WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:10.160 How much for coming, I really appreciated that you, I mean the room is full and sorry about 00:10.160 --> 00:15.920 the text to speech, unfortunately I didn't prepare for that and also I have to at different 00:15.920 --> 00:21.000 type of tool for the presentation. 00:21.000 --> 00:26.040 So yeah, first of all I wanted to thank you Mike for the previous presentation that was really 00:26.040 --> 00:32.920 awesome because there are society and committee generally so underprepared about accessibility 00:32.920 --> 00:39.640 why I'm saying that because nothing changes your mind as a normal person unless you're 00:39.640 --> 00:45.480 going to have a child with a disability so that is my case when my first born was born 00:45.480 --> 00:51.240 with a life disability that changes your perspective on life drastically. 00:51.720 --> 00:59.720 Not to mention put the kind of mental overload on your head so yeah that's totally something 00:59.720 --> 01:08.040 worse talking about. So I'm going to get right into my presentation so I'm by and I'm a developer 01:08.040 --> 01:14.280 experience engineer, Victoria Metrics, I'm also an open symmetry member and contributor, 01:14.360 --> 01:20.600 cognitive days are many organizer and the colleagues of CNCF merge forward neurodiversity group. 01:22.040 --> 01:29.640 So today I wanted to talk about neurodiversity how many of you know about this word like 01:31.240 --> 01:38.120 awesome and how many of you let's say identify if you want to tell obviously with the whole 01:38.200 --> 01:50.680 neurodiversity spectrum yes that's what I thought. Imagine my ignorance when I first found out 01:50.680 --> 01:57.000 that there is actually word called neurodiversity that was last year in the same time when 01:57.000 --> 02:04.200 merge forwards I'm going to speak about that later created the whole community around neurodiversity 02:04.200 --> 02:12.040 so I'm guilty as charged but yeah let's go forward because we have a bit of step backwards 02:12.840 --> 02:18.360 because yeah so this is not for obviously you because you don't need a research or before this is 02:18.360 --> 02:25.720 for people like me that's not exactly what neurodiversity really is so I did a bit of research 02:25.720 --> 02:32.520 and it looks like neurodiversity is a way of saying that the human brains are different to each other 02:32.600 --> 02:39.880 right so it's a biological fact right we are different in our minds and also you know neurodiversity 02:39.880 --> 02:46.280 includes every human being right so that's that's actually pretty pretty cool then begin deeper 02:46.280 --> 02:52.920 into neurodiversity and neurodivergence what does it mean so actually it's a neurodivergent 02:52.920 --> 03:00.360 neurodiverst is a term point actually not long ago in 1998 by a judiciary singer no Australian 03:00.440 --> 03:10.040 sociologist and from neurodiversity there comes the term neurodivergent right so if you identify 03:10.040 --> 03:16.200 with being in the spectrum of neurodiversity then neurodivergent cool because I was used 03:16.200 --> 03:22.360 the wrong guy said oh I'm a neurodiverst English is not my first language so probably that's why 03:23.480 --> 03:28.200 so there are some particular strengths or superpowers to being a neurodivergent 03:29.080 --> 03:37.240 like better memory able to mentally picture 3D object easily okay the ability to solve complex 03:37.240 --> 03:45.080 mathematical calculations in their heads like that's some of the superpowers but also some challenges 03:45.080 --> 03:53.800 right medical disorders learning disability is many many other things so for me it was really interesting 03:53.880 --> 04:02.280 to find out that if you are like normal so what we think about like normal in the neurodiversity 04:02.280 --> 04:11.000 you know like framework then we should address to ourselves as being neurodipical and neurodivergent 04:11.000 --> 04:16.920 isn't actually a medical term it's just like maybe a better way to describe people 04:17.000 --> 04:26.680 a normal or you know abnormal so for example I used to think that I'm a neurodipical person 04:26.680 --> 04:36.200 up to the moment I wasn't right why so because at 17 I was diagnosed with depression and that 04:36.200 --> 04:42.520 things sticks to you right so it's like you're never really healed or you know something like that 04:42.600 --> 04:48.440 but depression is so checking on that and I was actually pretty surprised to find that it is not 04:48.440 --> 04:57.080 on the normal list of neurodiversity of like you know potential conditions because you're not born with 04:57.080 --> 05:04.600 it so you're not born with depression so hence you cannot actually add it there right but there 05:04.600 --> 05:11.480 many people that disagree I'm one of them right so because we don't really truly have the brain 