An ageing population makes it more urgent than ever to move towards inclusive workplaces. The ROADMAP ECA project finds inspiring examples in Reus.

In Spain, pension spending accounts for around 13% of GDP, a figure that continues to rise. With an increasingly older population, it is essential that everyone who is able to work, does so. Moving towards inclusive workplaces is not only a matter of fairness, but also of economic sustainability.

Against this backdrop, the European ROADMAP ECA project is working to create a guide for employers and colleagues who support young people with autism in the workplace. And it has found two examples to follow in Reus.

On 23, 24 and 25 March, representatives from Turkey —including the Governor of Eskişehir—, Romania and Austria visited Fundació Villablanca and the Special Employment Centre of Associació Taller Baix Camp. These organisations work within the social model of disability, which holds that barriers are not located within individuals but within the environment.

There they saw how small adjustments, clear communication, and ongoing support make it possible for people with disabilities and people with autism to work alongside their colleagues. The visit was organised by Let Her In International Network.

These experiences will help shape the training materials for ROADMAP ECA. The aim is to enable employers across Europe to apply these good practices in their own workplaces.