Aura Fundació

Supported employment and inclusion

Aura Fundació is a Barcelona nonprofit focused on social and workplace inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities. Its work is based on “Vida y Treball amb Suport” (“Life and Work with Support”), a supported-employment model developed in the United States and introduced in Spain by the foundation.

History and origins

Psychologists and education graduates Glòria Canals and Montserrat Domènech founded Aura in 1989 and launched Spain's first supported-employment project. The foundation says it was an early adopter of the method in Spain and Europe and helped establish the Spanish Association of Supported Employment and the Catalan Association of Supported Employment. Over more than three decades, it has helped people with intellectual disabilities find jobs with businesses.

Who it serves

Aura organizes its services around three groups: people with intellectual disabilities, their families, and employers. For businesses, it offers ways to collaborate on workplace inclusion. The foundation also has an easy-to-read section for families on its website.

Awards and recognition

Recognition has included the Barcelona City Council Medal of Honor for civic values and community commitment (2023); the Mutua Madrileña Foundation University Volunteer Award (2023); the 2022 ONCE Catalonia Solidarity Award for president Glòria Canals; the 2019 World Down Syndrome Day Award from the 14th World Down Syndrome Congress in Dubai (2020); the Piñol Award for career achievement in employment (2019); and the IMSERSO Award for the employment integration of people with disabilities (1999), among others.

Networks and partnerships

Aura belongs to international networks such as ASEE, WASE, EPR, and APSE, and Spanish organizations including AESE, Down España, Plena Inclusión, Fundación ONCE, and Incorpora by Fundación “la Caixa.” In Catalonia, it participates in ACTAS, Down Catalunya, DINCAT, COCARMI, and the Catalan Coordinating Association of Foundations.

Contact

• Address: 174 Ronda del General Mitre, Unit 1, 08006 Barcelona, Spain
• Phone: +34 934 177 667
• Email: info@aurafundacio.org
• Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.–7 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.