iZola.life - Unlocking Potential Through Evidence-Based Education for Neurodivergent Children

As parents ourselves, we firmly believe in the limitless potential of every child. It is this deep-rooted belief that drives iZola.life's mission to ensure that all neurodivergent children worldwide have the opportunity to receive early diagnosis and access to evidence-based therapeutic interventions.

Neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are not illnesses, but rather reflections of a society and environment that may not fully embrace their unique strengths and differences. Our goal is to bridge this gap with technology and compassion by integrating research-backed approaches into education and therapy solutions.

Globally, the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders, like ASD, is significant. In the US alone, around 1 in 44 children is diagnosed with ASD (CDC: 1 in 44 American Children Are Diagnosed With Autism (verywellhealth.com)). While precise data is lacking in Kenya, it is estimated that over 2 million people in the country require mental health services, including those with neurodevelopmental disorders. More data on prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood - PubMed (nih.gov)

Early diagnosis is key for neurodivergent children. It lays the foundation for tailored interventions and support that can profoundly impact their education, development, and quality of life. Without timely identification and appropriate interventions, many neurodivergent children face significant challenges in achieving their educational goals and unlocking their full potential.

iZola.life is dedicated to integrating evidence-based practices into education and therapy. We have developed innovative digital tools, such as the M.appy screening tool and the iZola therapy platform, specifically designed to cater to the unique needs of neurodivergent children and their families.

To ensure the effectiveness of our interventions, we are committed to evidence-based practices. We collaborate with experts in the field, engage in ongoing research and evaluation, and continuously update our tools and services based on client feedback, emerging evidence and validated methodologies.

Our vision is to create an inclusive learning environment where neurodivergent children can thrive and reach their full potential. We recognize the uniqueness of each child and the importance of personalized approaches. Through evidence-based practices, we strive to improve educational outcomes, promote inclusion, and enhance the overall well-being of neurodivergent children and their families.

Since we are using machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies it is at our core to ensure we minimize bias in the creation of the Al solutions and follow ethical and open standards for data. We believe in the amplified symbioses of human and AI, so humans and machines working together to scale the reach and cognitive capabilities of human experts.

At iZola.life, we are driven by a shared passion for making a positive impact in the lives of neurodivergent children. Together with parents, educators, therapists, and researchers, we can create a world where every child has the opportunity to flourish and embrace their individuality.

Dr. Wamuyu L. Owotoki serves as the CEO and scientific lead of iZola.life's solutions, leading the development team in Nairobi. Her role involves overseeing the development, stabilization, and release of our products to clients, as well as driving continuous improvement processes. Wamuyu actively engages with parent groups and foundations we collaborate with, ensuring our clients' active involvement in the further development and enhancement of our products.

In partnership with the ADAT foundation in Kenya, Wamuyu has developed the NEIS program (Neurodiverse Early Intervention Scholarship). This program aims to provide opportunities for families from challenging socio-economic backgrounds to benefit from iZola products, ensuring equitable access to our solutions.

As CEO, Wamuyu works closely with co-founder Martin to define and steer the strategic direction of iZola.life. Together, we shape our market focus and lead investor relations to support the growth and success of iZola.life.

Our team is well-positioned to effectively support the LEAP Project while managing other priorities within our organization. Through our expertise, collaboration, effective time management, and a deep commitment to our mission, we are confident in our ability to make an impact in the field of evidence-based education solutions for neurodivergent children.

Our team lead brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the field of neurodiversity and evidence-based digital biomarker to assess a child's emotions and potential neuropsychiatric conditions. With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by neurodivergent children and their families, our team lead is well-equipped to guide and oversee the LEAP Project's implementation. However, we are not trained educators or teachers.

Our team members are carefully selected based on their qualifications, skills, and passion for making a positive impact in the lives of neurodivergent children. Each team member possesses a unique set of competencies, ranging from research and data analysis to product development, licensed ASD therapist, user experience design and client engagement. Some of our team members are neurodivergent themselves, which gives a unique perspective to our mission. This diverse skill set allows us to approach the LEAP Project from multiple angles and ensures that we can address the project's various needs effectively.

