NDF Timeline 2 - Neurodiversity Foundation

01
2024

01 2024 - Autvinder Competition for Autistic inventors

Autvinder is a brandnew competition to find the best autistic inventors and innovators, and honor them with an prize and title. In this project we also shine a light on the enormous potential autistic people have to discover, invent, renew and upgrade, supported by traits typically attributed to autistics like high perseverence, thinking differently and hyperfocus. The third longterm aim of the competition is to have more currently unemployed autistics recruited for paying jobs in areas where innovation or out-of-the-box thinking is crucial. The Neurodiversity Foundation and its partners (the association for autism and 2 educational institutions) organize this first edition for autistics living in the Netherlands, and the jury will decide on the winning entry around World Autism Day in April 2024 en on ND Pride 2024.

In Netherlands
11
2023

11 2023 - Neuroinclusivity Award

The foundation was ‘awarded’ with a prize for neuroinclusivity. While we love getting awards, its no more than sprinkles on our cake, our focus will remain on the works that allow us to feel celebrated for getting these cakey accolades.

In Europe
11
2023

11 2023 - New Halftone Design for ND Pride 2024

The new design for ND Pride 2024, created by Mozambican designer Paulaina, was crafted with support from the team. The Halftone dots in the design symbolically allure to the different ways we perceive the world as neurodivergents, seeing a different framing dependent on the different viewpoints you can view the image from.

In Mozambique
11
2023

11 2023 - Putting ND Pride on the political agenda

There are so many steps happening for ND Pride, that we stopped being able to ‘control’ all that is happening. And we love those, supporting the tune of ND appreciation in their fields, like these political parties accepting Neurodiversity Pride Day in the city of Tilburg.

In Tilburg
10
2023

10 2023 - Free resources by the Neurodiversity Education Academy

The educational department of the foundation, the Neurodiversity Education Academy has been creating many new tools, and sharing them for free. One of the new tools are “card decks”, like ‘the brainstrength card deck’, but also card deck for ‘check-in questions for kids’ and ‘strengthbased questions’, ‘brain-strenght cards’, ‘growth-mindset cards’ and . Get them for free on the site of neurodiversityeducationacademy.org.

Many decks are translated by native speakers who volunteer their time and energy, if you want to help out by translating cards in your own language (we want your help), contact hello@neurodiversityeducationacademy.org to offer your support.

Multiple language areas
10
2023

10 2023 - Thanking the NIP winners

Every 2 year “The NIP” (neuroinclusive politician award) is given by a ND jury to the politician representing or advocating for neurodivergent needs in the political arena in the most impressive way. During local elections, we remind our neurodivergent friends about who won in recent editions and are still aiming to earn a seat at the big table.

While the foundation is non-political and unbound by any political ideology, we are fans of every politician who personally step up to the plate, to have our unheard voices, heard.

In Den Haag
10
2023

10 2023 - The value of First Times at Diversity Week

The foundation had a great Diversity week with many presentations for government, large businesses and employee groups. One of our favorite ones from this week was at Google, supported by their wonderful D&I team making us feel welcome with NDF branded muffins. The core of what moved us, was being reminded of the importance of “First Times” and the bravery of coming out as neurodivergent amongst your peers.

In Netherlands
10
2023

10 2023 - Beyond Distractions

Our ambassador Diantha joined many other european youths in the “Pause” EU project in Hopeland, Greece, to learn and explore more about life beyond tech&internet-related distractions.

In Greece
09
2023

09 2023 - Let’s Talk Sessions

Diversity is so much larger than neurodiversity alone, therefore 2 pioneers, Tjerk (NDF) and Karim (self-employed) are joining hands in “Lets Talk”. They are open to invitations to speak as a duo, at any type of D&I event, session or workshop, and share from their own perspective in diversity: physical disability and neurodivergence.

In NL
09
2023

09 2023 - Round Numbers

We have been plotting our social media numbers and are breaking new records and ‘round numbers’. Our aim is to reach 50k followers by the end of the year 2023.

Social Media
08
2023

08 2023 - Summer Shindig with foundational family

During August many of the volunteers and teammembers of the foundational family came together at this years “Summer Shindig” for a fun informal event.

In Almere
08
2023

08 2023 - Pride Slogan goes global

Our organization aims to serve the world and all neurodivergents in it, and sometimes our projects or slogans ‘go global’, just like with the Neurodiversity Pride slogan: “What’s STRONG With You?”, which has been picked up by so many other good organizations, we know the slogan has been seen by millions. In this project for example, by our friends at the ADHD foundation (UK) working together with Clear Channel, an information campaign about neurodiversity was shared utilizing our rallying call. We love that!

In UK
07
2023

07 2023 - Community Gatherings

The Neurodiversity Education Academy started hosting Community Gatherings for late-diagnosed neurodivergents, to talk about important topics and questions we have. Attendance is free. And the project is lovingly supported by the sponsored software of Hyhyves.

Online
06
2023
06 2023 - Neurodiversity Pride Flag Ritual

The last ND Pride flag, was hoisted by the government of Noord-Holland in Haarlem. The ritual for the ND Pride Flag hoisting has two stages:

While hoisting the flag: Think of all neurodivergent people around the world, in solidarity with all our struggles.

While the flag is hoisted: Think about how neurodiversity makes this world a more beautiful place for all.
06
2023

06 2023 - First Neurodiversity Flags Hoisted!

In 2023, we hoisted the first Neurodiversity Pride flags, in New York, UK and many places in the Netherlands. The very first to ever to be hoisted was in the municipality of Leiden, a city that is very active with neurodiversity-friendly approaches. The flag was hoisted by Abdelhaq Jermoumi (alderman) and Roel Paas (Neurodiversity network Leiden) in the midst of supporters.

Leiden and elsewhere
06
2023

06 2023 - 24 Hours ND DJ Raid Train – Secret rave for ND Pride

An amazing 24 hours ND DJ Raidtrain event was organized by DJ Moonwyrm (and the Wyrmlings – supporting DJS) celebrating ND Pride 2023. In the tradition of “secret rave for pride”, We had 27 hours of music from mostly neurodivergent DJs from 4 continents, with dancers from many countries, all the way through.

The initative, was not in our initial plan: We are very grateful for DJ Moonwyrm (and friends) for creating the sound, the event and the warm atmosphere, allowing even the teammembers of the foundation to dance in the off-hours. The events was streamed by Twitch, streamed into the Pride Universe (our VR world, with new virtual dancemoves “to emote” to, made possible by Ozones Metaverse) and even from home, many were dancing along the tunes of these ND DJs! We liked this initiative so much, we are hoping this will happen much more often on ND Pride week!

Twitch & Pride Universe
- NIP Award

The winner of the bi-annual Neuroinclusive Politician award (the “NIP”) of the Netherlands has been announced. A neurodivergent jury has selected member of parliament Don Ceder from the ChristenUnie party, nicknamed “the political champion for uniqueness”, as the politician giving neurodivergent people the most hope for a neurodiverse-friendly future, and thereby winning the award.
06
2023

06 2023 - Launch Neurodiversity In Business NL Chapter

The launching event of NiB-NL was organized for 70 participants from different organizations with support from our host EY and multiple speakers and a panel. It’s the start of the dutch chapter founded by Tjerk, Lana, Stephanie and Georgia as a local arm of the international Neurodiversity In Business organization, a collaboration with our friends in the UK.

In Amsterdam
06
2023

06 2023 - ND Groundwork

ND Groundwork is a virtual community event brought to you by Bridges Family Life Center in partnership with Neurodiversity Education Academy and Umbrella Alliance US. It’s speadheaded by Janelle Johnson (founder of Bridges Family Life Center) and Saskia Wenniger (Co-founder Neurodiversity Education Academy)
05
2023

05 2023 - Whats Strong With You Instagram Campaign

In May the “Whats strong with you campaign” started on Instagram, showcasing self-appreciation for neurodivergent people, lead by a new volunteer “Instaqueen Eva”.

Instagram
05
In Turkey 2023

05 2023 - Neurodiversity Pride Flag

To support the new ND Pride activity “Hoisting the ND Pride Flag”, we improved the design for the flags, and delivered the first ones to NL, UK and USA. The flag consists of the logo of ND Pride Day, “the kite flying without rope trailed by a ribbon of infinity sybols”, referencing the aim for neurodivergent to thrive beyond normalisation, on a gradient of Purple to Sky Blue. The color Sky blue is representing the sky the kite is soaring in, and the color purple is traditionally associated with the keywords ‘unique, special & sacred’.
05
2023

05 2023 - Sensory Hubs Research

The 399 page research about how to create sensory hubs for neurodivergent people in educational institutions, by research intern Estelle, was awarded with a 9!

In NL
04
2023

04 2023 - Whats Strong With You Book in the “Oval Office”

During presentations, like the workshop for the Deutsche Bank, the foundation got to gift the newly printed book “Whats Strong With You” to professionals supporting neurodiversity in their workplaces.

