At Ptuj Castle today, September 9, 2025, a contract was signed to start the project "Support for the employment of people with autism with equal access to digital education and training (STEP-AUT)", which will last until August 31, 2028.
The governing body of the Interreg Slovenia-Austria program is the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development of the Republic of Slovenia. The project will improve employment opportunities for people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and contribute to greater social inclusion in the cross-border area.
“The STEP-AUT project represents an important step towards understanding and including people with autism in work environments. Through training employers and preparing people with ASD, we aim to remove barriers that currently limit their employment,” says project leader Assoc. Prof. Dr. Polonca Serrano.
The goals of the STEP-AUT project are:
- to increase the number of employed people with ASD,
- to increase the number of employers trained to include people with ASD.
The project will include, among other things, research on current employment trends, employer training to break stereotypes, preparation of people with ASD for job interviews, and the development of a digital platform to connect employers and candidates.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Barbara Toplak Perovič, Secretary General of Alma Mater Europaea University, emphasized that “STEP-AUT is an example of cross-border cooperation that brings innovative solutions and lasting effects. The digital platform will serve long-term as a hub connecting employers and people with autism and promoting equal opportunities in the labor market.”
“With this project, we want to establish sustainable support mechanisms that will enable truly equal opportunities for all. We believe that STEP-AUT will contribute to greater social inclusion and better employment opportunities for people with autism,” adds Dr. Serrano.
Alma Mater Europaea University will collaborate within the project with partners: Šentprima – Institute for Rehabilitation and Education, Center for Assistance to Children and Parents Žalec, the company atempo BetriebsGesmbH, and the organization Jugend am Werk Steiermark GmbH.