To manage competing priorities, we have established regular meetings, both in-person and virtual, facilitate open discussions, progress updates, and decision-making processes. We leverage project management tools and techniques to track tasks, set priorities, and allocate resources efficiently. This enables us to strike a balance between the LEAP Project and other ongoing initiatives within our team.

Each team member is encouraged to allocate dedicated time and effort to new features and innovation to our products. This commitment is backed by our organization's strong belief in the mission and vision to make a positive impact to the lives of neurodivergent children.

We foster a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing within our organization. This collaborative approach is important and enhances the effectiveness of our team members but also enables us to tap into a broader network of stakeholders and partners, such as the LEAP Project.

While we recognize that managing multiple priorities can be demanding, we firmly believe in the importance of the LEAP Project and its potential to transform the educational landscape for neurodivergent children, an area neglected by science. However, we would also like to stress the importance of expertise in neuroscience and working with neurodiverse community provided by LEAP, in order to ensure a collaborative, effective and efficient project.

Transforming neurodivergent children's lives through evidence-based therapy and learning interventions tailored to their unique needs, empowering them to thrive.

We seeks to solve the lack of early diagnosis and access to evidence-based therapeutic and learning interventions for neurodivergent children. Many children go undiagnosed until later stages, impacting their educational progress and their overall well-being and their family. Even with a diagnosis, limited access to affordable and geographically accessible therapies hinders their development. The one-size-fits-all approach in education fails to address their diverse learning needs, in fact it might even harm them and halt development under certain conditions. See a most recent study The future of education and why a one size fits all approach isn’t best • SEN Magazine or an older publication Multidisciplinary Teamwork in Autism: Can One Size Fit All? | The Educational and Developmental Psychologist | Cambridge Core

Neurodivergent children have unique strengths and differences that require personalized and supportive education and therapy. However, many of them face barriers and challenges in accessing the services they need, such as lack of awareness, stigma, discrimination, cost, distance, and availability of qualified professionals. As a result, many neurodivergent children are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, and do not receive the interventions and support they need to thrive and reach their full potential. Ultimately, they may also develop other mental illnesses, such as anxiety. See clip with an interview of Peter Shankman, author of children's book "The boy with the faster brain", who explains what happened to him and other neurodivergent children when entering school system.

iZola is able to provide early diagnosis, evidence-based interventions, personalized assessments, and a network of qualified therapists. We aim to bridge the gap between research and practice, empowering children to overcome challenges and promoting inclusive educational environments.

• The M.appy screening tool enables early identification of neurodivergent characteristics, providing invaluable insights for therapists, educators, and families. By recognizing these traits at an early stage, healthcare professionals can implement targeted interventions that address each child’s specific needs.
• Our iZola therapy platform connects families with qualified experts, offering convenient and accessible therapy options. We understand that therapy is a crucial component of supporting neurodivergent children’s education and well-being. By providing a platform that facilitates therapy sessions, we ensure that families have access to professional support regardless of their location, socio-economic background or gender (girls are up to four times less diagnosed than boys).

We need to make clear, that we are not an education organisation nor educators or teachers, but we would like to gain more insights and direction from leading institutions, such as the LEAP Project, to develop our solution to accommodate more and better learning for neurodivergent children.

The iZola solution is a set of digital tools on a platform designed to help children with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These tools are created to support their learning and development. We have 3 products, M.appy to screen and diagnose, iZola platform to provide therapy and lastly the community engagement to foster collaboration and progress around the stakeholders. 

• Our M.appy screening tool is a mobile application that enables early identification of neurodivergent characteristics using gamified assessments and artificial intelligence. M.appy helps to identify traits and characteristics that may indicate a child is neurodivergent. This tool provides valuable information to therapists, teachers, and families, so they can understand the child's unique needs better and provide appropriate support. M.appy is still in development and in testing under clinical conditions with renowned clinics. It is planned the tool to be accessible to healthcare professionals and not to the general public.
• Our iZola therapy platform is an online platform that connects families with qualified experts, specialized in working with neurodivergent children, who provide convenient and affordable therapy options using video conferencing and chat features. It allows families to access therapy sessions conveniently, even if they live far away from the therapist's location. It is also possible to meet offline. The platform ensures that children receive the professional support they need for their development and well-being. Currently this solution is available in Kenia to more than 100 families and will be scaled across Kenia and in East Africa as of 2024. As input from the client community, we also are working on including group sessions, that would allow on therapist or teacher to provide session to the a whole group of children.