In Amsterdam
03
In Nederland & UK 2023

03 2023 - Brain Awareness Publication

To celebrate Brain Awareness Week, the neurodiversity Education Academy launched their workbook for trainers with 20 excersizes. The digital copies can be bought at the NEA website, and support the funding of our educational projects.
03
In Den Haag 2023

03 2023 - Political Endorsements

In March, with the new dutch elections, the Neurodiversity Foundation endorsed the political parties that brought forth a winner or a current nominee for the Neuro Inclusive Politician Award 2023. These political parties were: VVD, D66, CDA, GroenLinks, Bij1, ChristenUnie and SP.
03
2023

03 2023 - Shaking hand with royalty & diverse leaders

At the Diverse Leaders in Tech conference, the founding members of Neurodiversity In Business Netherlands presented on stage, in workshops and shook hands with Friso, the Royal Prince of Orange.

In Amsterdam
02
In Den Haag 2023

02/2023 - Neurodiversity Score Card for political parties

To show neurodivergents which political party is supporting neurodivergents and who may be considered to vote for in upcoming elections, the Neurodiversity Foundation published the Neurodiversity Score Card for Political Parties (dutch language only). The voters could see on 7 topics, how the most relevant parties of the parliament rated on those aspects.
01
In Utrecht 23

01 23 - NIP Award Research

The Neuro-Inclusive Politician Award is a bi-annual award for the politicians in the political arena giving hope to neurodivergents for a ND friendly society. The judges are supported by a multidisciplinary team of 10 researchers from different fields, evaluating all relevant political parties. Their rapport is the start of the judging process, and their conclusions are distilled in the “Neurodiversity Scorecard for political parties”.
12
Online 2022

12 2022 - Social Media Rising

The channels from the Neurodiversity Foudation and the Neurodiversity Education Academy, gained 13.000 followers, a rise of 10.000 followers since we started counting 600 days ago.
12
In Almere 2022

12 2022 - NeuroEmerScent

The annual supper is an event for the teammembers of the Neurodiversity Foundation. At the 2022 edition the new scent of the foundation was launched: NeuroEmerScent. Created by the NeuroEmergence team, as a gift of a breath of new fresh air for those supporting our mission.
11
In Den Haag 2022

11 2022 - NIP: First Pro-ND Unanimous Political Motion

The party of the winner of the NIP award introduced a motion to the political chambers of the “Tweede Kamer”, and the motion by “Bij1” was universally accepted by all other political parties: the first in dutch history to make this mark! After previous winner Lisa Westerveld introduced the first motion identifying Neurodivergents as a group in 2021, now Sylvana Simons introduced the first unanimously accepted political motion in 2022. The political motion calls for facilitating and promoting towards study advisers to have proper knowledge about neurodivergencies like Autism, HSP and Dyslexia. History is again made by the winner of the Neuro Inclusive Politician Award!
11
Online 2022

11 2022 - New Websites

To create a better digital presence, the foundation is reworking the websites of the organisation, of the neurodiversity pride day website, the Neurodiversity in Business Page, and of the Stride website. They will all be launched in 2023!
10
In Amsterdam 2022

10 2022 - Together Randomizer

The “Together Team” working on the social meetup project for Neurodivergents, created a new function on their web-app: the randomizer, which allows to show users examples of the activity menu’s they can send to people they like to meetup with. Fun!
10
In Noordwijk 2022

10 2022 - NeuroEmergence Team Weekend

To make a plan for 2023, the members of the NeuroEmergence team came together, to discuss all the plan for 2023: Approximately 20 online events, a 3 day online summit, and a new discord channel for the community of late diagnosed neurodivergents. The focus of the team will be to create a community of belonging using education and information as a guiding light.
09
Online 2022

09 2022 - Social Space of Autism from the Inside Conference

The Neurodiversity Foundation, gifted their social gathering space to Paul Micaleffs team, running the Autism from the Inside weeklong conference. During the week, participants could meetup in the social space, have conversations and meet each other under the supervision of the wonderful Autism from the inside staff members. Follow up meeting in that month, were also hosted in the social space.
09
In Amsterdam 2022

09 2022 - Neurodiversity In Business Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the founding members of which the Neurodiversity Foundation is part, joined forces to start up the NIBNL association in the Netherlands, for organisations with a positive outlook on neuroinclusivity in the workplace. Launch: Spring 2023!
08
In Utrecht 2022

08 2022 - Stride Shirts

The first prototypes of the Stride Shirt, for use during Stride 2023, have been created and delivered for testing purposes.
06
Online, Virtual Reality, Offine, Local events & Individual 2022

06 2022 - Neurodiversity Pride Day

Celebrated for the last time on June 18th, the 5th edition and biggest ever Neurodiversity Pride Day was held, for all neurodivergents wanting to celebrate neurodiversity!
05
In Rotterdam 2022

05 2022 - Stride App

In order to create the worlds first record attempt as neurodivergent kind, the Stride App was build, by cooperation of the Harborn Team and the Pride Stride team. The first build was released in May, the first tests of the app will be held during 2022, and in 2023, we aim to offer the app globally to all neurodivergents for the 6th edition of Neurodiversity Pride Day.
04
In Rotterdam 2022

04 2022 - Karol joins the Foundation

Karol Henke, the former NVA chief, joins the Neurodiversity Foundation as a boardmember officially. He will have a focus on sportsactivities including the new Stride program, on the political agenda, network connections and overall support. Very very welcome in our team!
03
In Almere 2022

03 2022 - Brain Awareness Week / Neurodiversity Celebration Week

The Neurodiversity Education Academy team, lead by Lana & Saskia, forged a new magazine, with the support of 4 creatives. It’s called ‘My Creative Brain’, and the first limited English edition, crafted with so much love and attention to details, was launched. The magazine will be gifted, but can also be bought for a donation to the NE Academy.
02
Online 2022

02 2022 - Foundational Anniversary

On Februari 15th we had our 4th foundational anniversary of the foundation, and due to Covid running rampant, we kept it small and send virtual Cake & Love, to friends and sympathisers.
2
In Rotterdam 2022

2 2022 - Neurodivergent Politics

The Neurodiversity Foundation has started to assemble and pitch the 5 items on our ‘Neurodivergent Political Agenda’. Its focussed on dutch politics for now, and has been presented in Februari to the youth department of D66, a currently governing political party.
01
In Nederland 2022

01 2022 - Ambition Reloaded

With new energy and zest, board meetings are held while operating powertools, the NE Academy team starts forging a new Brainy Mag and talks with new teammembers are initiated. 2022, is going to be a great year for All Neurodivergent Kind, and we are HERE FOR IT!
12
In Nederland 2021

12 2021 - Closing the Year

We delayed our Annual Supper event, and looked back to the year, knowing, that with the support of so many volunteers and otherwise awesome individuals, we’d done more than we though imaginable in our first year.

And knowing, that what we have planned for this world…. is even so much more. Onward to 2022!
11
In USA 2021

11 2021 - Supporting Harvard Medical School Coaches

Lana, the Chair of the foundation, presents for 300 participants the talk: From Disorders to Divergence: Why understanding neurodiversity is important for coaches, to the Harvard Medical School Affiliated Institute of Coaching
10
In Amstelveen 2021

10 2021 - Closing the Amstelveen Office

Due to construction work, the temporary office of the Neurodiversity Foundation in Amstelveen, is taken down. We will miss our quaint triangle shaped office, and look forward to a time where the pandemic won’t restrain us in working together in the same rooms, once more.
09
In the Play Store 2021

09 2021 - Brainy App in Dutch Language

The Brainy App, downloaded more than a thousand users, is translated and now also available in the dutch language. This project was undertaken by Boris and by son Milos, the youngest dev in our foundational family.
08
In USA 2021

08 2021 - Partnering with USA

In summer we met, and started the preparation and cooperation process with two wonderful USA based organizations. The first one is the Neurodiversity Foundation USA, lead by Shawn Fry, and though our organizational origin stories are not connected, our love driving a wish for a more inclusive world, is. Also we started supporting Akiva systems, lead by Alexander Landa & Julia Kalinina, aiming to build a ‘safe place’ to allow neurodivergents to hone their abilities using VR as a way to explore and play.
07
In University of Amsterdam 2021

07 2021 - Cum Laude Level

The foundation creates internships and research quests for the brightest minds and for the most motivated candidates, and during the first 6 months of 2021, Maya Zaidan from Palestine has been joining the research efforts into sign language. In Juli she graduated in the research with the highest possible grades.
06
In Nederland 2021

06 2021 - Mikel Rijsdijk Grant

In June 2021 the Mikel Rijsdijk Grant was initiated by Saskia Wenniger, and was supported with contributions from the Neurodiversity Education Academy. It provides a grant for education and coaching about neurodiversity.
06
In Ozone 2021

06 2021 - Pride Universe of the Neurodiverse – Live!

