Talk Description
You might be managing people who are on the autism spectrum. You might be a manager who is on the spectrum. You might be on the spectrum and managed by somebody. Or you just want to learn a bit about autism. In any case, this talk is for you.
The incidence of ASD in the software industry is many times higher than in the general population. But so often we're not aware that the people we are dealing with on a daily basis are different. It's very hard to spot autism - even in ourselves! Our work environment and the way we communicate with each other are in most cases suited for neurotypical people but autistic people might struggle with it. In most cases it's just a few very simple changes that will allow autistic brains to thrive. And it's not just about being nice - teams that include different types of people with different ways of thinking are stronger and better performing.
As a late diagnosed autistic person, I will try to dispel common myths and misperceptions around the signs and symptoms of the autism spectrum disorder, share my own personal experience and provide tips and guidelines for creating a neurodiversity-friendly environment, be it for your team or for yourself.
By the end of this session, you'll be able to:
- What is autism - diagnostic criteria and symptoms
- The experience of an autistic person - what life feels like, what are common strengths and difficulties
- How to create an autism-friendly work environment and tackle common communication challenges
- How to advocate for yourself
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