Neurodiversity in Tech

PyConUK 2016 talk on neurodiversity in technology. An expanded version of an unused lightning talk.

The talk is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYORwXqi0vg

Transcript

1. Neurodiversity in Tech @john_chandler
2. Humans Have Different Operating Systems
3. Embrace Differences • I want people to embrace differences • I want people to see the strengths... • ...but understand the challenges
4. Disclaimer • This has been a difficult talk to do • I am not comfortable taking questions • I am not an expert • I am an outsider
5. About Me • I teach adaptive snowsports • I regularly work with autistic snowboarders and skiers • My nephew was diagnosed on the autism spectrum last year • I am a proud uncle
6. Neurodiversity
7. "...to do for neurologically different people what feminism and gay rights had done..." Judy Singer
8. Neurodiversity is facing the same civil rights issues that physical disabilities faced
9. In This Talk • Autism Spectrum – Autism – Asperger Syndrome – Pathological Demand Avoidance • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
10. Not Covered... • Bipolar Disorder • Schizophrenia • Dyslexia • Dyscalculia • Dyspraxia • Anxiety Disorder • ...and many, many more
11. "Not everything that steps out of the line, and is thus 'abnormal', must necessarily be 'inferior'" Hans Asperger, 1938
12. Differences from "the norm" are often regarded by society as negatives not positives
13. Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ)
14. "Autism is a way of being. It is not possible to separate the person from the autism" Jim Sinclair
15. Autism Spectrum • Social interaction or communication difficulties • Repetitive behaviour or narrow interests • Sensory over-/under-sensitivity
16. AQ is a diagnostic tool of 50 Questions 80% of people on the spectrum score 30+
19. Implies Linear Spectrum "High" vs "Low" Functioning ("Mild" vs "Extreme")
20. https://themighty.com/2016/05/rebecca-burgess-comic-redesigns-the-autism-spectrum/
21. Flow & Focus
22. Flow "In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption in what one does." Wikipedia, Flow (Psychology)
23. ADHD • Inattention • Impulsivity • Hyperactivity
24. Hyperfocus "Hyperfocus is an intense form of mental concentration or visualization that focuses consciousness on a subject, topic, or task." Wikipedia, Hyperfocus
25. ADHD • Inattention • Impulsivity • Hyperactivity • Hyperfocus
26. Flow seen as positive Hyperfocus seen as negative Huh.
27. Adults with ADHD score above average for sustained work on urgent tasks
28. ADHD is also linked to increased learning and flexibility of thought
29. Socialisation & Communication
30. "Some guy with Asperger's developed the first stone spear; it wasn't developed by the social ones yakking around the campfire" Temple Grandin
31. Autism Spectrum • Social interaction or communication difficulties • Language Delay (Autism) • Good Language Skills (Asperger)
32. Amateur Radio • First social network? • Morse for non-verbal communication • Voice for verbal communication • Social interaction • Technical systems
33. Lee Felsenstein • "influence on the technical and social environment of the early personal computing era" • Community Memory BBS (1973) • Homebrew Computer Club (1975) • Osborne-1 (1981)
34. Lee Felsenstein • "influence on the technical and social environment of the early personal computing era" • Community Memory BBS (1973) • Homebrew Computer Club (1975) • Osborne-1 (1981) • Diagnosed Asperger Syndrome (1990s)
35. The Internet Era • Early mailing lists and websites (e.g. InLv) leading to Neurodiverse Culture • Social interaction and advocacy • Outlet for niche interests • Outlet for creativity
36. Pokémon Go • Popular amongst Autistic people • Supports social interaction • Supports social exploration • Structured and Balanced
37. Detail & Patterns
38. "I notice patterns in things all the time" AQ Test Question © MRC-SBC/SJW February 1998
39. Systems thinking is stronger in Autistic individuals
40. "I tend to notice details that others do not" AQ Test Question © MRC-SBC/SJW February 1998
41. Specificity overrides generality
42. "Can't see the forest for the trees"
43. "...your mind is a room where twenty radios, all tuned to different stations, are blaring out voices and music" Introduction, The Reason I Jump
44. Too much information!
45. Strong Local Analysis + Enhanced Perception = Debugging Skills
46. Companies employing Autistic people for their analytical and debugging skills
47. "...harnessing the strengths of people with high functioning autism – attention to detail, precision, an affinity for repetitive tasks, outstanding technology skills"
48. "Our goal is to have 1% of the SAP workforce represented by people on the autism spectrum" SAP changed their interview process
49. Embrace and Support Different Human Operating Systems! Great Minds Do Not Think Alike