Pathways towards Inclusion – Transitions from Sheltered Employment for People with Intellectual Disabilities into the Regular Labour Market: Identification, Dissemination and Implementation of Good Practice in Europe

By implementing the Include3 project we wanted to achieve four core objectives. Objective 1: “Include³” Method A key goal was to develop and pilot the Include³ method—an inclusive, co-productive ...

By implementing the Include3 project we wanted to achieve four core objectives. Objective 1: “Include³” Method A key goal was to develop and pilot the Include³ method—an inclusive, co-productive approach where counsellors, employers, VET specialists, and people with intellectual disabilities collaboratively align training content with market demands. Objective 2: Curriculum The project aimed to create a curriculum and educational resources that connect vocational education and training (VET) in sheltered workshops with individual strengths and aspirations of people with disabilities and real labour market needs. Objective 3: Piloting A third objective was the piloting of the curriculum, didactical resources and the Include3-method for generating practical insights and validating its adaptability. Supporting materials for course leaders and participants were produced to enable wider transferability. Objective 4: Webportal An interactive web portal was established as a one-stop platform for all project outputs, ensuring open access, sustainability, and continuous professional exchange.

The project was implemented through five interlinked work packages ensuring coherent progression from research to dissemination. In WP2, partners conducted desk research on the situation of sheltered workshops and transitions to the open labour market in all partner countries. Good practice examples were identified, summarised in national and transnational reports, and presented through explanatory videos and podcasts. Policy recommendations and guidance documents were developed and shared in multiplier events. In WP3 we moderated focus group discussions with key target groups. The results informed the creation of the Include3 Method, guidelines and a learning nugget. Outcomes were validated during community engagement events. Based on WP3 results, WP4 developed and piloted the curriculum and self-learning module. Partners created scripts, videos and learning materials, implemented pilots in three countries, and evaluated results in a report and implementation guidelines. Based on project results we conducted final events in Brussels. WP5 supported all activities through effective dissemination: branding, website and blog development, social media and regular communication outputs ensuring broad visibility.

The project produced a set of concrete and sustainable outputs. The main output of the project was the Include³ Method, developed together with a curriculum and comprehensive learning materials. The method provides a structured four-phase counselling approach—orientation, testing, decision-making, and reflection—to support transitions from sheltered workshops to the open labour market. Supporting outputs included a self-learning module and explanatory video, enabling independent use and sustainable transfer. The method and curriculum were grounded in the evidence base of WP2 and WP3, including the transnational report, focus group analyses, podcasts, and good practice videos, which informed the methodological guidelines. Through piloting in three countries, the curriculum was refined and validated, resulting in an evaluation report and implementation guidelines to facilitate further adoption. Podcasts with pilot experiences enhanced accessibility and dissemination. Dissemination was ensured through the web portal, blog, and social media channels, complemented by dissemination events. Additional results included stronger professional networks and an improved European dialogue on inclusion and transition counselling.