BLUE HOUSES

BLUE HOUSES is an international Erasmus+ initiative funded by the European Union. It brings together European partners to develop practical ways of supporting autistic parents and neurodivergent families through training, guidance, and shared expertise.

The work focuses on families where one or both parents are autistic. In many countries, professionals in education, social services, and healthcare lack concrete tools and training that respond to these situations. Existing approaches rarely reflect the lived realities of autistic parents. BLUE HOUSES responds to this gap by building solutions grounded in research and shaped by real experiences.

Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) participates as a partner with a strong role in learning design and quality. HAMK is responsible for shaping the pedagogical approach, developing training content, and assessing how well the work functions in practice. HAMK also takes part in piloting the training and contributes to research activities and scientific publications.

At the core of the work is the development of an intervention model that combines research evidence with the experiences of autistic parents and professionals working with families. Alongside this, a 60-hour specialisation training programme is designed and tested for professionals in education, social services, and healthcare. The training is supported by practical guides, digital learning materials, and an online learning environment that can be used flexibly in different contexts.

Autistic parents are actively involved throughout the development process. Their perspectives shape the content and help ensure that the outcomes reflect real needs rather than assumptions. The solutions are reviewed together with experts, while awareness is increased around the diversity of neurodivergent families and autistic parenthood.

Objectives

The aim of BLUE HOUSES is to strengthen professional practice and understanding when working with autistic parents and their families. The work focuses on building a coherent intervention model, creating a 60-hour specialisation training programme for professionals in education, social services, and healthcare, and producing practical guides and digital learning materials that are openly available. A central goal is to improve professional competence, reduce stigma related to autistic parenthood, and support the wider use of the outcomes across different European contexts.

International cooperation

The work is carried out through cooperation between six European organisations. These include higher education institutions, education and research organisations, and autism-focused expert organisations such as FPDA – Federação Portuguesa de Autismo in Portugal. Working together across countries makes it possible to test, refine, and adapt the outcomes in different cultural and service-system contexts.

Target groups

The primary audience consists of professionals working in education, social services, healthcare, and family and parenting support. At the same time, the work directly benefits autistic mothers and fathers, neurodivergent families, and children of autistic parents. Education providers and organisations involved in professional development also gain from the materials and training developed through BLUE HOUSES.

Geographic scope

BLUE HOUSES is carried out as a European collaboration across Spain, Finland, Portugal, Poland, Belgium, and Cyprus. Development work, piloting, and awareness-raising activities take place across these countries, with the intention that the outcomes remain usable and relevant well beyond the participating contexts.