Technical staff of partner organisations coming from four countries have held working meetings, visits to disability centres, exchange of experiences, etc. for a week in Seville. All of this is part of the Sharing Experiences against Exclusion and Discrimination (SEED) project, co-financed by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union.
The purpose of this program is to exchange good practices between the partner countries, in order to produce a summary document of the conclusions that can be disseminated and be useful for employment or education professionals who advise, support and assist young people with disabilities between 16 and 30 years old.
Along the scheduled activities, the technician for European programs at COCEMFE Seville, Encarnación Barrera, introduced the reality of disability in Spain to the project partners, training them on the main regulations for disabilities in the country, as well as inclusive education and employment. Specifically, she exposed what the LOMLOE Law means for the education of minors with disabilities in Spain and universal design in learning. He also highlighted employment figures such as the fact that in Spain only 1 in 4 people with disabilities have a job, as well as the fact that more than half of unemployed young people with disabilities have never worked and are currently looking for their first job opportunity in a market in crisis. For their part, the Federation’s employment advisors have presented some of the programs developed by the entity, such as: Sevilla Integra, Capable Youth and Professional Guidance and Accompaniment to Insertion (Andalucia Orienta).
The coordinator of accessibility of the entity has exposed the lines of participation of COCEMFE Sevilla with the different administrations, as well as the methodology followed in awareness-raising sessions on universal accessibility.
The social manager of the Federation has addressed the work in terms of social care regarding people with disabilities and associated entities, tools, promotion of associations, projects and needs of the group.
The person in charge of education explained the work carried out in this area, referring to support for students with special educational needs due to disability through Information and Communication Technologies.
Likewise, the partners have learned about the work of the Office for Independent Living (OVI) developed by the Federation, and which includes personal assistance as a human right.
In addition, COCEMFE Sevilla’s leisure and volunteer coordinator has highlighted the need to develop inclusive free time activities, where people with and without disabilities share spaces and times under equal conditions, to contribute to greater visibility of the group.
Likewise, the partners had the opportunity to exchange impressions with young participants of these programs, highlighting motivation, the development of social networks and improvement of skills for teamwork.
On the other hand, the European partners have made several visits and learned about the work of other entities, including the Andalusian Youth Institute, where they learned about its lines of action; Autism Seville, Equitea, Sevillian Spina Bifida Association (ASEB) and Fundación Rocío de Triana Occupational Center.
The Coria del Río City Council was also visited, where the delegations were received by the Mayor, Modesto González, and the Councilor for Social Welfare, the Elderly, Education and Equality, M José Cantón, who underlined the importance of this type of action to create alliances that give visibility and achieve the total inclusion of young people with disabilities, as well as the intention of including them in citizen participation forums. In addition, they have learned about the work carried out by the CEPER Riberas del Guadalquivir, Adult Education Center, where a group of young people with functional diversity prepares to improve their professional future and insertion in the labour market. For their part, adult teacher Teresa Cuenda explained the work with these young people, who presented their experiences highlighting their integration into the social life of the town.
During the week’s itinerary, tourist routes have been carried out on the historical roots of Coria del Río and the Archivo de Indias.