DVeducation

VERA

Logo for the VERA project
Author: Mari Puniste
VERA raises awareness and understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder by addressing the heightened risk of sexual abuse and harassment faced by autistic youth—especially girls and women—due to challenges in social‑cue interpretation and boundary‑setting. The goals include:
• Creating tailored sexuality and relationship education for autistic youth
• Equipping families, carers, and professionals with prevention and reporting tools
• Building inclusive, accessible support for survivors
• Empowering autistic youth as peer “safety ambassadors” through innovative methods like drama and theatre.
By combining education, advocacy, support, and empowerment, VERA aims to foster safer, more inclusive environments and reduce victimisation while promoting resilience and autonomy among autistic individuals.

Project duration:

March 2025 - February 2027 (48 months)

Budget:

EUR 396 617,65

Funder:

Foto on dekoratiivne
Author: Tartu Ülikooli Narva kolledž
European Commission Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV)
The VERA project delivers three key outputs:
  • Co‑designed educational resources: Inclusive tools developed with ASD youth, families, and professionals across partner countries. These materials reflect lived experiences and identify needs to prevent/respond to sexual and gender-based violence.
  • Empowerment & training programmes: Tailored, interactive courses (e.g., using Theatre of the Oppressed) for autistic youth, carers, and practitioners to boost awareness, boundary-setting, self-advocacy, and response skills.
  • Dissemination & peer‑ambassador model: Trained ASD youth act as safety ambassadors, and the project shares tools, awareness campaigns, and policy recommendations to mainstream protective practices across communities.

The University of Tartu is responsible for the project evaluation and for leading the development of the training programmes.

Anziani e non solo societa cooperativa sociale (Italy) - lead partner
Giolli - Societa Cooperativa Sociale - Centro Permanente di Ricerca Esperimentazione Teatrale sui Meodiboal e Freire (Italy)
Women's Support and Information Centre NPO (Estonia)
Fundacion Miram'm de la Comunitat Valencia (Spain)

CASS members with the project

Mari Puniste

Project lead

Mariia Chebotareva

Evaluation Expert

Triin Taal

DV Expert-Analyst

CASS project contact
Mari Puniste
MA (rahvusvahelised suhted)
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
The Centre for Applied Social Sciences (CASS)
Project Manager 0.8 p
Lossi 36-418