Winners of the 1st Annual Neurodiversity Awards Announced!　

Congratulations to all the winners!!!

First, here's a breaking news update!

This time, we received 177 entries from seven countries around the world.

https://neurodiversityawards.org

I received many awards from the UK, and I was also delighted to receive a message from the British Council.

The scene where OriHime accepted the award was also deeply moving, as it seemed to symbolize the Neurodiversity Award.

Through this award, I was able to learn about various case studies from both Japan and abroad. I’ve also received requests for collaboration, for which I am very grateful.

We’ll be featuring each winner’s initiatives at a later date!

[Social Implementation Category]

■Grand Prix

Initiatives by “Betel,” a Community Activity Center for People with Mental Illness and Other Conditions (Urakawa Betel House, Social Welfare Corporation)

■Runner-up

Inclusive Shopping Environments (Asda: United Kingdom)

Neurodiverse Friendly Town (Neurodiversity Ireland: Ireland)

■ Neurodiversity Award

Employment Transition Support and Independent Living Training (Life Skills Training) That Leverages the Strengths of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities / Neurodiversity Summit JAPAN 2024 (Kaien Co., Ltd.)

"Quiet Hour" Initiative for People with Sensory Sensitivity (Yamada Holdings Co., Ltd.)

The "mahora" Notebook (Oguri Shiko Co., Ltd.), Created by Listening to the Voices of People with Developmental Disabilities

"Tetetoko," a Social Networking Service That Connects People Based on Children's Developmental Characteristics (ZIZO, Inc.)

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower (Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme Limited: United Kingdom)

The Neurodiversity Umbrella Project (The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity: United Kingdom)

Experience Museum (La Città dei Bambini e dei Ragazzi: Italy)

[Research and Development Division]

■Runner-up

Telepresence Robot "OriHime" (Ori Institute, Inc.)

Training Program to Foster Understanding and Empathy for Developmental Disabilities Through VR Experiences and Expert Commentary (NTT ExC Partner Co., Ltd.)

Members of the Judging Panel (titles omitted)

Jun Ishikawa (Professor Emeritus, Shizuoka Prefectural University; President and CEO, Extra Ltd.; President, Japanese Society for the Study of Disabilities)

Joichi Ito (Co-founder and Director of Digital Garage, Inc.; President of Chiba Institute of Technology; Co-founder of the Neurodiversity School in Tokyo)

Masahiko Inami (Special Advisor to the President of the University of Tokyo; Deputy Director and Professor, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology)

Kiri (Artist / Professor, Department of Art and Design Expression, Media Expression Division, Joshibi University of Art and Design)

Kiyoshi Kurokawa (Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo and National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies; Special Professor Emeritus, Tokai University; Honorary Chairman for Life, Japan Health Policy Institute)

Naotaka Fujii (Director and CTO, Hakosco Co., Ltd. / M.D., Neuroscientist / Representative Director, BrainTech Consortium)