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We'll be showing how certain behaviors and approaches may unknowingly suppress the superpowers of your neurodiverse colleagues. Shayla is a software engineer turned software engineering recruiter with Culture Amp and a huge advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially in the tech sector. This is a speaker sponsor moment! Shayla was sponsored here today by Culture Amp.
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Anyone here heard of Culture Amp? Oh, thank you! You can get your diversity badges from Culture Amp outside during the next break. The question on everyone's lips is: does she pair? We had a chat last night, and of course, she does! She has tips for pairing with people who have ADHD; it's all or nothing! You have to keep the work interesting and keep them engaged. One way to do this is to ask lots of questions as you work through things and encourage frequent breaks.
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Now we welcome Shayla Mann talking about neurodiversity: a silent disability or a superpower! Come to the stage!
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Thank you!
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I wanted to discuss the shift from the traditional perspective of neurodivergent individuals being viewed as having a silent disability—which is not obviously visible, as it’s a mental condition—to a new paradigm where neurodiversity is recognized as a source of superpowers. So, who is neurodiverse? Only one hand went up—are you kidding? Everyone in this room is neurodiverse! Let’s slow down for a moment here.
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Every single person in this room is neurologically different from each other. It’s not just about having ADHD or ASD or any other divergence; we are all diverse. If you think about identical twins, they are still neurologically different due to their unique experiences, even though physiologically they are identical. I am not a doctor, so take everything I say with a grain of salt—some of what I know comes from personal experience, and ChatGPT is quite useful too!
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There are so many different perspectives on neurodiversity, with various names and labels. The most important thing to remember is to forget the labels and focus on the underlying aspect of being inclusive. We should see neurodiversity as a superpower rather than a disability. We already do this for many other diversities, but we don’t apply the same acknowledgment to neurodiversity.
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So, what is neurodiversity? When I talk about neurodiversity, I refer to neurodivergent individuals who are part of the marginalized neurodiversity spectrum. Some individuals may be more significantly affected than others, and we call them neurodivergent. However, some people may refer to them as diverse people.
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Neurodiversity encompasses a wide range of neurological wiring in the human brain. I jokingly think my dog has ADHD—it's not limited to just humans! All these wiring variations are normal and valuable. Conditions included under neurodiversity consist of attention deficit disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Tourette's syndrome, dyspraxia, and dyslexia, with ADHD and autism being the most common representations.
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Interestingly, there’s a lot of crossover between these conditions. For instance, between 22% to 80% of individuals with autism also have ADHD, and conversely, 30% to 65% of those with ADHD may display some level of autism. Important to note is that ADHD does not signify a deficit of attention; rather, it is the challenge of regulating attention. It's often described as all or nothing—when something is boring, it becomes impossible to focus on it, regardless of what it might be.
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We discussed this last night, and people were asking how to engage someone who is bored. The truth is, if they are not interested, you cannot force engagement. Individuals with ADHD may exhibit various presentations of the condition, and I will focus primarily on ADHD, as it affects approximately 20% of the population. It’s also worth noting that many of these individuals have some degree of autism.
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Some variants of ADHD include ADD, which signifies attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity—it's not simply one or the other, as ADD is part of the ADHD spectrum. Also, contrary to popular belief, people who are autistic are not necessarily artistic. The stereotype that all autistic individuals are exceptional artists reflects a very small minority of the population, yet there are various levels of autism.
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We consider autism as having around three to four levels. The spectrum extends both horizontally and vertically. When referring to ADHD and autism, there are high-functioning individuals who possess basic life skills—like the ability to get dressed—while there are also those for whom neurodivergence may be extremely challenging and makes it difficult to perform daily tasks.
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Furthermore, not all hyperactivity looks like children running around; instead, it can manifest internally as racing thoughts or feelings, leading to perceptions of laziness. I've learned that not everyone experiences 20,000 thoughts per second! To explain ADHD better, I want to share the ADHD Iceberg by Roman Cogan. It illustrates the difference between how ADHD is perceived versus the reality of living with it.
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Some people only see those who struggle with focusing or memory issues on the surface, while much deeper issues often remain hidden. This may contribute to the stigma associated with ADHD because individuals may feel judged and uncomfortable sharing their experience, especially when they don’t realize they are neurodiverse.
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Manifestations often include communication difficulties during job interviews for positions requiring strong communication skills. For instance, if a person presents brief, one-word answers in an interview, it can hinder their chances of success. Therefore, many may feel obliged to mask their traits to conform and fit within societal expectations.
