Speakers
Workshop Session
The concept of neurodiversity has already taken centerstage in Malaysia, yet the understanding is merely superficial even otherworldly, especially in the juvenile justice platform. With the disproportionately significant prevalence of youth with neurodiversity in juvenile justice system, the concern nuances within those relevant parties, specifically when the issue of youth with neurodivergent spectrum being discussed, on how to deal with them appositely. Neurodivergent juvenile delinquents, aged 14 to 21, need specific and objective-driven interventions with neurodiversity as the focal point, and being penalized even institutionalized in penitentiary without proper and effectual intervention based on their neurodivergent needs somehow ineffectively ensure them to be given rehabilitation needed. There is an exigent demand for reviewing a justifiable and effective rehabilitative program that cater their needs to avoid inefficient and inept interventions being implemented onto them. Rather than dehumanizing and misappropriation in nature of existing correctional approach, proper intervention in accordance with their neurodivergent attributes may lead towards cultivating pro-social environment plus developing social and interpersonal skills towards reintegration. The emphasis will be given onto multiple factors from taxonomical classification, systemic features, risk-needs attributes, and socio-cultural elements. Thus, to have an adequate efficacious method that is ‘neurodivergent-friendly’, from pre-trial assessments to program development analysis, implementation as well as monitoring, to evaluation and fading process for reintegration as a final point may be considered as more proper interventions, not only on the basis of more humanizing approach, but also to ensure their rights for receiving effective need-based and person-oriented rehabilitation are protected and well-looked-after.