To celebrate Neurodiversity Pride Day, a enormeous undertaking was realized by crafting a expansive virtual reality world, that hosts most of the activities on June 18th. Every hour, from 0800 till 23.59, there have been activities, like Judy Singer, delivering the ‘Neurodiversiteitsrede’ Keynote of the year. The world is called the ‘Pride Universe of the Neurodiverse’ and it still open for visitors at neurodiversityprideday.com. The main techsponsor of this grand project was Jay Ess from Ozone Universe.
06
In UK, USA, NL, IND, AUSTRALIE & PHI 2021

06 2021 - Neurodiversity Pride Day 2021

The largest ever edition of Neurodiversity Pride Day was held on June 18th 2021, with an 16 hourlong program, a virtual universe, political history made, an award, workshops, streams, talks, clubhouse conversations,, art installations, showcase of neurodivergent talent and so much more. The day was celebrated in the Netherlands, UK, USA, Indonesia, Australia and the Phillippines.

While the 2020 edition was the largest Pride online event worldwide at that moment in time, the 2021 edition is the largest Pride Virtual reality event ever organized.
6
In Den Haag 2021

6 2021 - Political History

On June 17th, after a talk with the foundation, Dutch politicians Lisa Westerveld & Peter Kwint made political history in the Netherlands, with Motion 35830-VIlII-18. In this motion, neurodivergents were named as a group for the very first time ever, and neutrally adressed by stating that the individuals in this group may have, or may not have, a disability. Its a historic and positive step for neurodivergent acceptance!
06
In Den Haag 2021

06 2021 - Sylvana Simons Wins Neuro Inclusive Politican Award

Sylvana Simons, founder of the BIJ1 political party, has won and received the Neuro Inclusive Politician Award in the Hague in the Parliamentary building of the Tweede Kamer. The judges and the foundation are delighted to see her win, and are confident she will do a lot of wonderful and needed actions for the neurodivergent community as ‘Tweede kamerlid’. Go Sylvana!
06
In Schiphol Airport & Amsterdam 2021

06 2021 - Billboards for Neurodiversity Pride Day

In the Schiphol Airport area, and in the Amsterdam downtown area, billboards are showing invitations to the Neurodiversity Pride Day Celebration. The images are both in Dutch and in English language.
06
In Amsterdam 2021

06 2021 - Secret Rave for Pride

Dutch DJ Nozem recording a special set of his own tracks, for people to dance to in the Party Room on the Pride Universe of the Neurodiverse. Also DJ Krishan performed a wonderful set, making their timeslots on pride day, the largest virtual pride rave ever organized.
05
In Kortenhoef 2021

05 2021 - New ambassador

The foundation is delighted to share that Suzanne Agterberg joined our foundational family as an ambassador. She has been an expert and founder of many useful initiatives, like the ‘autism-passport-project’ and is very welcome in our midst to support the cause of Neurodiversity at large.
04
In Amsterdam 2021

04 2021 - Recording sessions of the Neurodiversity Pride Anthem

For Neurodiversity Pride Day, a new music group was assembled to create the Pride Anthem. The band called Studiognomes have been making an old song into a new one, that will be heard on Pride Day each year. The song is based on ‘Own Kind of Music’ by Mama Cass.
03
In Amsterdam 2021

03 2021 - Brain Awareness Week 2021

To celebrate the Brain Awareness Week of 2021, the educational team of the foundation organized webinars and workshops, like “Get Focused, Plan and Stay Calm. Strategies to Stay on Top of Your Studies“. And also, to celebrate the week, we released a downloadable copy of our magazine My Amazing Brain, in order to create easy access to the material for our international friends and partners.
03
Online 2021

03 2021 - Neurodiversity Education Academy

The Neurodiversity Education Academy has shaped up, and flexes her muscles, with a community app, a content app, a new website, and lots of enthusiasm. The new site of NE Academy, can be found at neurodiversityeducationacademy.org
02
In Nederland 2021

02 2021 - Stemadvies – Elections

To make sure that the Dutch Parliament has neurodiverse friendly politicians, the foundation and NIP award jury, campaigned to 20.000 dutch Neurodivergents & Allies, with our own ‘StemAdvies Campaign’ for the votes needed for 6 endorsed politician to each take a seat in parliament. All endorsed politicians made it to power.
01
In Nederland 2021

01 2021 - Stemadvies – Start of Campaign

In a time of great division in our nation, the Stemadvies campaign, aimed to show people that neurodiverse friendly politicians do exist, and that they come from many different political teams. It also aimed to get the 6 best of them, the ones nominated for the Neuroinclusieve Politician Award, voted into office in the upcoming elections.
12
Online 2020

12 2020 - Annual Supper 2020

As is tradition, we gathered at the end of the year with 13 of our members. Due to Corona, we met online to celebrate the achievements of the year.
12
In Nederland 2020

12 2020 - Locked down but safe

In the second lockdown of the year, we decided to make masks to keep our volunteers and friends, a little bit safer with a stylish mouthcap.
11
In Amsterdam 2020

11 2020 - Gaming for neuro-inclusion

A new project to create a game that fosters awareness, acceptance and inclusion was spearheaded my young autistic artics Marije, with the support of mentor Stijn Schenk and the foundations input. The project will be a game of quartet (Go Fish) of the neurodiverse traits that benefit society. To be launched for Pride Day 2021!
10
In Amstelveen 2020

10 2020 - Amstelveen says Yes to Pride 2021

On behalf of the city, Alderman van Ballegooijen, says ‘YES’ to neurodiversity pride 2021 activities in Amstelveen, and shares an important song with thie new generation of equal&inclusive activists.
09
In Amstelveen 2020

09 2020 - Together Android app getting ready

In fall we celebrated the achievements of the Together team with Tjerk, Wybe and Kees. One of them being the production of the android app, that includes the ability for open and closed groups as well as the ability to add non-group members. Also we are making steps on the members-platform. Good work!
08
In Zeewolde 2020

08 2020 - Together Beta testing

To test our latest build of Together App, spearheaded by Kees, we organized a workshop in a weeklong youth festival and test the app with about 50 youngsters, eager to ‘get to know other’. Our second ‘live’ test, got so much usefull and practical feedback, we immediately went back to work to improve the system. Getting ready for a Valentines Day launch!
07
In Amsterdam 2020

07 2020 - Evaluating Pride

After Pride Day itself, we evaluate each element, to see where we can improve and grow next year. This edition, we invited Roos van Moesbergen as well, who lead the ‘Divergent Interviews’ series, released on June 18 2020.
06
In Nederland 2020

06 2020 - Neurodiversity Pride Day resultaten

After the 3rd dutch edition of the Neurodiversity Pride Day, we tabulated a rise of 400% in comparison to last year, all the growth coming from the virtual events and the easier way for persons to join in. Also the partnering with other organizations, lead to a sizable uptick in participants.
06
Online 2020

06 2020 - Neurodiversity Education Academy starts

The Neurodiversity Education Academy is a place where you can take free courses from selected and/or requested experts, that support you in your understanding of neurodiversity, in the classroom, workplace or family situation. In the future, the academy will also host paid trainings and courses.
06
In Nederland 2020

06 2020 - Neurodiversity Pride Day 2020

After months of preparation, the day of neurodivergent pride is happening: Neurodiversity Pride Day! With more activities, more speakers, more participants, more reach, more partners, everything ‘more’, even in Corona times. With about 1500 participants joining one or more activities (mostly online), we are superhappy to be able to celebrate our pride, with so many more amongst us than last year. Let’s triple that, next year!
06
Online 2020

06 2020 - First podcast

In a first time for us to join a podcast, Diantha of the Neurodiversity Foundation rocked it, and shared a lot of information. You can still listen to the podcast on Spotify, in dutch language.
06
Online 2020

06 2020 - Social Media following

Our facebook page got its 500th follower!
05
In Amstelveen 2020

05 2020 - First secured Family intranet

The technical project, leading to Family Signs App, had gotten a big boost when the first message was send with ‘true privacy’. According to GunDB, the Athens Initiative was the very first, worldwide, to make this new approach happen. And yes, we have been sharing that….

The moment of the first message, sent and received.

Leading the innovation, was Omotola Bolarin.
04
Online 2020

04 2020 - New ‘Office’: Zoom calls

Due to the Corona Virus, we cancelled our physical locations in the Netherlands. However, we keep in contact via zoom! Boardmeetings, Developermeetings, Pridemeetings, Zoom it up!
04
Wereldwijd 2020

04 2020 - World Autism Awareness Day

Due to Corona, many of the activities of Autism Awareness Day were altered or made virtual. As a foundation, we send out positive messages to other organizers. In times like these: we should stand strong together; With 1,5 meter social distancing applied!
03
In Nederland 2020

03 2020 - Support rewriting book

‘Gezond van Kop tot Teen’, is a informational book written bij 4 Dutch experts, amongst which, the infamous ‘Poepdokter’. 11 specialists supported them in writing or rewriting the book, one of the specialist asked was member of the Neurodiversity Foundation.