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When discussing superpowers, it’s notable that software engineers are overrepresented among high-functioning individuals with ADHD or autism. Why is that? In this room, it might even be true that neurotypicals are in the minority! While I’m only jesting, there are characteristics that some may perceive as disabilities that can, in fact, be unique strengths.
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Research indicates that neurodivergent individuals are not only overrepresented in certain industries, but we are often well-accommodated in them as well. Individuals with ADHD are known to be passionate and creative, with the ability to think outside the box. Meanwhile, those on the autism spectrum often excel in fields such as mathematics and have an exceptional attention to detail.
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Additionally, dyslexics can also possess outstanding mathematical abilities and problem-solving skills. The reason that engineers are overrepresented in these fields may partly stem from the successful individuals who demonstrate neurodiversity, such as Ludwig van Beethoven, Albert Einstein, Tim Burton, and Stephen Hawking, who have leveraged their unique perspectives to achieve greatness.
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These examples showcase that neurodivergent individuals can accomplish incredible feats, proving their unique perspectives and skills are beneficial to society. Specifically, I would like to focus on ADHD. Around 20% of the population identifies as creative, authentic, and capable of hyper-focusing.
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Hyper-focusing reflects an 'all or nothing' approach; when we concentrate, we can become so engrossed that we might forget to eat! It's a common experience, and many in this room will resonate with it. Individuals who live with ADHD often have high energy and an exceptional talent for recognizing patterns.
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However, our unique wiring may also come with trade-offs. We can be sensitive, overly disorganized, easily distracted, and bound by obsessive routines. There can be frustrating moments that lead to sensory overload and anxiety, along with the unfortunate reality of elevated suicide rates among neurodivergent individuals compared to neurotypicals.
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It's challenging to imagine feeling as though you are not in control of your mind or your needs, which can lead to experiences of shutdowns. To illustrate, you might tell yourself you need to check emails or complete your tax return, but because you are paralyzed by these thoughts, nothing gets accomplished.
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I had no idea until fairly recently that not everyone experiences this. Therefore, hearing my story might resonate with you. Let me share a personal reflection—welcome to my world! Even as a toddler, I found mathematics easy, claiming an aptitude for it at the age of four, much thanks to my father, who was an advocate for teaching and mentoring.
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He likely had ADHD as well, and I eventually realized that this trait is sometimes genetic. He immersed me in mathematics, and I could hyper-focus on it as well as retain interesting concepts. During my primary school years, I excelled academically, frequently assisting classmates with their homework in exchange for a little pocket money. At ten, I took entrance exams for a grammar school without any tutoring and successfully passed.
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Comparatively, a cousin of mine attended a private school and had received tutoring for two years before the exam. When I earned my place at the grammar school, it felt both exhilarating and surprising. As I navigated through my teenage years in high school, I often found myself sitting at the back of the classroom, filled with reports that noted, 'Shayla chats too much.' Certainly, not much has changed!
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Certain environments were challenging for me, particularly classrooms with tube lights, which created discomfort and headaches. I realized these struggles were associated with the lighting and faded into my learning experience. My coping mechanisms included using a homework diary requiring parental signatures each night for accountability.
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I acknowledge that many grammar school students might also be neurodiverse and they found ways to manage their needs without labeling them. Interestingly, even from the back, I could hear the lecture, while my distracted peers could not—but my challenges manifested in my behavior, and this resulted in my separation from others.
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My boredom led to curiosity and risky mischief, and I can vividly recall engaging in behaviors—like switching on gas taps in the chemistry lab just to see the reaction. Thankfully, it was all in good spirit. Even though I got banned from chemistry for a while, my inclination towards science remained strong.
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I eventually pursued a degree in applied biology, enticed by its computing component. University life prompted me to push against boundaries, something which often met with challenges. I found myself engaged in study sessions fueled by excessive caffeine—surviving through all-nighters when exams loomed.
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Throughout university, I surrounded myself with groups of friends that catered to my varied interests; some groups became too mundane, so I formed multiple circles of friendship to satisfy my social needs. After completing my postgraduate course in computer networking, I got hired as a research chemist.
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Despite my credentials, I challenged their network system while enjoying the process of understanding their operations. It was amusing and stimulating to experiment within a professional environment. As I shifted jobs to London seeking more stimulating opportunities, I fell into programming and the IT field.
