Autistic students face extensive challenges in social inclusion and acquisition of educational goals in comparison to their peers. Teachers’ insufficient training in alternative teaching methods and the inflexibility of educational strategies limit autistic learners’ opportunities for meaningful socio-educational inclusion (Autism Europe 2022). The current educational offer brings to no surprise the lack of disability-inclusive classroom opportunities in Environmental Education (EE) and Citizen Science (CS) co-participatory scientific research projects, for developing environmental literacy and societal collaboration in inclusive Green action. 

The DivEE project will utilise the potential of environmental CS as a flexible and adaptable educational method for the socioeducational inclusion of autistic learners (12–16-year-olds) in EE in secondary schools. It will develop the pedagogical resources, digital tools and teachers’ upskilling opportunities to enable the implementation of disability-inclusive classroom CS projects, via a process of co-design and co-participation. 60 secondary educators, autism professionals, CS experts and the autism community will participate in roundtables and webinars and be introduced to the value of inclusive environmental classroom CS via an e-book. The novel Autism-Inclusive CS Toolkit, complete with digital learning nuggets, interactive resources and 6 adapted CS projects, will enable stakeholder training (20) and the co-creation/adaptation of 4 national CS projects at the transnational training activity (LTCA). 

Teachers in 8 schools will foster the inclusive participation of 92 autistic students and their peers in CS classroom projects. 3 CS Festivals will expand participation to 90 school-community members, raising awareness and social cohesion. A Reflective Account will synthesise the socio-educational outcomes of inclusive participation in CS, opening avenues to the mainstreaming of the DivEE approach across EU schools. 

Objectives: 

• Empowering Educators: Provide secondary school teachers with adaptable Citizen Science (CS) approaches to foster inclusive learning. 

• Supporting Autistic Students: Create flexible learning environments that enhance the socio-educational inclusion of autistic students (12–16 y/o). 

• Building Environmental Literacy: Encourage active participation in CS projects to develop students’ understanding of environmental issues. 

• Innovative Resources: Develop the first-of-its-kind Autism-Inclusive CS Toolkit, equipping teachers with practical tools for inclusive education. 

• Training & Participation: Offer specialized teacher training on CS adaptability and task stratification, ensuring accessibility for diverse learners. 

Project Results: 

1. E-Book on the benefits of Autism-inclusive educational Citizen Science (CS) projects in secondary classrooms 

1. Autism Inclusive Citizen Science Toolkit: Co-designing digitally accessible and customisable autism-inclusive tools and resources for CS in classrooms 

1. Implementation Guide – “Inclusive CS projects in Schools: an implementation guide for environmental CS initiatives” 

1. Reflective Report: Inclusive Environmental CS in Classrooms: An Interactive Reflective Account on the socioeducational Outcomes of Inclusive Participation 

Consortium:  

Autism Europe (Coordinator, Belgium) 

C.I.P. – Citizens In Power (Cyprus) 

University of Western Macedonia (Greece) 

IASIS NGO (Greece) 

Istituto Dei Sordi Di Torino – IST (Italy) 

Website:  https://divee-project.eu/ 

Project Duration: 01/12/2024 – 30/11/2026 

Project Code: 101184052