“I was worried about applying for a job knowing that I have disabilities,” said Francine Heisler, an IT generalist in the Technology Analyst program, who is part of Freddie Mac’s 2021 neurodiversity hiring. “People don’t necessarily realize how wide the autism spectrum is and that people present differently.” Experiences like Heisler’s are more common than you may think: one in every 54 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a 2020 CDC study. Companies are becoming more and more open to hiring people with autism and developing programs to increase the number of neurodiverse people in

Muchos lo comparan con la lucha por los derechos LGBTQ o los de los afroamericanos. Propone el reconocimiento de las diferencias neurológicas innatas, el respeto a los individuos sin hablar de la necesidad de una cura. Infobae habló con una experta, Devon MacEachron. A la psicóloga Devon MacEachron, una especialista en niños con conexiones diferentes como el autismo o el trastorno de déficit de atención e hiperactividad (TDAH), no le gusta decir “discapacitado” o “disfuncional”. El lenguaje, cree, es particularmente importante cuando se trata de ponerle una etiqueta a las personas. Y en los Estados Unidos se etiqueta con autismo a 1 de cada 59 niños, y con TDAH a 6,1 millones.

The quest for diversity is now recognised as being vital in Australian workplaces, but diversity has many aspects: gender, religion, sexuality, just for starters. But what about diversity in ways of thinking? “Workplaces that overlook the value of neurodivergent job candidates miss out on increased opportunity for diversity of thought,” says Jason Laufer, global chief operating officer at WithYouWithMe. His organisation helps marginalised communities who are underemployed (including veterans, Indigenous Australians and the neurodiverse) by making technology jobs accessible through focusing on potential rather than previous job experience. While tight labour markets are already encouraging businesses to look at untapped

DUBAI: While awareness of autism has improved in the Middle East, the stigma surrounding it still lingers, according to experts and parents of children with the condition, who are using World Autism Day to call for more awareness, early detection and better inclusion. The UN marks the day each year on April 2, and landmarks and buildings worldwide are lit up in blue to bring attention to, and acceptance of, the neurobiological disorder that affects communication, behavior and social relationships.  Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one per 160 children. The prevalence in

By Alicia A. Broderick This April, you’ll once again see the now-familiar icons and ritualized observances that have marked April as “autism awareness” month for decades: the puzzle pieces, the “Light it Up Blue” campaign, the now rainbow-themed branding of ribbons, t-shirts and other sundry kitsch, and, perhaps most importantly–the fundraising campaigns. You’ll be asked to “take the pledge,” “celebrate differences,” maybe even “learn the signs.” But here’s what you’re less likely to see or hear about this month, and it’s one of the most important things about which we need to be raising critical awareness: the industrial-scale commodification of autistic people. And how these

Las técnicas de diagnóstico de TEA suelen estar más enfocadas a niños varones, por lo que las mujeres suelen pasar inadvertidas. De pequeña, te eligen la última para todo. Los niños y niñas de tu clase no cuentan nunca contigo. Tienes rabietas sin sentido y tus padres no entienden nada. Todos te hacen sentir rara. Tú también lo piensas. Vas creciendo y no te adaptas nunca a ningún trabajo. La vida se te atasca y no sabes por qué. Con los años, lo averiguas: eres autista.  Este es el resumen de una realidad que ha permanecido invisible durante mucho tiempo, mujeres que

SIR RICHARD BRANSON has launched a new global campaign to change the way people see dyslexia- and he’s got some big Hollywood support. The Virgin Group Founder, 71, has been backed by fellow famous dyslexics such as Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley for the game-changing campaign. Launching today (March 31), Dyslexic Thinking is a new initiative led by Richard and the charity, Made By Dyslexia. The aim of the campaign is to show how the learning disability does not need to hold anyone back – in fact it can be a superpower. Part of the campaign will see global business networking platform LinkedIn add ‘Dyslexic Thinking’

El trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad ha definido mis viajes (y este blog) desde mucho antes de saber que lo tenía. La semana pasada decidí que quería viajar a Canadá. Tardé menos de una en hora pasar del «¿Cuánto costará un vuelo Madrid-Toronto?» a recibir el correo electrónico de confirmación de mis billetes de avión. Y no es la primera vez que me pasa. Los viajes impulsivos han marcado mi experiencia viajera desde siempre. Llevo años dejándome llevar de forma impetuosa por mis impulsos y embarcándome en viajes en solitario a Tailandia, aventuras de último minuto en Japón y delirios de nómada digital en Oceanía.

