Scaling up from local to national: the success story of VETA

How can a local initiative become a lever for nationwide transformation?

Since 2014, the organisation VETA (meaning A different way of living and working) has been working to promote the inclusion of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (IDD) through an innovative approach that combines employment, housing, and tailored support.

In France, among the 400,000 autistic adults of working age, 95% are unemployed, a figure that rises to 100% for those with an intellectual disability. In response to this alarming reality, VETA offers an ambitious solution: unlock the potential of autistic individuals and make their professional integration not only a path to autonomy but also a genuine asset for businesses.

At the same time, VETA is developing inclusive, shared and independent housing solutions, driven by the conviction that autonomy is founded equally on employment, appropriate living arrangements, and a fulfilling social life.

A groundbreaking methodology:

ScaleChanger became involved in 2019 when VETA joined a scaling programme run by  La France s’Engage Foundation. As a specialist in supporting the scaling up of high-impact solutions, ScaleChanger worked alongside VETA’s operational team and governance bodies to transform the pioneering initiative into a structured and replicable model, laying the groundwork for a robust and sustainable social franchise.

This support involved:

• Clarifying the model’s core principles and success factors;
• Structuring the scaling up pathway, with practical tools and processes to guide project leaders;
• Designing the network of organisations: its mission, operations, and governance;
• Developing a five-year financial plan to ensure effective national oversight;
• And in partnership with Impact Lawyers, creating the legal structure for VETA’s network and formalising agreements with local entities.
  

Thanks to this collaboration, the organisation was able to acquire the essential tools to run  its scaling strategy, while adapting to local realities.

The diagram below illustrates the structure of the social franchise model:

A model recognised in public policy

In addition to its operational deployment, VETA has engaged in sustained advocacy efforts with tangible results. The model developed by VETA was integrated into the National Strategy for Neurodevelopmental Disorders 2023–2027, and an interministerial directive issued in March 2025 now provides for its deployment and funding in every French department.