Autistic Techie

"Spelling it out" for people doesn't have to be hard. On the contrary, you can get into as much detail about your brain and working style as you want. The trick is to do so in a way that actually empowers your boss and team to help you, and not feel inundated with information. Enter the Working with Me document: An excellent method for communicating how to work with you. What helps you do your job? What gets in the way? Do you have any sensory needs? It's all about YOU. I go through my Working with Me document in today's episode, and you can follow along by checking out the link below!

Working With Me document: https://autistic-techie.com/working-with-me

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/deep-dive-into-working-with-me-documents-and-how-they-can-peel-back-your-brain

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What's your internal "script" that you follow when dealing with troublesome situations? If you have to consciously remember to keep a straight face when confronted with something stressful, you are far from alone. Nicola Knobel spent most of her life masking, frustrated with having to defend her actions and expend significant amounts of energy just to be like everyone else. "But you're so extroverted!" people would say...Because everyone expected her to be that way. Having been diagnosed with autism and ADHD (also known as AuDHD) well into adulthood and parenthood, Nicola opens up on our latest episode about her diagnosis journey, honest masking, and letting her guard down around her coworkers.

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/late-diagnosed-audhd-leadership-and-what-masking-means-to-me-with-nicola-knobel

Nicola Knobel social media:

https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/safetea-podcast-with-nicola-and-deborah/id1725407097

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaknobel/

https://nicolaknobel.com/

Special crossover episode! I had the honor of joining forces Sean Gill from Neurodiversity in the Workplace for their podcast. Together, we dove deep into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by neurodivergent people in and out of the workplace. Landing a job isn't just about surviving and getting by - We talked about how to thrive, supporting both neurodivergent peers and their employers, including neurotypical peers who work with ND folks just as much as their managers do. And to us neurodivergent folks, some tips and tricks on what it means to feel like you belong, and not just exist.

Transcript available on: https://autistic-techie.com/crossover-episode-with-neurodiversity-in-the-workplace-dont-just-survive-thrive-on-the-job

NITW Social Media:

https://nitw.org/

https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/nitw-podcast/id1804361287

https://www.linkedin.com/company/neurodiversity-in-the-workplace/

https://www.facebook.com/NeurodiversityInTheWorkplace

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Do you want to build a mask? It's summer in the USA, so no snowmen here. But you're always going to be wearing a mask to get through tough situations. Interviews? Networking events? Parties? Snowman building parties with corporate matchmaking afterwards? Our newest episode talks about the process of building a mask thoughtfully, not just bruteforcing a social setting and hoping that you'll be OK afterwards. If you've ever gotten stuck on figuring out how you should be masking, this is the episode for you.

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/building-a-formula-for-your-neurodivergent-mask

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In this episode of Autistic Techie, I sit down with Adam Compton, a principal software engineer with over two decades of experience at top tech companies. We explore Adam's journey from a childhood fascination with computers to mastering complex systems at companies like Slack and Quantcast. Adam shares insights into navigating workplace politics and the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in tech. We delve into his experiences with autistic empathy, masking, and the intricacies of social interactions. Adam also discusses the importance of balancing technical expertise with people skills, offering valuable advice for thriving in the tech industry. Join us for a deep dive into the mind of a seasoned engineer and the nuances of neurodiversity in the workplace.

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/autistic-empathy-workplace-politics-and-saying-the-right-things-with-adam-compton

Connect with Adam

https://www.linkedin.com/in/comptona/

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Coding interviews are one of the most difficult things a neurodivergent software engineer can go through. Whiteboarding, coding challenges, and explaining technical concepts are tough for everyone, especially for those whose don't express ideas in quite the same way as everyone else. Mihai Todor has gone through hundreds of coding interviews, and he has some incredible insights to share! We talked about self regulating during interviews, what kind of tech works and what doesn't, and setting specific boundaries for the kinds of interviews he can do.

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/coding-interviews-adhd-and-staying-focused-with-mihai-todor

Mihai's social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtodor/

https://github.com/mihaitodor

https://bsky.app/profile/mihaitodor.bsky.social

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Does your brain freeze up when you hear this question? "Tell me about a time when..." Yeah, mine too. And for many other neurodivergent people, having to come up with an answer to questions like this can feel like running into a brick wall. But there's good news: Providing a meaningful answer to this kind of question doesn't have to be as scary or impossible as you might think. Let's get the inside scoop on approaching this kind of question from the neurodivergent perspective. You'll be shooting for the STARs in no time!

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/acing-the-interview-behavioral-questions-tell-me-about-a-time-when

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Neurodivergent people are no strangers to sensory dysregulation - This is a fancy term which, in short, means "I am not able to regulate your emotions and/or my sensory environment." Your sensory struggles can and often do impact your emotions and vice versa. When you're in a tough environment and find yourself in an overwhelming situation, what can you do? Let's dive into these feelings together, talk about some strategies to help you in the workplace, and unpack some ways you can think about dysregulation when it comes to your needs.

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/sensory-regulation-and-helping-yourself-when-youre-overwhelmed

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You've heard about coaches before, but for people who have ADHD? Is that even a thing? 100% it is, and Brittany Smith is one of the best. An ADHDer herself, Brittany is the mastermind behind Conquer Consulting, whose mission is to help you un-suck your brain and get you back to doing the things you enjoy. She also runs the ADHD Guild, a place for neurospicy people to find community, support each other, and find shared accountability. In this episode, we talk about ADHD coaching, the dreaded ADHD tax, strategies and tips that work for neurodivergent people, and having a conversation with your inner critic.

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/adhd-liberation-coaching-and-productivity-with-brittany-smith

Brittany Smith and Conquer Consulting

https://conquer.consulting/

https://www.tiktok.com/@addliberator

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deviseconquer/

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You've said this to yourself: "I need a friend! Someone who gets it!" Enter ND Connect, a website whose mission is to connect neurodivergent people with friends, mentors, and other like-minded folk who actually understand what it means to be neurodivergent. You don't have to go into the world alone all the time. If you could meet people who've gone through similar struggles as you, whose brains operate similarly, and can provide you with actually relevant advice, you'd wanna find them, right? I got to talk with two of the cofounders of ND Connect: Eliana Bravos and Jacob Estep and learn all about their journeys with neurodiversity, founding the website, and how their brains really work!

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/nd-connect-neurodivergent-mentorship-and-friendship-with-eliana-bravos-and-jacob-estep

Join ND Connect and find Eliana & Jacob on the web

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