For this LEAP Project we would like to focus mainly on the iZola platform that is already in use with clients in Kenya.

Our products and programs are scalable and adaptable to different regions, languages or contexts where neurodivergent children face similar challenges or needs. Our solutions are based on scientific research and follow best practices in therapy and education for neurodivergent children. It is continuously improved and updated to provide the most effective support possible.

We have proven through studies at University Hospital Aachen Germany, that our vocal biomarkers can be used to screen ASD. We also use our digital biomarker to assess and measure learning progress. However, we do not have done studies that support the contribution to the learning plan. We leverage existing proven methods (paper forms, paper exercises, etc) digitise and combine them in a digital platform.

For our therapy or learning platform we use existing and proven learning interventions. 

Our innovation is to bring the different therapists together on one platform for the families with the neurodivergent children to have one common platform to interact to the benefit of the child. Only together they can define the best learning plan for the child. By leveraging insights from our digital biomarkers and results of the gamified learning tools in the iZola platform, we can measure the effectiveness and progress of the individual learning plan and provide insights and recommendations.

As we test and scale our solution in East Africa, we see some opportunities to strengthen our approach with evidence:

• Growing awareness and recognition: There is an increasing recognition of the importance of early diagnosis and evidence-based interventions for neurodivergent children. Society is becoming more aware of the unique needs of these children and the impact of early intervention on their long-term outcomes. By participating in the LEAP Project, we can leverage this growing awareness to promote our mission and contribute to the advancement of evidence-based education solutions.

• Technological advancements: Rapid advancements in technology have created new opportunities for innovation in the field of neurodiversity. Digital platforms and tools like ours offer enhanced accessibility, scalability, and personalized interactions and tailored learning plans. iZola.life Ltd., with our digital platforms like the M.appy screening tool (not part of this application, still in development) and the iZola therapy platform, can leverage these technological advancements to improve access and deliver more impactful interventions.

• Collaborative opportunities: The LEAP Project provides a platform for collaboration and partnership with like-minded organizations, experts, and stakeholders in the field of evidence-based education solutions. By participating in the project, iZola can engage in meaningful collaborations, share knowledge, and exchange best practices. This collaborative approach can strengthen our impact, enhance our solutions, and foster a broader ecosystem of support for neurodivergent children.

• Access to resources and expertise: The LEAP Project offers access to valuable resources, mentorship, or expertise. Engaging in the project can provide us with the necessary resources to further develop and expand our solution. 

• Timely response to a pressing need: The challenges faced by neurodivergent children in accessing early diagnosis and evidence-based interventions are urgent and require immediate attention. By participating in the LEAP Project, we can demonstrate our commitment to addressing this pressing need. We can showcase our iZola solution, contribute to the dialogue around evidence-based education solutions, and make a tangible impact on the lives of neurodivergent children.

1. What is the impact of early diagnosis and access to evidence-based therapeutic interventions on the educational outcomes and overall well-being of neurodivergent children?
   

2. What are the most effective strategies and approaches for promoting inclusive educational environments that embrace learning variability in typically developing children aged 2-12, and how can these approaches be integrated into mainstream educational settings?

3. How can artificial intelligence and large language models (LLM), such as ChatGPT, be effectively leveraged to enhance the accessibility, personalization, and effectiveness of educational interventions for neurodivergent children, and what are the potential ethical considerations associated with their use?

1. Impact of early diagnosis and access to evidence-based therapeutic interventions: The desired output of this research question is to gather empirical evidence that demonstrates the positive impact of early diagnosis and evidence-based interventions on the educational outcomes and overall well-being of neurodivergent children. This could include data analysis, case studies, and qualitative research to showcase how timely identification and appropriate interventions contribute to improved academic performance, social integration, emotional well-being, and long-term success for neurodivergent children. The outputs could include research findings, statistical analysis, and comprehensive reports that highlight the significance of early intervention and evidence-based practices in supporting neurodivergent children.

