Three members of the Asperger Ibiza and Formentera association, winners of Spain’s national competition, will represent the country in Wednesday’s Erasmus+ Skills Plus final.
Three members of the Asperger Ibiza and Formentera Association (AIF) will travel to the Netherlands this Wednesday to compete for the title of European adaptive cooking champions.
The team, accompanied by two members of the association’s professional staff, travelled to Burgh-Haamstede on Tuesday ahead of the final of the Erasmus+ Skills Plus project. They secured their place in the European competition after winning the Spanish national round held last year.
The Ibiza team will face competitors from six other countries: the Netherlands, Lithuania, Romania, Italy, the Czech Republic and Greece. The competition aims to showcase the professional abilities of people with disabilities through culinary challenges adapted to their individual needs.
The team from Ibiza qualified after winning the Spanish stage, which took place between 24 and 29 September 2025 in Madrid and Ibiza. During the competition, participants demonstrated their skills in an adapted kitchen environment, using clear and simple instructions, visual aids and supervision. These are also practical forms of support that can be introduced into a professional workplace.
Promoting independence and access to employment
The Skills Plus project, part of the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme and coordinated in Spain by Fundación Siglo22, aims to improve employment opportunities, personal independence and professional skills among people with disabilities through training and practical activities.
Asperger Ibiza and Formentera highlights that experiences of this kind offer benefits beyond professional development. They also give participants the opportunity to step outside their usual surroundings, build new relationships and develop greater confidence in their own abilities.
“Taking part in this European competition, after all the hard work during the national stage, is a major milestone for our participants. It shows their abilities and talent when the right support is in place,” says Mar Ferre, AIF coordinator.
Ferre stresses that the experience is about much more than the final competition result.
“This shared experience strengthens their self-esteem, their social and workplace interaction skills, and their prospects for the future,” she adds.
Supporting people on the autism spectrum in Ibiza and Formentera
The Asperger Ibiza and Formentera Association has been working since 2014 to promote social inclusion, independence and wellbeing for people on the autism spectrum and their families.
Its work includes social skills workshops, training programmes and initiatives designed to help people access employment and participate more fully in society.