To ask for help, as a neurotypical expert, is a great thing, and therefore helping out is something the foundation does, for writers vulnerable enough to accept our honest and clear remarks about the nature, tone of voice, and accuracy of the writing. To serve the readers better, we helped rewrite the parts about autism and ad(h)d.
03
Online 2020

03 2020 - Brain Awareness Week 2020

Due to the start of the pandemic, all organized activities for Brain Awareness Week was quickly converted into virtual activities, like Zoom workshops for teachers wanting to get more knowledge on becoming a teacher that fosters a neurodiverse-friendly classroom.

The workshops and preparation was done by Lana Jelenjev and Saskia Wenniger, and given to an international audience.
02
In Rotterdam & Amstelveen 2020

02 2020 - Quarantine Time!

Due to the upcoming pandemic, we decided to ‘do the responsible thing’ and close down the physical locations of our Rotterdam office and Amstelveen office in the winterspring of 2020, and hence, move our cooperation to online settings. We hope to return to an office space, when its safe for our members and volunteers to do so.
02
In Amsterdam 2020

02 2020 - Meeting MindAffect

In a supportive session with MindAffect, an assistive tech company we have been following for years that has a mission we support, we tested their assistive tech and talked about the implications for epilectics, persons with Celebrale Parese & ALS, new user groups and the use of the innovation at large. MindAffect creates a flickerbased screenselection tool, coupled with a hardware headband that tracks the brains reaction to light changes in defined selectable regions on the screen. The great Aleksandr & Dennis of the Divergents Team were present and actively contributing their insights, and Robert will have a lot to bring home to his team at MindAffect.
02
In Amstelveen 2020

02 2020 - 2nd Birthday

A Virtual Slice of love pie for everyone! Today is the second birthday of the Athens Initiative, and though Wybe & Tjerk ate the first parts in Amstelveen, we share a virtual love pie slice in gratitude to all our teammates, researchers, partners, and every person who supports and has worked with us to celebrate our second year on mission.
02
Online 2020

02 2020 - Newsletter support for Pride

In the newsletter of our friends of Impuls & Woortblind, the organization supporting Dyslectic & Adhd neurotypes, the Neurodiversity Pride day and the foundation are mentioned. Read the full newsletter here:

https://mailchi.mp/12f74368d4be/wetenswaardigheden-3413981?e=18b2540b2b
02
In Nijkerk 2020

02 2020 - Pride Friends at NLs main ADHD/Dyslexia organisation Impuls/Woortblind

Invited by our friends at Impuls/Woortblind, Renee & Tjerk pitcht the Neurodiversity Pride Day, and invited the region managers to join us in celebration on June 18 with local activities in their “adhd-cafe” and “dyslexia-cafe”. With many creative ideas for what these activities can be, we are looking forward with great anticipation for the day
02
In Amsterdam 2020

02 2020 - Heroes in Amsterdam

On this day, in our meeting with Tjerk & Lana present, Saskia Wenniger finally shook the hands of the Health Heroes in our meeting at the Da Vinci Creative spaces. But, just as important, without any shaking of hands, she also met Henk the bot.
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In Amsterdam 2020

2 2020 - An offer we didn’t want to refuse

The Athens Initiative is saying yes to working together with Melvin & his company NAHV in doing the accounting for us, including our taxes, and offering to be a voluntary financial advisor to help us out moving forward with financial advice. He’s is a great man, intrinsically motivated, located in the Amsterdam region, and made us an offer we didn’t want to refuse 🙂
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In Utrecht 2020

01 2020 - Supportsessions

In January, we were invited to discuss options about implementing assistive Tech in healthcare, and got great advices from the partners of the Sustainable Healthcare Challenge about where to start.
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In Amstelveen 2020

01 2020 - Youngest Dev joins the Work

Tjerk & Boris making the plan for phase 2 of Brainy! In our back, is the outline of the Kroon office and in the future there will be work for the youngest contributor of the family: Miloš!
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In Brabant 2020

07 2020 - Family Signs promo #2

Family Signs got its 2nd promotional video, this one made by young and talented autistic Merlijn. The concept of this video was the same as the core message of the technological project, which is, ‘Everybody deserves to be understood’.
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In Nijmegen 2020

01 2020 - Design Your Life Kick off

On the 7th of January 2020, the Design Your Life project started it’s 4 year research project. During the kickoff we met Jelle (our favorite professor and leader of the program), Maurice (project chief), Thijs (key researcher) and many organizations that work in our general field. Lots of great people and groups! We will be meeting at least 16 times in the upcoming years, and they are to test parts of our Signs technology as well.

Partners of Design Your Life – 2Tango is partner in the program
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In Amstelveen 2020

01 2020 - New Mayor, first office in Amstelveen

Our first activity of the year, was to present ourselves to the new mayor of Amstelveen, Tjapko Poppema, by shaking his hand on their new year’s celebration. During his speech he said (loosely translated): ‘the unheard are not always listened to, and I think we should improve on that‘. Yes (!) to that message! The Neurodiversity Foundation is opening up its first office in Amstelveen in January of 2020!
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In Amsterdam 2019

12 2019 - Brainy MVP first tests

Omotola showing the functionality of the Brainy MVP to the members of the foundation in December 2019
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In Amsterdam 2019

12 2019 - Annual Supper with the Team

Once a year, the foundation (&2Tango) have a social dinner, the Annual Supper, for the team, somewhere in the Netherlands. This year we celebrated in Amsterdam.

It also was a day of thanks to everyone (also the ones not in the picture) supporting us to make this world a more neuro-inclusive place from love, connection and appreciation for the value of true diversity
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In Eindhoven 2019

12 2019 - Technological Roundtable

Roundtable in Eindhoven with Edgar of Cor Wit Fonds and professor Nico Baken. Talking about whole-systems approach, subcircles of influence, holisme in tech, and the idea that resilience in a system is increased by adding diversity, and the idea that a improved flow between it’s individual parts makes a network amount to more than just the sum of it’s parts. Wildly inspirational meeting, with a reading list of 6 items to swim into afterwards.
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In Rotterdam 2019

12 2019 - Brainy first prototype live!

Brainy MVP Apps core functionality of registering brainy states is tested and……working! It contains the work of many Athenians, like Elise, Georgia, Niels, Dominic, Omotola, Lana and Tjerk, and will serve the ‘neuroinclusive schools project’ (aka Brainy Project). In the future Boris will be projectmanager for the Brainy project and its coupling with the My Amazing Brain Magazine!

Brainy Live for the first time!

Brainy Live for the first time! 3
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In Nederland 2019

12 2019 - Core Values: love, diversity & connection

As our extended foundational family reaches a total of 30 contributors, researchers and volunteers working on each of the 5 projects, we keep reminding ourselves what the core values are of our organization.

Its love. Its connection. Its diversity.

And we keep reminding ourselves of our calling, for as we say: The problem is not solved, by doing nothing.
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in Rotterdam 2019

11 2019 - Signs Remote prototype ready

Our technical team forged the pototype of the Signs Remote in Oktober 2019, and on the featuring image, enables the data for the ‘very first time’.
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In Utrecht 2019

11 2019 - Progress has many rythm

At NVA congres, we met the founder of Ritme (An autism task reminder app), which was part of the next generation winners of the Sustainable Healthcare Challenge after 2Tango won in the year before. 2Tango actually invested a small bit of our own price into his project, to ‘invest the love forward’. 18 months later, he build the app, upgraded the visuals, and is presenting himself capably. So proud!
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In Eindhoven 2019

11 2019 - Signs Remote prototype tested

21 November 2019 is the day that 100 students & professionals tried out our prototype of the Signs Remote, in a live setting, with real data. The second time Mini is shown to the external world, and ‘she’ learned much more of gestural language since her first outting in June 18.

These 100 participants were briefed in 3 workshop group rounds, after a keynote from Tjerk. Creating basic gestural messages on their phones, based on sentencings drawn from the ‘communicative need ‘research of Renske & Charlotte. It’s has been a high-anxiety race against time type of delivery, with the technical team improving the code hours before the big show. But we made it. It worked!
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In Eemland 2019

10 2019 - Meewerken bij Eemland joins the Together project

New Friends Dennis & Monica run a workfocussed centre for autistics, with team of graphics & tech. Great people, wonderful vision, we met the whole ICT team and they are enthusiastic about building the friending, dating & joinme functions of the project with us. Their project will be ‘IetsDoen.Nu?’ and based on Together principles. The idea came from Fieke, and she will be working with the Meewerkers team on the Together project!

