LEAD YOUR WAY Partners Meet in Komotini for the Third Transnational Project Meeting
The partners of the European project LEAD YOUR WAY met in Komotini, Greece, for the third Transnational Project Meeting (TPM3). The meeting was hosted by project partner AI4.
The meeting brought together the consortium to review the progress achieved so far and align the next milestones of the project, which aims to strengthen the employability of people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities through supported employment methodologies and digital innovation.
Progress and key results
During the meeting, partners made significant progress in several core areas of the project:
The consortium reviewed the overall implementation of the project and reflected on how the research findings and the Good Practice Guide are now being translated into practical digital resources for people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities, professionals and employers.
A central part of the meeting focused on the AI-powered vocational guidance tool, which will support people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities in exploring employment pathways, preparing for work and developing their professional skills. Partners tested the first version of the tool and provided detailed feedback to improve its accessibility, usability and user experience.
The partners also discussed the next co-design activities with people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities. A common testing protocol will be developed so that all partner countries can gather feedback from users in a structured way and ensure that the tool responds to real needs, preferences and accessibility requirements.
The consortium advanced in the design of the self-assessment tool for companies, which will help employers reflect on their inclusion practices and receive practical recommendations to strengthen inclusive employment strategies. Partners discussed the structure of the tool, the assessment areas, the scoring system and the type of feedback that companies will receive.
In addition, the meeting addressed the development of the online resources for job coaches and employers, which will provide practical guidance on supported employment, inclusive recruitment, workplace adaptation and the use of digital tools in vocational guidance processes.
Communication and dissemination activities were also reinforced. Partners agreed on the importance of increasing the visibility of LEAD YOUR WAY through national and European communication channels, sharing project results more regularly and preparing for the next stages of piloting, impact and sustainability.
Exchange with local organisations in Komotini
As part of the meeting, project partners also had the opportunity to take part in local field visits and exchanges with organisations working in the field of inclusion.
At the Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Occupational Therapy, partners exchanged ideas with local professionals, learned from their expertise and explored inspiring examples of inclusive practice in action.
The consortium also visited AxiZO NGO, where partners had the opportunity to experience the active participation of staff and people with disabilities involved in the organisation's activities. During the visit, partners could visit all facilities, gaining first-hand insight into inclusive community-based practices.
These exchanges enriched the consortium's understanding of the Greek context and contributed to the project's broader European perspective on inclusion, autonomy and access to employment opportunities.
Furthermore, during the same week, the LEAD YOUR WAY project was also presented at the International Congress of Occupational Therapy: Science & Innovation in Practice (ICOTH), held on 25–26 April 2026 and organised by the Department of Occupational Therapy of the Democritus University of Thrace.
This participation provided an important opportunity to share the project's objectives, methodology and ongoing results with professionals, researchers and stakeholders in the field of occupational therapy, opening a dialogue on how digital innovation, when designed from an accessible and person-centred perspective, can complement professional support and contribute to promoting autonomy in the field of job inclusion.
Looking ahead
The Komotini meeting marked an important step in the transition from research and design to the development, testing and refinement of the project's digital tools.
In the coming months, the consortium will continue working on the AI vocational guidance tool, the self-assessment tool for companies and the online guides for professionals and employers. After the summer, the partnership will conduct a piloting phase of all the developed tools, involving people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities, job coaches, organisations and companies.
The next transnational project meeting will take place in November in Madrid, where partners will present the refined versions of the tools and continue preparing their future use and dissemination.
LEAD YOUR WAY continues to move forward by combining evidence, innovation and European cooperation to support more inclusive, accessible and sustainable labour markets across Europe.