultimately contribute to the social and educational inclusion of individuals with ASD. The project was also awarded as best practice.
GAMESS: Games For Students With Autism As An Effective Methodology In Education For The Development Of Social Skills.
The GAMESS project focuses on game-based learning as an innovative teaching method that empowers educators to foster the social inclusion of autistic students within diverse, mainstream classroom settings.
As part of the project, a booklet of classroom group games has been developed to serve as both a practical guide and training material for primary school teachers. These carefully designed games aim to support the development of social skills not only in autistic children but also in their neurotypical peers – creating a more inclusive, interactive, and supportive classroom environment. By engaging all children in shared activities, the project promotes meaningful interaction and mutual understanding, ultimately facilitating the smoother integration of autistic students into mainstream education.
Additionally, the project includes the creation of a Virtual Reality (VR) game tailored to support the development of social skills in children on the autism spectrum, offering an immersive and accessible learning experience.
TIPS: A Parent Training On Using the Teaching Interactions Procedure through Digital Tools to Teach Social Skills to Their Children with Autism.
TIPS project aims to train parents of autistic children on how to teach social and life skills to their children. The project has developed a Digital Game and Digital Interactive comic strips in order to improve the social skills of autistic children.
The project is based on TIP (teaching interaction procedure), and its main goal is to train families as it is important for autistic kids to learn such skills from an early age.
Ongoing Projects to Be Delivered in 2025:
We are currently implementing two active Erasmus+ projects, both scheduled for completion within this year. These projects continue our mission to promote inclusion, innovation, and high-quality education, with a particular focus on supporting diverse learner needs and professional development in the VET and broader educational sectors.
Houses4Autism: Supportive Houses as a Home Classroom for People with Autism to Build Their Independent Living
The Houses4Autism project develops the Houses4Autism Educational Toolkit, which includes a comprehensive Curriculum & Handbook and an innovative VR interactive game. This toolkit enhances the knowledge, skills, and key competencies of adult educators who train individuals with autism.
Through realistic simulations, the toolkit helps individuals with autism create supportive home environments and navigate everyday living situations, fostering their daily living skills. The goal is to enable these individuals to live independently, without relying on the support of parents, guardians, nurses, or carers.
AutisMusic: An Innovative Music Toolkit for Children with Autism to Improve Their Emotional, Motivational, Interpersonal and Social Responsiveness
The AutisMUSIC project aims to develop an educational toolkit for teachers’ trainers, supporting teachers in enhancing the emotional, motivational, interpersonal, and social responsiveness of children with autism through music interventions and practices, ultimately aiding their inclusion in mainstream classrooms.
Music, acknowledged as a powerful form of human expression, holds potential benefits for individuals facing physical, intellectual, or emotional challenges. Employing a ‘child-centred approach to learning,’ music interventions encompass singing, body percussion, playing diverse instruments, movement, dancing, and communication activities.
These methodologies are tailored to aid children with developmental delays and disabilities, fostering their growth and integration within educational settings.
New Ideas and Projects in 2025
As we move forward into 2025, our research and proposal development team has already submitted five new project proposals under the Erasmus+ programme and other European funding frameworks. These proposals aim to tackle emerging educational challenges, champion diversity, and apply forward-thinking approaches across various learning environments. We are eager to bring these ideas to life through transformative initiatives and meaningful partnerships.
At STANDOUTEDU, we take pride in our growing portfolio of completed and ongoing Erasmus+ projects, our strategic collaborations, and our active role in international dialogues. These efforts not only reinforce our leadership in autism education but also highlight our broader commitment to inclusive, high-quality learning for all.
Looking ahead, we are excited to continue building on this momentum—forging new alliances, developing impactful resources, and empowering professionals across Europe with tools that support every learner’s potential. Together with our partners, we will keep challenging barriers, embracing diversity, and shaping a more inclusive and equitable future in education.
Zoi Toutountzidou
Project Manager
