LEAD YOUR WAY Partners Meet in Bucharest for the Second Transnational Project Meeting

Partners of the European project LEAD YOUR WAY met in Bucharest for the second Transnational Project Meeting (TPM2). The meeting was hosted by INCOTERA at its offices, with several partner organisations joining online.

The meeting brought together the consortium to align on upcoming milestones and advance the next phases of the project, which aims to strengthen employability for people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities (DS/ID) through supported employment methodologies and digital innovation.

Key advances and outcomes

During the meeting, partners made significant progress on several core areas of the project:

• Work package 2 research insights and good practices were reviewed and discussed, with a focus on how the findings will directly inform the development of digital tools and vocational guidance resources for supported employment.
• The consortium advanced the design track for the AI-powered vocational guidance tool, which will support people with DS/ID in their pathways to employment, as well as the online toolkit for job coaches.
• Partners defined the roadmap for the interactive employer guide and self-assessment tool, aimed at helping companies reflect on their practices and strengthen inclusive employment strategies.
• Communication and dissemination actions were reinforced, agreeing on a regular publication cadence and a partner rotation system for social media and newsletters to increase visibility and collective impact.

Exchange with Motivation Romania

As part of the meeting, project partners also met with representatives from Motivation Romania, a leading non-governmental organisation working in the field of disability inclusion. This exchange provided valuable insight into the national legislative framework, as well as the role of NGOs in promoting the rights, inclusion, and employment of people with disabilities in Romania.

The discussion helped partners better understand the Romanian context, enriching the project's comparative perspective and strengthening the relevance of its research and tools at national level.

Looking ahead

The Bucharest meeting confirmed the strong collaboration within the partnership and reinforced the project's shared commitment to building rights-based, digitally inclusive, and sustainable employment pathways across Europe.

Over the coming months, the consortium will continue translating research findings into practical tools, with the active involvement of professionals, employers, and people with intellectual disabilities themselves.

LEAD YOUR WAY continues to move forward by combining evidence, innovation, and cooperation to support more inclusive labour markets throughout Europe.