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However, I met a wonderful man there, who helped ground me. While working for Mediatel, the largest media data company in Europe at the time, I undertook the role of security network engineer, building and managing their IT infrastructure.
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The behaviors related to my neurodiversity sometimes proved challenging. I had trouble managing my time, I was often late, and I didn't cope well under criticism. The realization that my neurodiversity was associated with these difficulties dawned upon me as I progressed through my career.
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Upon starting a family, I faced challenges that compounded these issues. I found it difficult to manage friendships and accept criticism. However, I balanced this with my passion for mentoring others, which became particularly fulfilling.
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I opened an internet café in Warwickshire but quickly found myself uninterested in the business, so I pivoted to creating a restaurant. This leap created various challenges due to the complexity of running a business with more than a hundred employees.
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Unfortunately, the GFC prompted the closure of my restaurant, which led me to pursue a master's degree in clinical hypnotherapy. This journey was unplanned, yet I became hyper-focused and passionate about it, leading me to pursue a master's.
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After a significant life change, I relocated to Australia, bringing considerable pressure as I settled in with my three children. This process brought its own difficulties, including a separation from my husband.
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I returned to engineering, finding myself alone in the workplace. The isolation hindered my creativity as I struggled to communicate ideas, ultimately prompting my shift into recruitment. The opportunity was timely and provided the stability I needed.
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When COVID struck, it exacerbated my struggles with task paralysis, as remote working distanced me from collaborators I depended on for support. Paralysis led me to procrastinate on tasks that hung over me—feeling overwhelmed about mundane considerations.
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Last year, I transitioned to an internal recruitment position. This role had a distinct culture that often felt foreign and neurotypical to me. Eventually, I was approached by Culture Amp, which allowed me to return to technical recruitment—where I felt fulfilled.
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Now, having returned to engineering while receiving support from my peers and mentors, I'm thrilled to have started back officially as an engineer just last week. It feels like a perfect fit!
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Since my diagnosis, everything has taken on a whole new perspective. It helped me understand my life better and realize I was not a failure, but simply different. The feeling of empowerment came from learning that labels didn’t define me, and realizing how connected I am with others like myself.
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Medications and therapy became a significant part of my reality. It became evident that many of my earlier struggles stemmed from unchecked ADHD and sensory overload. Finding support transformed my life and helped clarify my struggles.
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I reflect on why it took me so long to receive an ADHD diagnosis, noting that the average age for males is 5 to 10 years old, whereas for females, it can often be around 45. While many in the room, especially women, might share similar experiences, it's not uncommon for them to be relabeled.
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These discrepancies raise questions about systemic biases surrounding neurodiversity. Why do symptoms of male ADHD receive more focus? Women often mask their symptoms better and have learned to be less boisterous due to societal expectations.
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In recognizing neurodivergent conditions as vital components of human evolution, we must shift perspectives. Conditions like ADHD, dyslexia, and autism are unique cognitive variations that have facilitated technological and cultural advancements. Rather than just checklists of deficits, these variations present distinct strengths.
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Evolutionarily, neurodiversity has been an integral part of our human design to identify opportunities for survival in various ways. Yet, societal structures often marginalize neurodiverse people, misleadingly deeming them as insufficient or broken.
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Therefore, it is imperative that inclusivity in workplace policies reflects this understanding. Resources and accommodations must be made available for everyone, showing the value we place on diversity of thought, leading to better innovation, creativity, and employee satisfaction.
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Leading companies recognize the economic benefits-firm foundations for neurodiversity in the workplace, showing progress in diversifying hiring practices and making effective accommodations for neurodivergent employees.
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Examples of forward-thinking companies like Microsoft, SAP, Oracle, and the Australian Defence Force demonstrate a commitment to actively seek and embrace neurodiversity, thereby fostering a much richer working environment.
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To sum up, it’s essential to retain the conversation about how neurodiversity can be viewed as a strength rather than a deficiency. Inclusivity shapes the future of work and raises awareness, creating atmospheres where diverse perspectives can thrive to bolster innovative thinking.
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Lastly, common misinterpretations about neurodiversity, such as the implication that neurodivergent individuals cannot succeed, can be dispelled. For example, Temple Grandin’s contributions as a world-recognized animal behaviorist illustrate the value of neurodiversity, further solidifying its necessity in our evolving workforce.
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In essence, the diversity of thought nurtures innovation, leading to enhanced creativity and productivity. So let's foster an environment that appreciates all forms of diversity, ensuring everyone feels valued and empowered.
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Thank you!