05:11.560 --> 05:16.760 worked out so we don't know that many things about the brain and all you know the other senses around 05:16.760 --> 05:23.400 it there's a big chance that we are wrong right so let's let's keep a how can I say a mystery 05:23.400 --> 05:29.720 around all these classifications so how many of you let's identify with whatever you see here on the 05:29.720 --> 05:37.640 board that's what I thought so yeah it's nothing to laugh about but it's really cool because we 05:37.720 --> 05:45.240 can also actually talk about it I think that's the first step and also an interesting thing I found out 05:46.200 --> 05:55.560 if neurodiversity is an actual disability what do you think is it a disability right yeah so 05:55.560 --> 06:01.400 definitely it may be a disability depends on which degree right so you can be something that you can 06:01.480 --> 06:07.640 cope with so I can definitely cope with me being depressed person like you know normal depression 06:07.640 --> 06:15.480 goes up and down it's just like like that like with many other mental issues and I'm I'm 06:15.480 --> 06:20.440 let's say one of the lucky persons that I'm functional right so I can do my job I can focus 06:21.160 --> 06:27.400 I don't need to take medication etc etc but one do we have to actually say it's a disability 06:27.560 --> 06:32.120 up to the moment where we are not able to function when we are not able to you know to the 06:32.120 --> 06:38.680 our jobs when we have to like complete a form when you sign up for a job like what's like the 06:38.680 --> 06:45.640 the actual line so the whole idea for me like the whole discourse around it is that there are like 06:46.520 --> 06:52.600 people that struggle with specific system or processes because they cannot show up their full 06:52.680 --> 06:59.880 strengths around it right so they need some kind of adaptability around that and some of some 06:59.880 --> 07:08.200 of the normal day-to-day you know actions they become challenges so this is why we should address 07:08.200 --> 07:17.640 a bit neurodiversity in the whole in the whole framework of disability something also interesting 07:17.720 --> 07:26.360 is that neurodiversity is like a puzzle right it's also like a maze it's also like like something 07:26.360 --> 07:32.600 really really that that intertwines right so it's not like one box here the other box there is not 07:32.600 --> 07:38.200 not like a super well done classification like we once you know I mean some people might have 07:38.200 --> 07:44.280 on a depression ADHD bipolar or like little little elements from many other things 07:44.360 --> 07:50.680 well we talked about neurodiversity a bit going backwards and and realizing all like what are the 07:50.680 --> 07:56.280 terms etc but what does he have to do with tech right we are most of us we're working tech 07:57.400 --> 08:01.720 that's why we're here like no fosemines is this big conference are all technology 08:03.160 --> 08:09.400 and it's really nice to see that there are actually some websites or some societies and companies 08:09.480 --> 08:16.280 that realize there's a talent there's an actual talent in the workforce so they appreciate 08:16.840 --> 08:25.160 neurodivergent people in the you know working field so because of this let's say unique range of 08:25.160 --> 08:32.520 scales and strengths but also maybe weaknesses we gain a competitive advantage right in the workforce 08:32.600 --> 08:41.160 so it's really nice first to acknowledge neurodiversity so you know popularize it talk about it 08:42.040 --> 08:47.400 it's also important to accommodate for neurodiversity so that's the whole speech around 08:47.400 --> 08:52.680 on best practices whether it's a disability or not whether you should talk about it or not 08:52.680 --> 08:59.000 with your employer and obviously support the neuro talent I mean I would be interested to find 08:59.000 --> 09:06.280 about that right and here's the part with the community I was seeing that beginning about the 09:06.280 --> 09:14.200 merge forward merge for these community around underrepresented groups in tech that that 09:14.200 --> 09:21.480 don't encompass just neurodiversity neurodiversity just a later addition last year actually to the whole 09:21.560 --> 09:29.240 group it also encompasses like other groups like death and heart of hearing blind and visual impaired 09:29.240 --> 09:37.000 stuttering and speech diversity women in called native deep roots friends of Dorothy neurodiversity 09:37.000 --> 09:45.560 so that's you know like like a lot of groups and the idea is to build more diverse sustainable 09:45.640 --> 09:51.240 opponents of community where you know everybody seen everybody can communicate safely 09:53.080 --> 09:58.600 so definitely sorry about that the merge forward has a QR code so you can definitely check it out 09:58.600 --> 10:05.160 sign up that's actually why I'm