The kickoff meeting of Beyond Digits project took place in Lithuania on October 30 & 31, 2023, bringing together partners from across Europe to launch this groundbreaking initiative aimed at promoting financial literacy education for neurodivergent individuals.
Project First Transnational Meeting
Project partners met in the premises of PsPc in Panevėžys, Lithuania.
During two productive days, representative of project partners marked the start of the journey to improve the financial competencies with a full agenda.
Key highlights from the launch event:
- Presentation of project objectives and timeline
- Introduction of partner organizations
- Discussion of initial research findings
- Planning of next steps and milestones
Project Objectives
During the kickoff meeting, partners outlined the key objectives of the project:
- Develop accessible and neurodivergent-friendly educational resources on financial literacy
- Create innovative digital tools, including a 3D game and mobile application
- Establish a curriculum for professionals and educators
- Build a sustainable framework for financial education that meets the needs of neurodivergent adults
“Financial literacy is a crucial life skill that everyone should have access to. The Beyond Digits project represents an important step towards making financial education truly inclusive for neurodivergent individuals.”
— Project Coordinator
Project Timeline and Deliverables
The project will run for 24 months and will deliver several key outputs:
| Deliverable | Expected Completion | Lead Partner |
|---|---|---|
| State-of-the-Art Document | Q2 2024 | EASPD |
| Curriculum for professionals and neurodivergent adults | Q4 2024 | PC |
| 3D Game | Q2 2025 | KI-I |
| Mobile Application | Q2 2025 | OMEGA |
| Training Materials | Q4 2025 | PLOES |
The Importance of Financial Literacy for Neurodivergent Adults
Financial literacy is a critical life skill that impacts daily decision-making, economic well-being, and overall quality of life. However, neurodivergent individuals often face unique challenges when it comes to financial education:
- Traditional financial education materials are not always accessible or understandable
- Financial concepts can be abstract and challenging to visualize
- Managing finances requires executive functioning skills that may be affected by neurodivergence
- Few resources specifically address the unique learning styles of neurodivergent adults
The Beyond Digits project addresses these challenges by creating specifically tailored educational resources and digital tools that consider the diverse learning needs of neurodivergent individuals. The project adopts a co-productive approach, involving neurodivergent adults in the development process to ensure that the final products are truly user-friendly and effective.
Next Steps
Following the successful kickoff meeting, the project partners have begun work on the first major deliverable: a comprehensive State-of-the-Art document that will review existing financial literacy resources and identify the specific needs of neurodivergent adults in this area.
The next partner meeting is scheduled for Spring 2024, where the team will review progress and continue planning the development of the curriculum and digital tools.
