To strengthen socially responsible and inclusive public sector services, Baltic InnoLab has joined an international initiative “Sense BSR – Enhancing accessibility of public recreational services for the neurodivergent individuals in the Baltic Sea Region”, funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region 2021-2027 programme.
Neurodiversity has only recently started to receive the public attention it deserves. Up to 20% of the Baltic Sea Region’s population is estimated to be neurodivergent, and that number continues to grow. Recreational public services (such as, access to and activities in parks, cultural venues, sports facilities, community centres), play a vital role in the lives of neurodivergent people (NDP). They offer opportunities for better health, social inclusion, and personal development. Yet these needs are too often overlooked when such services are designed and delivered.
During the two-year initiative, partners from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will equip local public authorities and recreational public service providers with the knowledge, capacity and co-creative methods to develop and deliver inclusive and tailored services for a population that has been underserved – residents with neurodivergent features. This goal will be achieved through two key project activities which will directly involve local authorities and recreational public service providers: targeted training sessions and collaborative co-creation workshops. Together, these initiatives will strengthen institutional capacities to design and implement public recreational services tailored to the unique needs of underrepresented group of residents.
In this project, Baltic InnoLab will be responsible for community outreach and long-term partnership formation activities, which aim:
1) to raise public awareness of the NDPs’ needs, strengthen community involvement and tolerance towards them, and ensure greater visibility of local organizations’ activities and results within the project scope;
2) to strengthen the partnership between interested organizations and build further cooperation initiatives.
We invite those interested in the topic to follow the news of the Sense BSR project and get involved in its upcoming activities.
Read more about the initiative here: https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/sense-bsr/