giving the talk because we want more allies here and neurodiversity 10:05.160 --> 10:11.320 we also have like a set of group on official group where people join sign up we have a Slack 10:11.400 --> 10:18.360 a CNC of Slack where we have monthly meetings and we talk about a lot of things right 10:19.480 --> 10:25.960 for example the first time we we came together like the whole groups the whole seven groups 10:25.960 --> 10:32.760 were at Kupkin at Lanta last year in the United States and we talked about for the very first time I 10:32.760 --> 10:38.680 think about neurodiversity and we also had like a panel we also had like some activities and that was 10:38.760 --> 10:44.760 actually really really great more particularly around the neurodiversity like I said we have 10:44.760 --> 10:49.240 this monthly meetings that obviously you can join and we are very very glad if you can join us 10:49.240 --> 10:56.040 and we're talking about specific neurodiversity issues so first of all we want to welcome more 10:56.040 --> 11:02.600 people because we are very few right now we want to identify and gather neurodiversity specific 11:02.600 --> 11:09.080 resources I mean I know there's like a lot of resources depending on which country we are 11:09.080 --> 11:24.120 checking in you know like for example what is made each country has their own dedicated society so 11:24.680 --> 11:30.920 we want to make it a bit more kind of like condensed and talk about what what we should have so 11:31.000 --> 11:40.440 first of all right now we are creating some some best practices around you know interviews 11:40.440 --> 11:47.800 for employers or for conferences what would be well what would be nice to to have Kupkin 11:47.800 --> 11:56.280 Hemey yeah okay but also mentoring so CNCF we are right now creating the whole groups of mentors 11:56.360 --> 12:02.360 and mentees so for example if you want to be paired with a neurodivergent to work on I know let's 12:02.360 --> 12:10.360 say around conferences or talks CFPs or technical issues we can pair up and that's something 12:10.360 --> 12:18.840 really really nice for me what I really understood when joining this this group and also 12:19.720 --> 12:28.040 refer to have this extended more in the workforce mental health is fundamental right because health 12:28.040 --> 12:35.000 is fundamental you cannot just show up and pretend you're fine and happy and start working 12:35.000 --> 12:41.800 if you're not healthy right and mental health that's also very very important and to be honest 12:41.880 --> 12:48.520 up to last year like I said I never heard the term neurodiversity spoken in public which you 12:48.520 --> 12:57.560 know it's it's a shame but yeah depends obviously a lot on each community right on the regions 12:57.560 --> 13:03.400 on the geographical regions I mean neurodiversities spread probably in other countries then you know for 13:03.480 --> 13:10.760 example I know maybe Europe or other parts of the content of the universe so it really is important 13:10.760 --> 13:18.600 to establish and contribute to the whole speech of mental health and because of that I would like 13:18.600 --> 13:26.920 to leave with the idea of neuro inclusivity hopefully you know just by being within a community 13:26.920 --> 13:31.960 and joining and speaking about it thinking about the practices thinking about the workforce we can 13:31.960 --> 13:39.320 also speak about neuro inclusivity so definitely that's something we would like to have first what's 13:39.320 --> 13:47.320 next from the community side we will be at coupon Amsterdam in in March and the March we'll have 13:47.320 --> 13:53.960 two panels the first panel will be at coupon and neurodiversity will not be there but the second will 13:53.960 --> 14:01.080 be a platform engineering they you have there directly the panel session that will happen on 14:01.080 --> 14:07.080 Monday and neuro inclusivity sorry neurodiversity will be there and will also host a community 14:07.080 --> 14:13.080 hub session that means like a mini workshop where you can join we're gonna have activities and talk 14:13.080 --> 14:22.040 about a lot of topics practical topics so yeah give it a go also if you haven't scanned the QR code 14:22.040 --> 14:28.760 you have it there thank you very much and the slides are already on my GitHub repo you can download them 14:29.640 --> 14:33.640 and yeah thank you for for your attention 14:41.880 --> 14:44.920 right folks we have five minutes for some questions anyone question 14:49.480 --> 14:54.920 yeah I wanted to ask you about what's your meant by neuro terence 14:55.720 --> 15:04.840 because I mean there's come on misconception about the genius autism and think like that and it 15:04.840 --> 15:16.440 can be confusing and maybe not really as inclusive as we meant it too yeah sorry is this 15:16.440 --> 15:22.840 I was working all it's alive right so to be honest