2. Effective strategies and approaches for promoting inclusive educational environments: The desired output for this research question is to identify and showcase the most effective strategies and approaches for promoting inclusive educational environments that embrace learning variability in typically developing children aged 2-12. This could involve a thorough literature review, expert consultations, and case studies of successful inclusive education initiatives. The outputs may include a set of best practices, guidelines, and recommendations for educators, schools, and policymakers to create inclusive educational environments. Additionally, practical tools and resources that can be integrated into mainstream educational settings, such as training modules, curriculum adaptations, and assessment frameworks, would be valuable outcomes of the LEAP Project sprint.

3. Leveraging AI and large language models (LLM) to enhance educational interventions: The desired output for this research question is to explore and demonstrate the effective ways in which artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLM), like ChatGPT, can enhance the accessibility, personalization, and effectiveness of educational interventions for neurodivergent children. This could involve developing prototypes or pilot projects that integrate these new technologies into iZola's existing platforms or interventions. The outputs may include case studies, user feedback, and evaluation reports that highlight the benefits and potential of leveraging LLM's and AI in improving educational interventions for neurodivergent children. Additionally, ethical considerations and guidelines regarding the responsible use of AI and large language models in educational settings would be important outcomes to address any potential concerns and ensure the well-being and privacy of the children.

1. This research question is common knowledge and undisputed, but we have seen little evidence and research on its effectiveness. We could mainly leverage from this answer to this question to re-enforce our message and proof our platform effectiveness in better detail.
   
2. Effective strategies and approaches for promoting inclusive educational environments: iZola can use the research findings to develop training modules for educators, providing them with the knowledge and skills to create inclusive classrooms. We can also collaborate with schools and educational institutions to implement these strategies and approaches, fostering inclusive environments where all children can thrive. The outputs may include a set of best practices, guidelines, and practical tools that can be integrated into mainstream educational settings. We could include the findings in a series of our existing community engagements, specifically focused to schools, teachers and educators.
   
3. Leveraging AI and language models to enhance educational interventions: iZola can use the research findings to integrate AI technologies into our platforms and interventions, leveraging LLM's to provide personalized support, adaptive learning experiences, and interactive educational resources. We already started working on a fully automated digital learning bot for neurodivergent children to help mitigate the issue of limited availability of trained educators and therapists. We could develop guidelines and ethical considerations for the responsible use of AI in educational settings, ensuring privacy and well-being of the children. The outputs may include case studies, user feedback, and evaluation reports that showcase the benefits and potential of leveraging AI in enhancing educational interventions.

Long-term outcomes for iZola:

1. Increased impact on neurodivergent children: The research and insights gained from the LEAP Project sprint can contribute to our ability to make a greater impact on the lives of neurodivergent children. By continuously improving our interventions, expanding reach, and ensuring evidence-based practices, iZola can enhance educational outcomes and overall well-being for neurodivergent children on a larger scale.

2. Scalability and sustainability: The outcomes of the LEAP Project sprint can help iZola in scaling up our operations and expanding services to reach more children and families in need. This includes developing strategies for sustainable growth, attracting funding and support, and establishing partnerships that enable long-term viability and impact.

3. Thought leadership and recognition: Through this participation in the LEAP Project sprint and the outcomes achieved, we could establish ourselves as thought leaders in the field of neurodiversity and evidence-based interventions. Contributions to research, best practices, and innovative solutions can lead to recognition within the education and neurodiversity communities, attracting further opportunities for collaboration and advocacy.

Long-term outcomes for the iZola solution:

1. Improved access to early diagnosis and interventions: The LEAP Project sprint can contribute to the long-term outcome of improved access to early diagnosis and evidence-based interventions for neurodivergent children. By implementing the research findings and recommendations, we can refine our screening tool, therapy platform, and community services, ensuring that more children receive timely support and tailored learning solutions.

2. Increased inclusivity in educational settings: The desired long-term outcome is the promotion of inclusive educational environments that embrace learning variability. By disseminating best practices, guidelines, and practical tools, iZola can help educators and schools create inclusive classrooms where all children, including neurodivergent ones, can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

3. Advancement in AI-enhanced interventions: The LEAP Project sprint can contribute to the long-term outcome of advancing AI technologies in educational interventions. By effectively leveraging AI and LLM models, like ChatGPT, we can enhance the accessibility, personalization, and effectiveness of their interventions, providing innovative and tailored support to neurodivergent children.