Fieke joins the Together Project
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2019

10 2019 - Neurodivergent Pride Kite

While…. its probably accidental, Apple released a new “Kite” icon, in the colors of ND Pride Kite icon, in the second year of celebrating Neurodivergen Pride (2019 was the year we actively started using the nickname Neurodivergennt Pride Day, for Neurodiversity Pride Day celebrations, by those preferring the alternative name). We say “probably accidental”, because, as much as we hope it was inspired by our design, our kite has a lighter color blue, has infinity symbols in the ribbon, and does not have a rope.
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In Amsterdam 2019

09 2019 - PRDWLK!

Tjerk & Diantha taking a walk of pride, after meeting with organizations on Autisme (NVA) & Adhd/Dys (Impuls/Woortblind), where we agreed to organize next years Neurodiversity Pride Day together.

In Amsterdam
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In Amsterdam 2019

09 2019 - Marketing for Good

At SWAP Day, we brainstormed ideas to promote Pride Day at Unc Inc in Amsterdam, an initiative by Base & Spin media. We met Benjamin who has a brilliant mind, and any ideas on how to further our wish for a message that is understood by the millions in our nation!
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in Rotterdam 2019

09 2019 - 2 Offices & 10 tech contributors

Our ‘Shatterdome’ in Rotterdam (the name for the development area where we create our technology,) is scaled up, with locations at two floors. Because when you work hard, you need more tables and square meters for notes!

Yanick joins the team for a couple of weeks to support the work on Mini.ai.

First day of Yannick
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In Arnhem 2019

08 2019 - Showing what we’ve build

One of our sponsors, the SIDN fund, invited Tjerk, Omotola & Szymon to show their works on the 2Tango.Work modules and the Mini.AI systems. This picture is made right after the meetup, feeling pretty proud about how far we’ve come in this ambitious journey!
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In Maarsseveen 2019

08 2019 - Supported book published by author

The ‘Junior Poepdokter’ is written by Nienke Gottenbos, a well-known and knowledgable professional in the areas of the intestinal flora of the human body.

The author asked for some extra eyes and we supported her efforts by suggestions for the tone of voice and minor rewrites of chapters about neurodivergent kids and food.

Neurodiversity Foundation helpt mee met boek Junior Poepdokter
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In Rotterdam 2019

08 2019 - Athenian Summer

During the hot summer of 2019, the Athenians of 2Tango & Neurodiversity Foudation work very hard, appreciating the cool air-conditioned office of the Rotterdam Science Tower (in the back of the picture). Big steps are made for Mini.AI en the Signs project.
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In Amsterdam 2019

07 2019 - Board Meeting 2019

Second boardmeeting of the year at the Eye with Lana, Ana, Omotola & Tjerk. We have three boardmeetings per year, and one annual social meetup for the whole organization. Our conclusion of this meeting: Full Steam Ahead!
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In Amstelveen 2019

06 2019 - Team Pride

Team working on Brainy, Mini & Signs.

This picture was made with half the team, missing out some researchers, auxiliary teams, the board and our elder developers.
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In Amsterdam 2019

06 2019 - Pride Event Amsterdam

Workshop ‘Embrace your differentness’ on the Neurodiversity Pride Day, at the Amsterdam event. Hosted by the ADHD Cafe, and created and presented by Renee Snijder.
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In Amstelveen 2019

06 2019 - Wall of Inclusion

Deputy Mayor Marijn van Ballegooijen was the very first official to introduce the Neurodiversity Pride day in 2019 to his local constituents with a beautiful message of inclusion, and the worth of allways being yourself. In 2020, on Pride Day, the organizations creating the pride day, will launch the “Wall of Inclusion”. Our preparation is in asking 16 deputees, like Marijn, to state a positive message of neurodiverse inclusion on behalf of their city, to the neurodivergents in their communities. Sending out a message that their city is for all their inhabitants, with all neurotypes. These messaged will be captured on the ‘Wall of Inclusion’, which will be projected on videoscreens in participating cities.
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In Utrecht 2019

06 2019 - Premiere Video series ‘Powerfully Different’

The video series of the Neurodiversity Foundation made for Pride day, was premiered at the Utrecht Event, at the location of the national association for Autism in the Netherlands. It was the first public viewing of ‘Krachtig Anders’ for the members of the NVA presented by Kees, Tjerk & Diantha. The video series can be seen on this website and on the youtube channel of the foundation.
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in Rotterdam 2019

06 2019 - Rotterdam Pride Day Event: Codifying the first word of Signs

The Neurodiversity Pride Day event in Rotterdam, had aTech meet-up at the Rotterdam Science Tower. For the very first time, ever, a word was taught to the Mini.AI by the participants that were present for the tech talk by Omotola Bolarin. The word was digitally coupled with a physical motion that identifies the word for all usecases. The very first word we taught Mini.AI was the word ‘Pride’. The graspable motion consisted of the subpartmotions of (I + positive state + share onto + everyone else)
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In Instagram 2019

06 2019 - Influencers Campaign for Pride

First ‘Swipe Left’ post of the foundation, ever. The post is part of the larger social influencers campaign, called ‘We Are All Nuts’, taking over the Instagram of the foundation during June 2019.
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In Nederland 2019

06 2019 - Value of Female Autistics – Video series

To illuminate the world with the real existence of many positive traits that manifest in autistics females, the foundation decided to ‘kick the bucket of constant negative labelling’, and shine a light of what is bright and beautiful instead. Diantha will be interviewing (dutch speaking) female autistics and experts, on which neurodivergent trait makes them particularly good in their job. We hope to present them to the Netherlands via our partner the NVA, and present them at the Neurodiversity Pride Day, to a ‘worldwide’ audience. Using ‘worldwide’ loosely: Meaning you will be able to see them for free as well. Because, that is what we wish for. The cameraman for this project is Merlijn Goldsack, a young and talented autistic that created his own self-employed company for video services. Its coached and co-produced by Ancilla van de Leest.
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In Rotterdam 2019

06 2019 - The many paths towards cooperations

As we grow with the aims we wish to move forward, more interested parties come to meet us, and lay down the groundwork for cooperation in the future. On this particular day, we presented the 2Tango.Work proejct for the GAK Instituut.
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In Amstelveen 2019

05 2019 - Amstelveen joins Neurodiversity Pride

Prepping and preparing for the Neurodiversiteitsrede, with representatives of the government, the ggz and the production team working on the Amstelveen Event for Neurodiversity Pride day. The location is adorned with rainbows, making it our ultimate place for the main event of the Pride Day.
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In Amsterdam 2019

05 2019 - Preparing the We Are All Nuts campaign

Preparation of the social influencer campagne, sending packages with T-shirt, with handwritten notes, for others to show their own brainpride & proclaim love for diversity
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In Philippines, Usa, Sri Lanka 2019

04 2019 - Brainy Shipped Worldwide

With more and more requests from schools coming in, we keep sending packages to all the corners in the world. Brainy, and the concept of Brainy, seems to work in many different cultures.
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In de Bilt 2019

03 2019 - Keynote for Autism week 2019 (NL)

Tjerk gave a keynote to the NVA (Dutch association for autism), to kick off the autisme week in the Netherlands. The 60 volunteers and employees got introduced to the assistive technology that the ATHENS Initiative is building to support autistics to thrive in life.

In de Bilt
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In Amsterdam 2019

03 2019 - Neurodiversity Pride Preparatory Planning

The Neurodiversity Pride Day will be held on the 18th of June. Over 100 students from the HVA Creativiteit & Innovatie department, pondered over creative concepts to support the Neurodiversity Pride Day in the Netherlands. 10 Teams presented, each their own tool, program or message. The best group was Team Walnut, and we will move forward with their beautiful plan summarized by the campaign slogan ‘We are all Nuts’.

Presenting the mission to the class of 2019
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In Almere 2019

03 2019 - My Amazing Brain in classrooms – Brain Awareness Week

To celebrate Brain Awareness Week, the Neurodiversity Foundation published the My Amazing Brain Magazine. It has lots of assignments and imagery facilitating acceptance and appreciation of differences in the classroom. The magazine is part of a program for schools that we want to grow in size & impact. On our first pilot, Lana visited three schools, ‘with Brainy’, the avatar that takes the kids on a interesting journey through their mind. Schools interested in the program, the workshop or the magazine, can mail directly to lana@neurodiversiteit.nl.