I don't know really what that means I just like 15:22.920 --> 15:27.480 I was googling because I'm a nickname around neurodiversity and I wanted to find 15:27.480 --> 15:32.360 was there especially because I've never heard it I'm 43 I never heard about neurodiversity at work 15:33.080 --> 15:37.080 but yeah I did some googling and I was pretty interesting that there were like 15:37.080 --> 15:42.760 this specific website in the UK talking about neuro talent and had like a whole speech around it 15:42.760 --> 15:48.600 you know I wanted to include it and actually that's pretty great I mean I would like to see this 15:48.600 --> 15:53.320 kind of best practices or this kind of discourse being extended right I don't know what's in 15:53.320 --> 15:58.680 the minds of of employers I don't know what they classified as being neuro talent is not like the 15:58.680 --> 16:04.520 I don't know the typical icon you know all the typical character you have in a Rayman right 16:04.520 --> 16:09.880 or yeah so there are for me so there are a lot of flavors I've worked with a lot of developers 16:09.880 --> 16:15.480 and some of them like my friends they have a lot of them HD HD and they have like really 16:15.480 --> 16:20.280 high pigs of productivity but then also they crash and the same with bipolar people so it's 16:20.280 --> 16:26.680 really interesting to actually define you know what that means and see how the workforce actually 16:26.680 --> 16:32.040 perceive neurodiversity so definitely I would like to have more clarity myself on that 16:36.040 --> 16:41.800 and my name is Calvin Nuri and I work at the European Disability Forum and I actually have a 16:42.040 --> 16:48.280 ADHD myself I would say that on the one hand when you have a disability you do have 16:48.280 --> 16:55.400 some areas where you are not functioning as well that's why you need support and without the support 16:55.400 --> 17:00.920 you are not able as you say to take full advantage of your potential but then as you for example 17:00.920 --> 17:06.680 if I take myself as an example I do also have these periods of like extra productivity where I can 17:06.760 --> 17:14.120 really go into something but it also I can also crash more often because of this and having a boss 17:14.120 --> 17:21.800 that supports me has been really important to make it work one good thing about talking about 17:21.800 --> 17:27.080 neurodiversity is respecting that we work in different ways but at the same time I also personally 17:27.080 --> 17:31.720 think it is important to talk about it as a disability because the legal system and the right 17:31.800 --> 17:37.640 to get support is framed as having a disability and from a human rights perspective it's important 17:37.640 --> 17:44.760 to not forget that although you want to create a very inclusive environment simply and then 17:44.760 --> 17:50.280 I just wanted to say that I have brought some pamphlets about how to make inclusive design 17:50.280 --> 17:57.480 inclusive AI because I come from a policy background and I came here because we wanted to create 17:58.120 --> 18:03.720 contact with people who are actually working in tech so also one question would be like 18:03.720 --> 18:07.720 except for coming to conferences like this if you have a policy background I want to connect to 18:08.680 --> 18:13.960 programmers do you have any other suggestions on what to do except for coming to conferences like this 18:14.840 --> 18:20.120 okay you do mean to spread the word around neurodiversity well the first thing is that's why 18:20.120 --> 18:26.440 we need more people to join the meetings because we are like all I mean the majority of us have some 18:27.240 --> 18:33.080 we are considered we can identify within the neurodiversity spectrum but we don't have any like 18:33.080 --> 18:37.960 formal training right we don't have that training where I say oh yeah we need to do this because I 18:37.960 --> 18:42.600 know that this is what should work I mean the first thing that we're trying right now to do this kind 18:42.600 --> 18:47.800 of community hub sessions to invite people to have sort of like workshops around it and definitely 18:47.800 --> 18:53.960 the online monthly meetings help because like this we can brainstorm and find out where we can 18:53.960 --> 19:00.760 be more efficient and how to create these resources right now we are working on some best practices 19:00.760 --> 19:06.120 around neurodiversity so like I don't know what to do in the case of conferences or going to 19:06.120 --> 19:12.440 like big events or for for employers but it can be so much more so definitely I agree with you and 19:13.000 --> 19:18.760 what else should we be doing to spread the word around neurodiversity that's my open for all 19:19.400 --> 19:25.080 solutions. I think we're all the time thank you very much everyone thank you Diana. 19:31.720 --> 19:33.720 we're done