Page 22 - 2024 November Report

THE NEURODIVERSITY ALLIANCE MEETING REPORT
October 29, 2024
SF Participants
Bobby Krause, CEO
King Jordan Jr., Disability Programs Consultant Sharon Wood, Program Officer
Lisa Loomis, Executive Coordinator
David Flink, Co-Founder of Eye to Eye and Chief Empowerment Officer, asked for the meeting to share an update on Eye to Eye and their work strategizing their future direction as The Neurodiversity Alliance. The meeting began with brief introductions. David, who is well known to JSF, recently spoke at the US Treasury on disability rights for their thousands of employees. He is based in California.
David expressed his appreciation for JSF’s financial support since its beginning. The current two-year grant, for $250,000, was signed in April 2024 after they presented at the March 2024 Grant Program Committee meeting. Eye to Eye is now The Neurodiversity Alliance, or “ND Alliance” for short. ND Alliance is the largest network of neurodiversity-focused clubs on high school and college campuses nationwide. There are approximately 100 clubs, and they are being founded by and for students who learn differently.
Through an online community and new mobile app, students can access the tools to launch neurodiversity clubs on their campuses, along with a variety of scholarships, leadership opportunities, and national events designed to build community, develop leadership skills, facilitate peer-to-peer support, and raise awareness for the 1 in 5 who learn differently. The app’s design has been successful as it allows their staff of 4 to triage questions and increase their support for the new chapters. The app is constantly being updated as they use it and learn from the students.
The award-winning Eye to Eye Mentoring Program for students who learn differently still exists and remains a core program of The Neurodiversity Alliance, with a revamped curriculum and a new online portal and mobile app where advisors and student leaders can easily access training, resources, and support needed to implement the program locally.
Since rebranding, they have experienced early solid results, with a 61% increase in website visitors and a smooth transition of Eye to Eye web traffic to ND Alliance. Neurodiversity is “having a moment” in the country right now, and capturing the momentum has been helpful to students who have felt isolated and alone. David shared that the name Eye to Eye was confusing, as they received calls about eyeglasses. Interest in the clubs is taking off, and interest from corporations and new foundations is growing.
David mentioned that fundraising has been challenging the past few months, and they are encouraged by their steady interest and strong relationships with current funders.
Page 20 November Report