Project
From July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024

Ausiris: Socio-professional integration of young autistic adults through the agri-food industry

Context

Governmental and educational support, training, and mentoring programs for young autistic adults often become significantly less accessible after the age of 21. This project seeks to address this gap by exploring the agri-food sector as a promising environment for socio-professional integration. It brings together all relevant stakeholders in a co-design and participatory co-construction approach.

To initiate a dialogue on this issue, the Centre for Social Innovation in Agriculture (CISA) launched a co-creation process with two faculty members from the Specialized Education Techniques program at Cégep de Victoriaville, along with local and regional partners. The project's objectives were shaped following two workshops and individual consultations with key stakeholders, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the context.


DISCOVER OUR NEW PODCAST SERIES, "GRAVIR SA VIE - THE AUSIRIS PROJECT PODCAST," HIGHLIGHTING DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THIS INITIATIVE!

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Project Objectives

Could the agri-food sector provide an environment conducive to the socio-professional integration of young autistic adults? Through the implementation of tailored socio-professional integration scenarios, this action-research project aims to identify the key factors facilitating short- and medium-term integration in this context. By exploring agri-food tasks in diverse work settings, such as greenhouses, fields, retail businesses, family farms, and garden centers, the project supports seven autistic adults in identifying both challenges and opportunities for successful employment integration in the agri-food sector.

The ultimate goal is the co-construction of a socio-professional integration framework that aligns with the needs of autistic individuals and the realities of workplaces, fostering meaningful employment opportunities in the agri-food sector.