The core work carried out during the project included two parts: 1) the outgoing phase; and the 2) reintegration phase.
Through the work performed during the first part, the action achieved the following results: 1] Permanent Training in Neurosciences and Cognitive Neurosciences. This objective was reached by establishing a collaboration with the UCSF-Dyslexia Centre and (2) the UCSF-STAR Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. 2] Specific training through research, which included the following areas: (a) understanding treatment and interventions; (b) deepening the understanding of diagnostic such as neuroimaging and neurocognitive tests both in the realm of NDD and LD; (c) deepening the understanding of neuro-anatomy and neurophysiology; (d) deepening the understanding of prevalence data. This training included the opportunity to understanding of the actual obstacles that patients and families encounter in everyday life, such as the difficulty in receiving services from the health care system or the public education system as well as in dealing with criminal and labour law systems. 3] Mapping legal and judicial implications of neurodiversity in a comparative perspective. NEDBELS mapped neurodiversity-related case law decided by constitutional courts in North America and Europe as well as case law decided by the European Court on Human Rights and the European Council on Social Rights. This data set of judgments was subsequently analyzed in a comparative perspective in order to verify differences and similarities between Europe and North America. 4] Mapping literature and debates. The mapping process was extended to the available literature on neurodiversity. This process determined a trans-disciplinary definition of neurodiversity. Moreover, legal and judicial mapping was reinforced by analyzing the political debates and social claims of the principal stakeholders in the field of neurodiversity. It included an analysis of policy-strategy and statements made by associations, self-advocacy movements, individual activists and socio-political platforms in Europe and in North America
Through the work performed during the second part, the action achieved the following objectives and results: 1] Reintegration phase (dissemination, public engagement, and Marie-Curie Ambassador). This objective was fulfilled through a schedule of: a) presentations, b) lessons in master degree programs and university courses at the H.I. and in other Italian and European academic and political institutions, c) speeches at national and international conferences, d) media appearances such as on radio programs, e) participation in public events, f) networking with national and international political, judicial and research institutions. 2] Secondment. Six- month Secondment were fulfilled at at the Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna in order to acquire further skills in neurosciences and to compare European and U.S. diagnostic methodologies. 3]Career advancement at the H. I.. This objective was fulfilled in order to expand further research and teaching opportunities in Law and Neurosciences. 4] Publication of of a comprehensive article on NEDBELS research achievements. This essay will be published in November 2018 in the NYU Journal of International Law and Politics. This objective is the result of: a) merging law and science data; b) synchronizing the comparative judicial analysis and the political analysis of social claims. The article proposes a new common heuristic framework involving neuroscience and law as well as a new theoretical paradigm of the constitutional principle of equality based on the most recent advances in neuroscience. 5] Mentorship of young researchers. NEDBELS achieved this objective by developing a program of mentorship for future researchers in the new field of Law and Neuroscience. 6] Further development: NEDBELS collaborated on designing an evidence-based studies for determining the prevalence of inmates with language-based learning disabilities in a prison setting. This new research long-term research development constitutes a major achievement of this action. It demonstrates the validity of the NEDBELS methodology and hypothesis, namely the importance of bringing together legal skills and neurocognitive tools in an interdisciplinary way.
