Building Inclusive Employment Pathways Through Customised Employment

July 2026

Short Summary 

Many individuals with intellectual disabilities continue to face barriers to meaningful employment despite having valuable skills and aspirations. The CeVET project is working to change this by adapting the Customised Employment approach for European vocational education and training (VET). Through international collaboration, practical resources and innovative training, the project is equipping VET professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to support more personalised employment pathways. As the project enters its final phase, partners are completing the curriculum and preparing to launch the eLearning Platform, making these resources freely accessible across Europe.

Main Article Content 

Employment provides far more than financial independence. It offers opportunities for social inclusion, personal development and active participation within our communities. Yet many individuals with intellectual disabilities continue to encounter significant barriers when seeking meaningful employment, often because traditional employment services are not designed around each person’s unique strengths, interests and aspirations. The CeVET (Customised Employment to Support VET Training) project was established to help address this challenge by bringing together organisations from Norway, Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland. Together, the partnership is adapting the internationally recognised Customised Employment (CE) approach to better suit vocational education and training (VET) systems across Europe.


Unlike traditional employment models, Customised Employment begins with the individual. Rather than asking how a person can fit an existing job, the approach explores their skills, interests, strengths and support needs before identifying or negotiating employment opportunities that are beneficial for both the individual and the employer. Throughout the project, partners have worked closely with employment specialists, VET professionals and other stakeholders to better understand current practices, identify areas for improvement, and develop practical resources that support the implementation of the CE approach. These resources include a CE Job Developer’s Handbook, a comprehensive Curriculum and Training Programme, and an eLearning Platform that will provide free access to learning materials for professionals across Europe.


In June 2026, the partnership met in Bergamo, Italy, for the project’s Learning, Teaching and Training Activity (LTTA) and Transnational Partner Meeting. During the meeting, partners reviewed the progress made to date, explored elements of the developing curriculum, exchanged national experiences, and agreed the final steps before the project’s learning resources are published. As CeVET enters its final phase, partners are completing the final quality review of the curriculum and preparing the eLearning Platform for launch. These resources will support employment specialists, educators and VET providers in delivering more personalised, inclusive and effective employment support for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Photos 

 

Relevant Project Result/Output/Activity 

  • Learning, Teaching and Training Activity (LTTA)
  • Transnational Partner Meeting
  • CE Curriculum and Training Programme
  • CeVET eLearning Platform

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.  2024-1-NO01-KA220-VET-000256669 

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