In April 2015, Alma Mater Europaea is organising postgraduate functional training in autism for professionals from different fields. In order to participate, the professionals need to be university graduates and participate, or a desire to participate, in working with children and adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The training will be financially supported within the framework of the project.

The ZORA project is aimed at children and youth diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as their parents and professionals who work with them in the field of healthcare, education and social services. The project is managed by the Institute for Autism and Related Disorders. In addition to Alma Mater Europaea, project partners include the Municipality of Maribor, the Oslo University Hospital – the National Autism Unit and the Society for Helping Children with Autistic Disorder Školjke. The objective of this project is to establish a chain of achievements and help children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, included in early therapeutic treatment, to significantly improve their school results and, later on, improve their social inclusion. This would improve not only their mental and overall health, but also the quality of life of their families. The results of our joint work will include:

- 55 professionals from all over Slovenia will receive training (i.e. specialist postgraduate education for professionals working with children and adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder);

- 100 children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder will be included in early therapeutic treatment;

- setting up a centre for short-term respite stays of children and youth as a support for their parents (this is a novelty in Slovenia);

- 50 children from all over Slovenia will be included in the centre for short-term respite stays of children and youth;

- 100 parents from all over Slovenia will receive training in the form of seminars, workshops and individual meetings in order to equip them with additional knowledge and better understanding of the developmental and behavioural particularities of their children and be able to help them more efficiently.

Dr. Marta Macedoni – Lukšič, the leading Slovenian expert on autism, is the project holder. The project is 90% financed by the Kingdom of Norway, within the framework of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. The project is scheduled to conclude by the end of April 2016.