Last year, over a quarter of a million British women took an online test for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The condition is most commonly diagnosed in childhood, but with cases routinely being missed in schoolgirls – just one is referred for every four boys – many women may find themselves wondering later in life. I asked Tony Lloyd, CEO of ADHD Foundation, what they need to know. What are the symptoms of ADHD?There are three core characteristics: impulsivity, inattention and hyperactivity. You only have to have two to get a diagnosis. It’s about the intensity of those characteristics right? Because

WORLD DYSLEXIA ASSEMBLY STOCKHOLM Jonas Borg Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, and Princess Beatrice accompanied by her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, joined together at the Royal Palace in Stockholm to launch the first World Dyslexia Assembly in partnership with The Prince Couple’s Foundation.  Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, and Princess Beatrice accompanied by her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, joined together at the Royal Palace in Stockholm to launch the first World Dyslexia Assembly in partnership with The Prince Couple’s Foundation.  In a

Kelly Everly-Hall was ready for her interview. She wore a nice outfit, had reviewed her resume and knew she had many of the skills needed for the IT job she was seeking. But things went quickly downhill when she faced a panel of three interviewers, something she had never done before. She got nervous, rambled and struggled to make eye contact. She had a hard time describing her skills, so she asked if she could demonstrate them on a computer. The answer was no. She didn’t feel comfortable asking clarifying questions. “I knew 10 minutes into it that I wasn’t

I’ve been open about my challenges as a neuro-atypical person since receiving my inattentive attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, diagnosis a dozen years ago at age 35. It’s helped me understand my strengths and weaknesses, and what I need to thrive at work. As someone who needs to tap into the power of the collective due to her brain wiring, I have a knack for creating a friendly and collegial atmosphere on teams I collaborate with. What I lack in time management skills, I make up for in creativity, team-building and problem-solving. Pair me with a timeline-oriented, detail-minded colleague and watch

Masking is a common coping mechanism employed by autistic people in an attempt to fit into a neurotypical society. Examples of masking include forcing oneself to smile at the “appropriate” times, looking between someone’s eyebrows instead of making uncomfortable eye contact, and suppressing stims like hand flapping, even though they’re comforting.Megan Rhiannon for NPR Roughly 2% of adults in the United States have Autism Spectrum Disorder – that’s about 5.4 million people over the age of 18. And a lot of them go through their lives “masking.” Social psychologist Devon Price explains that masking is any attempt or strategy “to hide your

This year’s list of Grammy Award nominees includes so many neurodivergent power hitters — Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Doja Cat, Kanye West, Selena Gomez, and others — that we’re sure we missed some on the list below. 1 of 12 Billie Eilish Grammy Nominations: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Music Video, Best Music Film One week after accepting the Oscar for Best Original Song, 20-year-old Billie Eilish will take the stage to perform with her brother, Finneas, at the 2022 Grammy Awards — and

La diversidad en el lugar de trabajo es un valor esencial para muchos empleadores. Sin embargo, las personas con dificultades de aprendizaje y de atención tradicionalmente han sido ignoradas. Eso puede que esté cambiando. En los últimos años, varias compañías importantes han anunciado programas de trabajadores neurodiversos. La neurodiversidad es el concepto de que no hay dos cerebros iguales, y que esa es la razón de que las personas aprendan y se comporten de maneras particulares. Con esa visión, las dificultades a nivel cerebral, como el TDAHTDAH, la dislexiadislexia y el trastorno del espectro autistatrastorno del espectro autista, no son “anormales”. Son parte de la