The magazine and Brainy was created by Eleonora. The text is created by Saskia Weniger. And Lana helps out on every front as program coordinator.
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In Amsterdam 2019

03 2019 - Starting the supercomponents

Deepdive day with the first days of specialists Georgia, Dominic & Niels, at HVA Data Science. Georgia works on the visual designs of Brainy, Dominic & Niels are highly specialized programmers building some of the major supercomponents of Mini.AI.
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In Amsterdam 2019

03 2019 - Brainy App

For the new innovations we are creating, we are also creating a Brainy App. It will be part of the second edition of the My Amazing Brain Magazine. It will be a fun game, to support neurodiverse understanding in the classroom. It will also allow our first testers to use some of our cool features in small games.
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In Los Angelos 2019

03 2019 - Considering international partnerships

To reach the level of 10 million users, we must look in a concrete and pragmatic way in how to achieve it, and what seems likely is that we are going to need some friends to want us to succeed on a intrinsic level. We can build the very best tool ever build, but we are not specialized yet in product implementation and scaling. Especially looking at our third goal, which is beyond the local market, we felt it to be smart to consider partnerships with entrepreneurs who have more experience in the area than we do. We welcome their wisdom, and will use their support to help out our people with the Mini.AI project specifically, and the pheasable dream of integrating Mini.AI & Signs into screenware, implementable assisted communication for neurodivergents everywhere. This would enable any hospital, carehome or government building to get an ‘autism-friendly’ upgrade for screen-assisted communication.
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In Nederland 2019

02 2019 - Three wonderful persons join the Initiative

On our first first Birthday, three new athenians officially started. Ana Maldonado will be board member, Erik Post legal & finance and Diantha will be in control of our social media channels.
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In Rotterdam 2019

02 2019 - First Birthday of the Foundation

The first birthday of the foundation was celebrated in our Rotterdam Office with the developers team.

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In Eindhoven 2019
02 2019 - Speech therapists join the research

From Eindhoven, three speech therapist who are ‘best at class’ are (self-)selected for the research efforts. Their research will centre around three crucial questions, that will support us in iterating the current version of the Signs Language to a more optimal form. The questions are:

What top 100 sentences are wanting to be said (without words or conversation) by autistics.

Upon which 80 language constructs (sentence snippets) do these sentencings depend?

Which movements can be suggested for the gestural language ingrained in Signs as a communication system?

Each researcher will answer this query on one of three different areas: parents-autistic communication, best friend – autistic communication, and teacher/coach/counselor – autistic communication.
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In Rijswijk 2019

02 2019 - Neurodiversity Foundation presents at Data Science for Good

The new collaboration organization for organizations that work with data for the greater good of mankind, invite the Athenians to present their work in the first meetup of it’s existence.

In Rijswijk
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In Noord-Holland 2019

02 2019 - Creation of the My Amazing Brain Magazine

To support the move towards a more neurodiverse and inclusive society, we created a magazine for youngsters about the brain. The magazine is created to support interest and curiosity into each others differences, leading to more neurodiverse friendships and understanding.

The magazine (& its avatar Brainy), is designed by Eleonora Spagnuolo, content is from Saskia Weniger, and overall project management & outreach has been done by Lana Jelenjev.

The first limited edition, will be given to schoolkids of three international schools in the Netherlands. Also the NVA volunteers will receive an addition. As well as some like-minded sympathizers, supporting the vision of the Initiative. The first edition is in English language, we hope to create Dutch language versions as well for dutch speaking schoolrooms.
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In Amsterdam 2019

02 2019 - New style of 2Tango.Dating demo

Wybe is coding the 2Tango.Dating app, with the Together functionality, partially included into the system. However a new design felt really really needed, for it to be used by many, rather than a few users. The new conceptual layout, co-designed by Kevin, will revolve around the 2Tango logo, that has a colorwheel-circle around it.

2Tango.Dating logo in early stages, with the colorwheel. The wheel suggest visually the diverse types of choices of (inter)activity between 2 individuals. The play button suggest the excitement of interaction, and the choice to either pauze, stop or move forward with possible time spend together.
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In Utrecht 2019

01 2019 - Grant for the Messenger prototype

Since the research effort is going very well, the SIDN Fonds decided to give the 2Tango organization a grant to build the prototype for Signs Messenger. Its a happy day for us and our teams. As a result: Szymon joins the effort as productmanager for 2Tango.Work.
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In Maarssen 2018

12 2018 - Neurodiversity Foundation annual supper

On the annual supper, members of the Neurodiversity Foundation come to eat and enjoy each others company, not working for a couple of hours, together .
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In Amsterdam 2018

11 2018 - Data Scientists join the research

To grow the research efforts, the ATHENS Initiative pitches their mission for upcoming Data scientists, as the only non profit on stage. Two of the smartest students join the research efforts.

Kevin will research the ‘strategies’ element of the Mini.AI infrastructure, specifically guiding the ’employer- autistic employee communication’.

Natalie will research the voice of ‘Little Sister Mini’ and couple interventions for autistics to ‘state&state changes’.
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In Rotterdam 2018

11 2018 - Product Manager joins the Initative

Growing in ambition and enthusiasm, need a product manager to keep track of our main projects. After 6 months of ‘interning/advising’, and testing the waters in presenting the cause, the founders choose Szymon Maka to become the third pillar of 2Tango organization, focussing specifically on the 2Tango.Work project. His first event is the ‘Nieuwe Energie’ event, showcasing all the Citylab projects of Rotterdam.

Productmanagers very first presentation

Szymon at work

Presenting 2Tango.Work in Rotterdam
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In Amsterdam & Den Haag 2018

11 2018 - Happiness detection system

The 2 winnings teams of the Qchallenge collect their prices, and share the tech we can build upon. On of the new features to support the wish to uncover the mysteries of ‘state & state change’ is put forth by the team of Charris, a concept called; Happiness detection by unlabelled data. We won’t tell you exactly how this works, but if you are interested in contributing, or researching topics like this: if you are clever or capable, let us know. We always have space in our research teams.
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In Amsterdam 2018

11 2018 - VR Experience for Sensory Overload

The Hogeschool van Amsterdam joins the initiative, and in the creativity department organizes that their students forge in teams, a 360 degrees VR experience to support understanding of employers of the sensory issues that trouble autistics in work-areas.

The research done by the students show the opportunity at hand for this option. The foundation will seek for ways to incorporate this concept into the 2Tango.Work technologies we build. The judges of the competition are Martin, Tjerk, Merlijn and Diantha.
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In Amsterdam 2018

10 2018 - Opening the stock exchange

Neurodiversity Foundation & Ece & Tulpp opened the stock exchange.

Neurodiversity Foundation & Ece & Tulpp open aex index

Neurodiversity Foundation opens stock exchange – with lana and tjerk
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In Amsterdam 2018

10 2018 - Hackathon Q Challenge

To celebrate the anniversary of Qualogy, they organize a Hackathon called Q Challenge, and selects Neurodiversity Foundation to put forth a topic to support our mission. In 7 teams, groups of different students, PHDs and other bright minds, forge possible solutions for the query at hand which is centred around using user-data to gauge emotional state, and state change. Solving this issue, will support autistics in reducing the problems caused by Alexithymia (which is the reduced ability to self-report emotional state of state changes), of which about 40% of autistics experience in daily life. We will continue with the research of the 2 most successful groups in the years to come, aiming to make it a central feature of the Signs, Work & Mini.AI projects.

Neurodiversity Hackathon “Q Challenge” organized by Qualogy for the foundation

Neurodiversity Hackathon “Q Challenge” organized by Qualogy for the foundation

Launch Q Challenge promotional video at Qualogy

Launch Q Challenge promotional video at Qualogy

Team during the hackathon of the Qchallenge together with Qualogy

hackathon foto Neurodiversity Foundation with Qualogy

Neurodiversity Hackathon “Q Challenge” organized by Qualogy for the foundation
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In Amsterdam 2018

10 2018 - Meeting Sophia

Hopeful to be leading researchers in our field one day in the future, the founders of the ATHENS Initiative also have inspiration they draw from bright academic minds. Particularly the works of Ben Goertzel & Dr Hanson are a direct catalyst for our drive, and are inspirational rolemodels in character and expertise. To see their best work, called Sophia.AI, Omotola & Tjerk were invited to be present at the presentation of Obama, where Dr Hansons Robot was present too. The technical projects in Mini.ai we create adhere to the ‘Loving AI’ framework put forth by Ben Goertzel & his teams.

Omotola and Tjerk seeing Sophia.AI and Obama in Amsterdam
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In Eindhoven 2018

09 2018 - Signs gamification team

Research team for Signs learning & gamification opportunities. An excellent research effort, with demo’s, explorations and a high level of overall cleverness.
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In Rotterdam 2018

08 2018 - Commercial managers join the research

To decide where we will ship our product to, is a more challenging question when thoroughly investigated: will we ship our solutions via an open market for individual users, via the municipalities, via large corporations or via care organizations. To figure out our options, one research team from the Instituut voor Commercieel Management mulled over all the options, and presented their advice on how to move forward.
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In Rotterdam 2018

07 2018 - 2Tango receives grant from Citylab for 2Tango.Work

2Tango was given a significant grant to research & build the 2Tango.Work project for digitally assisted work-related communication, via the Citylab project of the municipality of Rotterdam, the homebase of our main office at the Science Tower.
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In Rotterdam 2018

07 2018 - DevDay

Devdays, short for Developer Day, are held monthly in either 2Tango or Neurodiversity Foundation. Its a day where all developers and contributors to the technical project come together, to talk code en structure data. It started out small, and grows in size when the need for it reveals herself.

