"The most interesting people you’ll find are ones that don’t fit into your average cardboard box. They’ll make what they need, they’ll make their own boxes"
Dr. Temple Grandin
A small divergent to the usual blogs, and one more personal to me. I’ve never stepped away from this one, and that is being an Aspie, more specifically I’m a female adult who finds themselves on the Autistic spectrum.
I know some people have often found it hard to understand, I can after all be found at numerous conferences and within groups of people. So, I thought I’d offer an insight to my world.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. Scientists believe there are multiple causes of ASD that act together to change the most common ways people develop.
Adults with autism often have some of the following ‘signs’ as described by the NHS as:
- not understanding social "rules", such as not talking over people
- avoiding eye contact
- getting too close to other people, or getting very upset if someone touches or gets too close to you
- noticing small details, patterns, smells or sounds that others do not
- having a very keen interest in certain subjects or activities
- liking to plan things carefully before doing them
With the above list, and with some help from the other half, here’s examples of how I’m often autistic.
I don’t always know when to talk in social gatherings or meals – so I don’t talk. Appearing maybe shy and introverted, but I’ve learnt that I can’t get in trouble if I don’t talk.
Throughout a conference, I have a check list of things to do while I’m at an event. Example, raise your head, try to make eye contact, or look at their forehead/ over their head. Don’t stay on the outside of the room all the time.
My biggest problem – noise! It hurts my head, and it’s hard to explain the pain, so if you see me wearing headphones, then it is likely I’m playing white noise/ familiar songs to essentially drown out the noise or distract me. I’ve met other people with autism and its sometimes textures, so don’t be offended if they don’t want that free t-shirt.
I’m extremely keen on data and mathematical challenges, and if given an opportunity to do an escape room – you have very little chance of getting me off task! That’s the other problem, if I’m on task, you’ll be hard pressed to get me ‘off Task’.
Planning – I pack, repack, unpack, pack at least 2 weeks before the conference. I will have planned out my exact route with at least 3 alternatives in the event anything is cancelled or delayed. So should you ever get lost/ not know which train to catch – drop me a message I’ve probably got that route planned out!
Autism is just one of the many Neurodiversity’s out there, (Neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many ways).
So why write this, because whilst the world is different for those of us who are Neurodiverse, we also bring a unique view to the world. We see patterns, details, or approaches that the typical brain doesn’t see. We will likely test a system in a unique way or find a data enrichment that wasn’t thought about before.
In the past, I know of several companies that would have overlooked neurodiverse community, it is changing, and just like Women in Technology (WIT) I’m also supportive of neurodiversity in technology.
So, at your next meeting, or conference, I wonder if you will see those who see the world differently, and maybe, if they are having a tough day, reach out a helping hand – because they might show you something very new and different. If you are in the UK, one of the ways is a lanyard, it indicates that the person wearing it has a hidden disability, I’ve found it very useful when travelling through busy airports and train stations.
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