Education as a Bridge to Inclusive Work - Erasmus + Perspective project is the best practice

How can education really open doors to inclusive employment? The Erasmus+ project Perspective shows that it’s not enough to tick boxes or meet generic standards. Real impact happens when learning environments adapt to the people in them.

We focused on vocational education and talked to the real experts: autistic learners, educators, and company reps. One 21-year-old graphic design student told us: “I don’t feel like I’m learning how to work. I feel like I’m learning how to disappear.” Every day she was masking sensitivities, avoiding eye contact, and pretending she understood vague instructions. She wasn’t failing; the system wasn’t designed for her.

Perspective demonstrates a methodology for social impact projects: start with listening, observe real needs, involve stakeholders, and co-create solutions. Small adjustments—like flexible timing, alternative ways to respond, mentors trained in neurodiversity—don’t just help autistic students. They change how workplaces and education systems function for everyone.

For project managers, the lesson is clear: social innovation isn’t just about ideas. It’s about structured engagement, iterative learning, and building bridges between people and institutions. That’s how inclusion moves from theory to practice.

Check out the short film to see this approach in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y8xyrJ37B8&t=7s

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#SocialImpact#Inclusion#VocationalEducation#Neurodiversity

Evgenia ZavelaFounder of MIRA