Mini.AI technology by Neurodiversity Foundation presentation on DevDay

neurodiversiteit stichting – working together
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Online & Local 2018

07 2018 - Making friends everywhere

Because our ambitions of the ATHENS Initiative are bold, and our resolve unwavering, the founders ‘make friends’ with large companies, organizations, schools, and fellow neurodivergents. Organizations we visit, we usually call our friends. We aim to visit all organizations in the Netherlands that have 200+ workers in their employment (within the context of the likelyhood that a part of these workers are neurodivergents). Some of these friendship leads to receiving unexpected support, in advice, a introduction, invitation and so on. We are very grateful for what is given to us as a gift, without a need for reciprocation. And we will continue to accept that, until we are done with our big goals.

And this works. For all parties involved. Because the problem we aim to solve, is present in every major organization, and fixing it, means enabling potentially succesfull people to thrive, also in their jobs. And we want to help autistics and neurodivergents keep their job, and feel safe in their work-related communication: there is a clear logic as to why organizations enjoy working with us and vice versa. But also, let this be said and stated clearly: there are simply a very large sum of very good and kind people, who use their smarts or compassion to understand why we are doing what we do, and chose to support us in ways we could not have imagined.

ATHENS bij KPN & WSF

KPN Start up Event, with ATHENS.
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In Nederland 2018

06 2018 - Neurodiversity Pride Day

On the 18th of June 2018, the Neurodiversity Pride Day was celebrated. The Neurodiversity foundation hosted the events, to support the neurodiversity movement & its sympathizers in the Netherlands.

It was also the very first day we got our Tshirts, designed by Eleonora Spanuolo. It shows our logo; the brain with the heart in mind.

official neurodiversity pride day banner
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In Amsterdam 2018

05 2018 - Creation of visual works

We needed a bright mind to create our core visual works. While many artists & student groups can support us with their ideas, it was Eleonora Spaguolo who generates things of beauty for the foundation. Her most important work is the Brain with the Heart in Mind (the logo), but also Brainy (and Superbrainy!), the faded rainbow, the clothing, the support cards, the My Amazing Brain magazine and the Neurodiversity Pride day materials are all visually composed and imagineered in her mind, and created with love, and lots of coffee.

Neurodiversity Pride Day Banner 2019 Neurodiversity Foundation

Support cards for Neurodiversity
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In Den Haag 2018

05 2018 - Funding the Foundation

Winning the Big Pitch and getting the funds to start up and finance parts of our research efforts.

Winning the Pitch and getting funds to start up

Just before the Pitch and getting funds to start up
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In Amsterdam 2018

04 2018 - Board Meetings

The foundation has three board meetings each year. On these days, Tjerk & Omotola report about everything relevant to the ATHENS Initiative, and the foundation specifically. We have wonderful board members, we are very lucky to be working with them.
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In Buiten-Veldert 2018

03 2018 - Developer builds first Together prototypes

One of our first developers Wybe, has allways been dedicated solely to the 2Tango Together project. He aims to build a digital tool to allow activity matching of two individuals via customizable menu’s, and will continue the work to also support family-based activity matching. Starting at 2Tango organization for over 8 months, in December 2018, the foundation was grateful to give him a developer position in our team, focussing specifically on activity-matching. The prototypes will be tested on: http://2Tango.dating

stichting neurodiversiteit – main developers 2018 with Erik Kees Wybe Tjerk and Omotola
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In Amsterdam 2018

02 2018 - Foundation officially created

On the 15th of February 2018 the Neurodiversity Foundation was officially founded, with Lana Jelenjev as chairperson & Eleonora Spagnuolo as boardmember, and Tjerk as director.
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In Den Haag 2018

02 2018 - Putting Neurodiversity on the political agenda

ATHENS Initiative joins Merlijn Goldsack (Merlin Blue) and Saskia Buma (prikkelprofiel.nl) in a meeting with Lisa Westerveld, a politician in the Tweede Kamerlid of the Netherlands. She accepts our handed proposals for improving the ability to thrive for autistics, and states her wish to be a good friend to the mission. Some of our offers include Signs & Mini.AI, and a basic income for long term unemployed autistics. We accept that it may take years for this situation to be accepted by a majority.

In the years to follow, Lisa actually keeps her word, and speaks up to the parliament, multiple times, for issues concerning autistics, dyslectics and marginalized kids in general. Her voice is one of the few inspiring ones in politics, as she is trying to pave the way for a more inclusive society. Her efforts and proposals are most often not accepted by the majority, but being represented at all, is a seachange for our minority, and for all of us with neurological differences.
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In Utrecht 2018

02 2018 - Presenting at Inspirator

At Inspirator, the newest upcoming healthcare initiative represent themselves, and 2Tango gets a slot as on of the three keynote speakers. It leads to a fire-fuelled speech, encouraging new healthcare startups to be bold, brave and to convert their pain into love, as they will run into it, in their steps towards growth and innovation. Innovation that other unknown to them will need them to continue.

As Tjerk walks to the stage, he throws his microphone in a corner, and uses the full force of his voice to pervey the message of inclusion and courage in entrepreneurialism. ‘I wasn’t aware that I was going to do that’said Tjerk afterwards, ‘but when I talk about my mission, fear and tact dissapear, and my whole body takes over‘.
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In Rotterdam 2017

11 2017 - Moving to the Third Office of the ATHENS Initiative

Setting up the organizations 2Tango & Neurodiversity Foundation, as a startup needs some physical space to work, but being the first group of the Honours Program of Ece, we moved to an office that could house 30 developers. Months later, we are moved to locations more suitable to our actual needs, but the feeling of ‘now, we are officially a start up’ dawned on us first, in our first day at this office at the Science Tower in Rotterdam.

In this ‘third office’ the ideas of Abri, as visioneered by Omotola, are meshed with the concepts of Signs, and of the autistic support artificial intelligence we would start calling ‘Mini.AI’ in the years to come.
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In Rotterdam 2017

11 2017 - CTO starts Mini.ai research

A new research start to cover the issue of ‘dynamic understanding in real time’, starting with discussions on the concepts of what we would start to call: ‘The Constrained Infinite’ , resulting with the application of TM technology and the invention of our own Mini.AI. The technological projects aims to build the world first autistic life support system with Mini & Signs integrated. The ambitious project of the ATHENS Initiative will be run by our CTO Omotola Bolarin, who has a great knowledge on language and machine learning, and controls which research efforts and prototypes will be open sourced, and which elements are to be researched further before releasing it.
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In Rotterdam 2017

11 2017 - Back to school

After winning the Sustainable Healthcare Challenge, the team of early developers continue to learn new skills needed for the mission, in workshops, sessions and brainstorms. A new focus is Human Centred Design Thinking.

Tjerk graduates from the Amsterdam Centre of Entrepreneurship and the Erasmus Centre of Entrepreneurship.
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In Nijmegen 2017

10 2017 - Showcasing solutions

Showcasing our works to autistics results in them supporting our mission, ideas and vision. And understanding how they are rarely listened to, even when their opinion is asked, made a change in us. In 2017 the initiative decided to align themselves with the ASAN network, and its slogan ‘nothing about us without us’ and the call for an inclusive neurodiversity in society.

One of the problems we were struck by, in meeting many of our autistic brothers and sisters, was the realisation that our early stage prototypes of the autisme-friendly language Signs and how it could be used, were biased to solve communication problems specifically for individuals that used to be categorized as Asperger & PDDnos. It was this realization; that we were not helping all autistics, that wouldn’t leave us, and that we should not allow ourselves to take that easy road. It resulted to a pivot, to focus more and more on neurodiverse translation, and integrate new communication options usefull for individuals unable to use screens or complex technology. New ways to communicate were carried in the Swipes, Shakes & Morsecode functionalities. In this way we can translate between more types, taking a more inclusive stance in our approach.

Also, the preparations for the foundation, took a much more inclusive approach to serving all neurodivergents to thrive, with additional campaigns and schoolproject. The main technological project would remain focussed on solving the issue for autistics first, because we were the first to have a real shot at actually solving it.
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In Rotterdam 2017

10 2017 - Second office

Our second office was small, and shared with Burg Foods, a startup creating cricket-based burgers. It seems humble and simple, but it was all we needed to start building our innovation and our growing organization.
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In Apeldoorn 2017

10 2017 - Presentation at Health & Care day 2017

“Dit is je uitnodiging….”

Tjerk presents 2Tango Signs for 400 healthcare professionals and invites them to join in solving the problem.
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In Den Haag 2017

09 2017 - Winning the Social Challenge

A new competition: Social Challenge against Loneliness, spearheaded by the KPN, has 2 winners, of which one is 2Tango. It is the first time the public hears about the grand plan of the ATHENS Initiative. The original concept of the logo was a tree, made by individuals, in diverse color coding.

