NeuroDem - Empowering neurodivergent youth as changemakers
NeuroDem is an Erasmus+ project running from March 2025 until February 2027, aiming to empower neurodivergent youth (autistic and ADHD) to participate in democratic and advocacy initiatives, while equipping youth workers with inclusive and innovative methods for support.
The project brings together five partners: the main partner Verein zur sozialen und beruflichen Integration e.V. (Germany), Stimmuli for Social Change O.E. (Greece), Asociatia GEYC (Romania), European Council of Autistic People (EUCAP), and A Centrum (Slovakia).
EUCAP plays a key role in setting the NeuroDem Methodology and designing the Train-the-Trainer programme for youth workers together with our associate member organisation, ACentrum. This methodology combines social innovation education (SIE), participatory democratic innovations, and inclusive educational approaches. EUCAP’s expertise ensures that the training materials and activities are firmly grounded in an understanding of neurodivergent experiences and needs.
The goals of NeuroDem are to upskill youth workers to effectively support and engage autistic and ADHD youth in democratic and advocacy processes; to develop neurodivergent youth’s competences in these areas through action-based non formal education; and to promote wider societal understanding and inclusion of neurodivergent voices
More information on the project website:
NeuroDem Survey for youth open until 20th December!
Please share the link to neurodivergent youth and their supporters in EU countries
https://www.soscisurvey.de/test496043/
The project runs for two years, from March 2025 to February 2027.
So far, EUCAP has done work on empirical data collection through online surveys and focus groups to establish youth workers’ competences and needs, which will feed into the creation of the NeuroDem Methodology and the Train-the-Trainer programme.
The Team
Kosjenka is a qualified teacher, teacher trainer, and the Programme Director of the ASK Self-Advocacy Society Croatia. She organises and manages ASK’s self-advocacy events, professional conferences, and liaises with stakeholders. She has 20 years of experience in inclusive education and technology integration. Her current work focuses on universal design in learning, AAC implementation, designing and conducting participatory research.
Petra Lindberg is a student of Social Psychology at the University of Helsinki, with an interest in researching attitudes towards autistic people. She has work experience in illustration, creation of electronic and printed materials, and assisting in running workshops for the Finnish project ‘Autistic People’s Keys to Advocacy’.
Sofya Doyko is a student of Political Science at Charles University in Prague, with experience as a Research Assistant at Institute of International Relations, as Communications Department Intern at Civil Society Forum. She has assisted I conducting and presenting research, drafting and translating media releases and policy papers, organizing events, and providing administrative support.
Research Reports
Research reports from NeuroDem will appear by December 31st. Follow this page and our social media channels fir the latest information!
Desk Research Report
The desk research report aims to provide a review of the literature and recent scientific evidence on the topic of understanding and supporting neurodivergent youth in democratic participation and advocacy in all project partner countries, based on the findings of national desk studies.
Focus Group Report
The focus group report with youth workers explores how young people participate and advocate in the national context of Czech Republic, and what activities are currently taking place.The report also identifies key obstacles to inclusion, as well as concrete skills and types of support needed to empower neurodivergent young people to participate, lead and advocate for change.
Survey Report Czechia
The report presents findings from a survey with youth workers in Czech Republic on their knowledge and understanding of neurodivergent young people, and highlights their priorities, training needs and preferred learning formats.
Survey Report EU
The report presents findings from a survey with youth workers in EUCAP member counties on their knowledge and understanding of neurodivergent young people, and highlights their priorities, training needs and preferred learning formats.
