Access+EU
ACCESS+EU
Access+EU is a Strategic Partnership project under Erasmus+ in which ELA is a partner.
The project aims to better include young people with disabilities in future training, mobility, cooperation and Erasmus+ projects, while underlining the importance of youth work for the inclusion of groups with fewer opportunities
Access+EU was created within the framework of youth cooperation partnerships. Its main objective is to enable organizations to improve the quality and relevance of their activities, develop and strengthen partner networks through the exchange or development of new practices and methods, as well as the sharing and comparison of ideas.
In each participating country (Italy, Poland, Spain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania), Access+EU will carry out discussion groups bringing together youth workers, partners, families and disability sector professionals to present surveys and ask questions. Local technical visits will allow youth workers and partner organizations to gain first-hand experience.
Finally, in Italy a joint training session for trainers will be organized with a curriculum dedicated to the inclusion of people with disabilities in projects funded by Erasmus+.
Project overview
Informartion
Action: KA220-YOU – Youth workers
Project code: 2024-1-IT03-KA220-YOU-000243567
Duration: 2024 – 2026
Themes
Inclusive education, people with disabilities
Partners
Italy, Poland, Albania, Spain, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Project Results
Discussion Groups and Technical Visits
Access+EU organizes local discussion groups and technical visits in each partner country. These events allow youth workers to meet families with people with disabilities, learn from professionals in the field, reflect together on inclusion issues, and gain direct experience. This helps participants better understand challenges and opportunities and share knowledge and good practices across partners.
Training of Trainers
Based on the knowledge and good practices gathered from technical visits and discussion groups, trainer training will develop educational materials to be used in training activities. Mobility of youth workers will take place in Italy to strengthen and enhance participants’ skills on the inclusion of people with disabilities in Erasmus+-funded projects.
Manual
One of the new training materials developed is an Open Educational Resource manual. It collects good practices and is available both in English and in the national languages of the partner countries.
News and Activities
Visit the project news section to discover the latest updates and information on Access+EU activities and events in Italy, Poland, Spain, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina — all aimed at bringing positive change in society.
Articles
The Access+EU Project Up Close
First TPM in Sarajevo!
On March 11th and 12th, the Transnational Project Meeting (TPM) of the ACCESS+EU project took place in Sarajevo.
During these days, the partners had the opportunity to visit a Community Mental Health Center, coming into direct contact with local realities and with the good practices implemented in the area.
The visit was a valuable moment of exchange and inspiration, useful for gaining a deeper understanding of services and challenges related to mental health. Afterwards, the partners gathered for a working meeting to discuss the next steps of the project, define shared priorities and plan future activities.
The meeting represented an important opportunity to strengthen cooperation among the participating countries and to continue working together towards the goals of inclusion and sharing that characterize ACCESS+EU.
TPM in Albania!
The second Transnational Partners Meeting of the Access+EU project was held in Tirana, Albania, hosted by ACT Center. All partner organisations participated in the meeting, contributing actively to the discussions and working sessions.
This TPM marked a key transition for the project, moving from the research and local engagement phase to the creative and design phase. Partners reviewed and compared the results of the Focus Groups and Technical Visits carried out in each country, identifying common needs, inclusion barriers and successful practices related to the participation of young people with disabilities in international programmes.
Through analytical reflection, gamified discussions and collaborative brainstorming, partners worked in parallel groups on the development of the Training of Trainers, the Access+EU Handbook, and the Open Educational Resources (OER) platform. Core themes included accessibility measures, disability awareness, inclusive communication, inclusive project design and facilitation.
The meeting concluded with clear agreements on next steps, roles and timelines, leaving the partnership with renewed motivation, a shared roadmap for the second project year, and a strong commitment to inclusive youth work across Europe.
International ToT in Bologna
The international Training of Trainers (ToT) of the Access+EU project took place in Bologna, Italy, from 20 to 22 May 2026. Hosted by YouNet Reggio Emilia in cooperation with Erasmus Learning Academy and ACT Center, the training brought together youth workers, trainers, and representatives of partner organisations from Italy, Albania, Spain, Poland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As one of the project’s core learning activities, the ToT marked an important step in transforming the findings collected through the Focus Groups and Technical Visits into practical educational tools and methodologies. The intensive three-day programme focused on strengthening participants’ competences in disability inclusion within Erasmus+ mobility and youth projects, while providing concrete strategies for creating more accessible and meaningful learning experiences.
Throughout the training, participants explored key topics including disability awareness, inclusive communication, accessibility planning, project design, facilitation of mixed-ability groups, digital inclusion, and evaluation of learning outcomes. Interactive workshops, role-play exercises, case studies, and peer-learning activities encouraged participants to reflect on barriers to participation and develop practical solutions for inclusive project implementation.
The exchange of experiences and good practices from different partner countries enriched the learning process and fostered stronger cooperation among organisations working in the fields of youth work, inclusion, and disability support. Participants also worked on developing a shared methodological framework that can be transferred into their organisations and future Erasmus+ initiatives.
Open Web Conference
Who Developed the Project
Members of our team who have worked and continue to work with the aim of successfully finalizing the project:
Funded by the European Union. The views expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.