The price was a chance to pitch for the funding we needed, and a education to school the founder Tjerk, to become a better business person. The education in entrepreneurialism is at the Erasmus Centre of Entrepreneurship in Rotterdam.
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In Rotterdam 2017

05 2017 - 2Tango wins Sustainable Healthcare Challenge 2017

In a competition with over 100 applicants, 2Tango takes the largest price of all, and wins the nation wide Challenge. It is indeed, our proudest moment up to that date. Our first developer Kees is our hero, as he build the first prototypes of the selfmanagement app. And the pricemoney of 3500 euro, as humble as it may seem, goes a very very long way into funding our daily costs. It also allows for the money needed, to forge a research centre, that will do all the research requiered to fulfill our mission. This research centre, will later be called the Neurodiversity Foundation, or ‘Stichting Neurodiversiteit’ in the local language.
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Online 2017

05 2017 - Joining global networks

We can be alone, or we can find the smartest or kindest friends out there, and we are doing that continually. Every month we are adding new friends to our: “Awesome autism organizations” list. Specifically we feel connected to ASAN (autistic self advocacy network), and think in the same ways. We also cooperate with Ed Wiley Autism centre; We want to bring the neurodivergent narwhal to the Netherlands, and Europe at large. The list is long, and welcoming more ‘friends’, that support the logic of ‘nothing about us without us’.

Do what makes you flappy – Neurodivergent Narwhals, originated in the Ed Wiley Autism Centre.
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In Nederland 2017

04 2017 - Testing connection-based events

The 2Tango organization is build upon 7 insights, that are constantly being tested in events focussed on connecting two individuals to upgrade their time together. Each 2Tango event is a test for a new iteration of ‘the perfect system’, trying out new applications, activities, strategies and user-experiences. All insights need to be tested, in order to be validated for that system, and checked for interpretation by different types of participants. It results in about a thousand of participants spending time with each other, in the way they both choose to do so, within the context that feels fitting for the pair. Most of the insights are focussed on reducing awkwardness and friction in connecting, needs-matching and mutual consent. More information on these connections events and its prototypes, go to 2Tango.org for more information.

Its together research program focusses on different types of connection made between strangers, fellows, friends, romantic dates. The net for which types of human interactions we can facilitate grows wider with every test. Lessons learned are integrated into the blue-prints of the digital tools for the 2Tango.Together project that we build, in order to provide the public access to these systems.

2Tango.Walkie talkie prototype event

2Tango.Walkie talkie prototype event

2Tango.Together workshop

flirtdek voor summerdating 2Tango

Silent date zone pictures with Klazien

2Tango vipzone

Friendzone & Datingnight 2Tango with Klazien

2Tango Summerdating banner

2Tango duisterdating banner
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In Amsterdam 2017

04 2017 - Choosing the symbol for Signs

The logo of our communication infrastructure Signs is inspired by an image*, that illustrates communication struggles in an elegant way.
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In Amsterdam 2017

04 2017 - Winning in the Hack the Government hackathon

The neurodiverse team of Fons, Tjerk, Aleksandr and Dennis decide to call themselves ‘Divergents’, and join a governmental hackathon, to figure out why kids are failing at school. We hacked our way with data into one of the core issues in education: the limited ability of teachers to be aware of the neurological variance in their classrooms, as a indication as to why so many autistics aren’t doing well in this system. We found in the data sets proof that about 5000 neurodivergent (autistic) kids are ‘overlooked’ by teachers, and therefore often mislabelled as ‘bad kids’.

The team did not ‘win’in term of the first or second price, but we got the honorary mention, awarded with 500 euros and flowers.

Ideas are pitched to the municipality to reduce the problems at hand, but these ideas die slowly in the demotivating bureaucratic systems of the government.

This is the exact moment the aims and intents of the political arm of the ATHENS Initiative was formed.

Divergents team – hack de overheid

Neurodiversity Foundation – divergents team – hack de overheid

Neurodiversity Foundation tjerk bij pitch

Neurodiversity Foundation divergents team
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In Apeldoorn 2017

03 2017 - Early stage prototype selfmanagement app

The first prototypes of the ‘tapping’ functionality of the Signs language, are forged by developer Kees. Made in java, it is focussed on self-reporting and autism-friendly styled sentence formation. The prototype works, and is fairly effective, but is not ‘dynamic’ in its tracking. To be used by millions this needs to be improved, and part of it is because it doesn’t learn quickly enough from what the individual user needs, before the need for communication arises in a situation. The teams grows in size to tackle this problem.

Later in the research effort, we investigate different types of individuals with ASS, TOS, and neurological variances that lead to limited speech. We pivot in our small group of Signs-users to a wider net, and completely overhaul our system, as to include other neurodivergent groups that could really use the technology we are building. The main focus remains autisme-friendly communication, but over time we understand that we can help more persons, with issues in communication that seem similar to issues autistics face daily.
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In Apeldoorn 2016

11 2016 - First cooperation with fellow autistics

2Tango meets with Danny Beukers to pitch the 2Tango.Signs selfmanagement-app for autistic communication. He had set up Authentict, a organization for autistics to be able to work in harmony. One of the programmers, Kees Heil, is very curious about the project, and wishes to code it. He was supported by Peter and Maryse, but Kees was doing all the work.

This was a very important moment for 2Tango, because in Kees we had the support that we needed to move forward with the 2Tango Signs project. The cooperation with Kees was so nice, that he came to be a stable force in our organization, and drafted many important functions for Signs. Authentict bankrupted months after, having lots of goodwill, and lots of people clapping at this inspiring initiative, all wanting this organization to be successful, but still holding out on lucrative assignments that could allow for the organization to pay for its bills. Goodwill, Danny said, will not pay for the bills, you have to do better.

The bankrupcy of his first partner and rolemodel, left a stark impression on Tjerk; to make in the preparations of the ATHENS Initiative absolutely sure to discover a way for the product to be financially viable in the market, and safe while producing, for we would be building the tech, for the years to come.
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In Utrecht 2016

04 2016 - 2Tango at Jaarbeurs Utrecht

To connect female & male developers more optimally, 2Tango organizes ‘Offline – 2Tango connectzone’ in the main stage of the Utrecht Jaarbeurs, on request of a technology conference. The program consists of lots of new activities, and the new prototype for the ‘Meta Clock’, utilizing the main stages biggest screen, for 40 individual countdown-counters, one for each date.

Team of the day is Tjerk, Jori, Egbert and Klazien.
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In Hierden 2015

09 2015 - Testing activity menus

One of the very first ‘zone’ events in our history; a “dating & friendzone” activity night, inspired by the concepts and guidelines of the 2Tango together project. Its the live version aiming to create the perfect system to facilitate two individuals spending time together. Its also a testing ground for new concepts and iterations.

Elma & Tjerk facilitated at the first ‘2tango balie’, resulting in 40 dates of 2 persons in 2 hours, with a massive 12 options on the menu.
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In Nederland 2015
01 2015 - Rise of the ATHENS Initiative

Core statement of the Assistive Tech Hub Enhancing a Neurodiverse Society (ATHENS Initiative): The problem is not solved by doing nothing. *

The plan we enact has three phases:

1. Build something that works to solve* the problem of neurodiverse translation.

2. Distribute the system to facilitate conversations of 10.000 dutch autistics, in Dutch language & English translated via Signs.

3. Scale up to a global service to support access to the tools for 10 million neurodivergents, in most languages and cross languages**

* Solving means: campaigning for awareness is nice, but not enough to actually solve the problem. Acceptance alone, is not enough. Appreciation alone, is not enough. We need to actually forge a product that reduces the communication issues for autistics, and our best shot at this, is a technical solution, that can be scaled and used by autistics for all nations. To be effective, the research of phase 1, remains in english and dutch.

** We are a idealistic initiative, by neurodivergents, for neurodivergents, supporting neurodiverse teams; therefore we aim to make it free for all autistics unable to contribute financially; because solving the problem, does not mean only solving it for ‘rich folks’. The goals of the ATHENS Initiative are non-financial, and focussed on the impact goals as stated.

Founding partners of the ATHENS Initiative

For the initiative to be effective, we need a long-term approach with a ‘research-centre’ and a ‘product-building-centre’.

Neurodiversity Foundation is founded to do all the research, cooperate with partners, and support the societal change to acceptance, appreciation and inclusion.

2Tango, as a social impact company, will dedicate itself* to creating the products that solve the problem in neurodiverse translation, and support the builds of tools that can help autistics thrive in live.

ATHENS Initiative is offically starting in 2018, but it has been a project in the making since the very start of all we do.

* 85% of 2Tango’s resources and worktime is used for autism-centered support tools like Signs, Work & Mini.ai. The remaining 15% is used for the Together project, including testing of concepts via events.

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