The 2nd Neurodiversity Training was held!

The second neurodiversity training, “Creating a Comfortable Sense of Community,” was held on Friday, August 9, 2024!

Neurodiversity is a concept that stems from the diversity of our brains and nerves, and this applies to all of us. Because of these individual characteristics, we may feel “hard to live with”. We aim to build a society in which individuals’ brain functions and bodies are complemented and extended by technology, and the physical space, social systems, and customs of the environment are redesigned to eliminate the difficulties of living and allow each individual to demonstrate his/her “power” in his/her own way. As part of these activities, we hold exhibitions and training sessions, and this time we held the second neurodiversity training session.

Toward the creation of a pleasant sensory city, the participants learned about sensory diversity and visualized sensory maps of stimulating and calming places in the city. In addition, we created “trouble cards” based on the problems caused by sensory sensitivity and other sensory diversity, and held an idea-thon on actions to deal with these problems.

Neurodiversity Training Overview

Neurodiversity training consists of “Knowing,” “Experiencing,” and “Creating. Through these three curricula, we encourage participants to understand each other’s different viewpoints and respect diverse ways of perceiving the world, leading to the realization of a neuro-diverse society.

(1) Toward the realization of a neuro-diverse society as we know it (Lecturer: Nanako Ishido)

As an introduction to the training, participants learned about an overview of neurodiversity and the diversity of the senses, and learned about a society that respects neurodiversity by touching on various domestic and international examples of the five senses and measures to deal with sensory oversensitivity and insensitivity.

(2) Experience: Sensory Map (Instructor: Neurodiversity Project Secretariat)

In order to find hints for creating a comfortable town, participants walked around the Hamamatsu-cho and Daimon area in groups. We recorded and shared sensory maps of stimulating and relaxing places.

Participants commented that they were able to notice stimuli that they would not normally notice, and that it was easy to verbalize differences in mutual sensations while walking around the town.

(3) Create: Cards for problems (Instructor: Neurodiversity Project Secretariat)

Based on the information collected from the sensory map during the town walk, the participants came up with ideas for creating a comfortable town by using “problems cards”. Each group thought about “how to improve the community to make it more comfortable” and “what rules and considerations are necessary.

Using the problems cards created based on the ideas that came out of the group, the problems and their solutions were shared with the entire group.

Here, a wide variety of ideas were presented, some that could be implemented immediately, some that should be done by society as a whole, and some that were fun and innovative.

Participants commented, “I learned about the differences in the way we feel,” “I found a new perspective that all people, regardless of disability, have different senses,” and “It was good to experience the event rather than just listen to the talk.

For those interested

The B Lab Neurodiversity Project promotes understanding of neurodiversity and works to build a society in which each individual can demonstrate their individuality and “power” in their own place. As part of these activities, we will continue to plan training programs while enhancing the contents.

We are also open to consultation regarding the introduction of neurodiversity training into corporate training and other programs. We are also considering online training as well as in-person training, so please feel free to contact us.

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