Neudive Collaborates with Friends of the Stars to Develop Education and Employment Support Programs for Neurodiversity Youth

Neudive Co., Ltd. announced on the 18th that it has signed a mutual cooperation agreement with the incorporated association 'Friends of the Stars' to develop education and employment support programs for neuro-diversity youth and young adults.

Based on this agreement, the two organizations plan to promote mutual cooperation in activities such as activating education and employment for borderline and neurodiversity youth and young adults, and developing and applying digital solutions for this purpose.

Neurodiversity is an awareness that seeks to include differences arising from human neurological variations as a form of diversity, rather than viewing them as disabilities or defects. Differences included in neurodiversity encompass autism spectrum disorder, social communication disorder, intellectual disability, ADHD, learning disabilities, and schizophrenia. After concretizing the concept of neurodiversity by sociologists Judy Singer and Harvey Bloom, it became the motto of the rights movement for people with autism spectrum disorder.

An official stated, “Neudive was established in February 2022 to provide treatment and education programs tailored to the entire life cycle through various digital healthcare solutions so that children and adolescents with neurodiversity can live healthy lives, and to reduce the financial and time burden on patients. It is currently developing digital therapeutic devices in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies such as Daewoong Pharmaceutical and Hanol Biopharma, as well as medical industry promotion organizations such as the Daegu Gyeongbuk Advanced Medical Industry Promotion Foundation.”

"He added, 'Neudive received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in February 2023 for a clinical trial plan to explore a digital social therapeutic device for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and social communication disorder, and is preparing for clinical trials this year at Samsung Seoul Hospital, Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Daegu Catholic University Hospital, and Dankook University Hospital.'"

Friends of the Stars is a non-profit organization founded by psychiatrist Dr. Kim Hyun-soo to support the economic and social independence of borderline youth through therapeutic education, artistic activities, and self-reliance training. It operates the alternative school Seongjang School Byeol, as well as Dream Workshop, Azarama, Youth Cookie, and Byeolbit Bookstore, which were established for the purpose of vocational rehabilitation for the disabled based on neurodiversity.

Each workplace is linked with schools, allowing diverse individuals on the margins to participate through a membership called 'Crew,' forming active communities both online and offline and engaging in activities freely. Additionally, through a system called 'Guardian,' they are growing into supporters to build a new, innovative community where they cooperate and heal one another, and they plan to continue their social network as a platform for preparing for independence based on the strength of neurodiversity.

Kim Hyun-soo, Executive Director and founder of the non-profit organization Friends of the Stars and a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Myongji University Hospital, stated, “Through this MOU, we will connect and cooperate with various companies on the themes of diversity and inclusion, which fall under the social sector of ESG management. We will match youth with companies by strengthening the employment, growth, and networks of diverse young people.”

Neudive CEO Cho Seong-ja stated, “It is meaningful to be able to develop various digital programs for borderline and neurodiversity youth and young adults by collaborating with Friends of the Stars, an organization that has played a leading role in alternative education projects, youth workshops, and employment support for borderline and neurodiversity youth and young adults for the past 20 years.”

Neudive's digital therapeutic device for improving social skills is based on clinically validated domestic and international treatment programs. It was developed in collaboration with pediatric psychiatrists and special education experts, reflecting the characteristics of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and social communication disorders. With its effectiveness and safety verified through clinical trials and subsequent approval by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, it is expected that this validated program can be provided without restrictions on location or time.

Neudive CEO Cho Seong-ja stated, “Many overseas examples are now being developed where digital solutions that allow borderline and neurodiversity youth and young adults to experience diverse social situations and apply them to real-world situations help reduce costs and time for education and employment support.” She added, “I thank Friends of the Stars for their mutual cooperation with Neudive in developing evidence-based digital programs, and we will devote our full efforts to developing digital solutions for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities.”

[Source: Sisun News] Neudive Collaborates with 'Friends of the Stars' to Develop Education and Employment Support Programs for Neurodiversity Youth View Original Article: https://www.sisunnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=182151