NeuroDem_ENG
Szekció vázlat
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This course provides youth workers with essential knowledge, practical tools, and effective strategies to better support neurodivergent young people, particularly those with autism and ADHD. It begins by strengthening awareness of neurodivergence, helping participants understand the diverse cognitive, social, and emotional needs of neurodivergent youth.
Building on this foundation, the course introduces inclusive communication approaches tailored to different needs. Participants will learn how to use accessible language, visual supports, and structured routines as well as more dynamic, task-oriented methods that are effective.
In addition, the course equips youth workers with advocacy skills to empower neurodivergent youth to actively participate in democratic processes and to develop resilience. It also explores innovative co-creation techniques that enable young people to take the lead in shaping initiatives and advocacy efforts that affect their lives.
Finally, the course emphasizes the importance of cross-sector collaboration. Participants will gain practical guidance on working with key stakeholders—including policymakers, NGOs, and special education professionals—to foster inclusive environments and strengthen advocacy for neurodivergent youth.
The training programme is delivered in a blended format, combining an international training bootcamp with webinars accessible to youth workers across the EU. This approach ensures both in-depth, collaborative learning experiences and flexible access to key content.
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The module covers the core concept of neurodiversity as natural variation in neurodevelopment, framed within a biopsychosocial and human-rights-based perspective. It introduces common neurodivergent profiles and focuses on shared underlying mechanisms rather than diagnostic labels. Particular attention is given to sensory processing differences, regulation needs, stress responses, and the concept of the window of tolerance, highlighting how safety, predictability, and environmental conditions shape participation and behaviour. The content emphasises neuroaffirmative and trauma-informed perspectives as a foundation for inclusive practice within NeuroDem activities.
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Participants learn about potential barriers to mutual communication between neurodivergent and neurotypical people. Various options and tools for barrier-free communication are presented, and a joint strategy for their use in the NeuroDem Labs is developed.
Participants explore barrier-free design of working conditions and environments in their joint work with neurodivergent young people. A joint checklist for designing a learning environment that is as accessible as possible is created.
Participants deal with discrimination-sensitive language. In this context, self-reflection and a bias check with regard to their own assumptions and prejudices take place.
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This module introduces cross-sector and cross-disciplinary collaboration strategies to strengthen support, participation, and advocacy for neurodivergent young people. It focuses on coordination between youth work, education, health, social services, and civil society organisations.
Through hands-on, practice-oriented activities and a universal design approach, participants map their local collaboration landscape, analyse gaps in support, and co-design concrete actions to improve accessibility, continuity, and democratic participation.
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This module introduces and tests practical, ND-inclusive tools that support neurodivergent young people and youth workers in expressing needs, understanding democratic processes, and planning small-scale advocacy actions.
Participants reflect on what neurodivergent advocacy means to them and use a simple storytelling framework to turn lived experiences into clear advocacy messages. They then build on these stories using visual tools to identify decision-makers, plan realistic actions, and map opportunities for influence.
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The Co-Creation Module introduces inclusive, participatory design practices for working with neurodivergent youth in democratic and advocacy contexts. Drawing on Social Innovation Education, participatory design, and the NeuroDem framework, it uses hands-on activities to show how diverse stakeholders can co-create solutions.
Participants explore communication barriers, inclusive tools, advocacy supports, and collaboration strategies, and practice turning real challenges into ND-friendly interventions. The module emphasises shared power, accessibility, iterative learning, and ethical facilitation.