Autistic Techie

Nicholas Solter is an incredible parent of a dyslexic daughter, and his advocacy has completely transformed his engineering management approach. He has a storied tech career that has been shaped by his daughter's struggles, triumphs, and personal epiphanies. Join us as we talk about how inclusion and accessibility inform Nicholas' approach to building teams, working on projects, and the history that led him here. Nicholas is also the host of the Dyslexia Journey podcast, which you can check out below!

Full transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/dyslexia-advocacy-and-engineering-management-with-nicholas-solter

Nicholas Solter and the Dyslexia Journey podcast

https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingDyslexiaJourney

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

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

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Mat Hultquist has spent most of his life tinkering with technology in some way, messing with his family computer and working his way up to doing IT work at his high school. Who else could be a more accurate description of an "autistic techie"? Mat is a former colleague of Shea's at Mentra and is now a software engineer at Lattice. Join us as we talk about his self discovery of autism & ADHD, how hyperfocus helps him get work done, and how other people can be more supportive of neurodivergent people in their lives.

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/tinkering-with-tech-and-hyper-focus-with-mathew-hultquist

Connect with Mat:

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

Follow us on social media:

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

https://www.instagram.com/autistic_techie

In this episode of Autistic Techie, I chat with Sheldon Gay, the National Vice Chair of Umbrella US, founder of Techano Solutions, and neurodivergent self advocate. Sheldon is also the host of his own podcast, "I Must Be BUG'N" where he talks about neurodiversity too!

Sheldon's story is one of late diagnosis, navigating career changes from mechanical engineering to product management, and running his own technology business. We talked about intersectionality and Sheldon's upbringing in Philadelphia, how neurodivergence appears to other people in the tech industry, standing up for yourself, and helping other autistic/ADHDers advocate for themselves more clearly.

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/capes-kryptonite-and-neurodivergent-autonomy-with-sheldon-gay

Connect with Sheldon Gay on the web

https://sheldongayisbugn.com/

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

https://www.instagram.com/imustbebugn/

Follow us on social media:

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

https://www.instagram.com/autistic_techie

We live in a AI dominated world, whether we like it or not. The variety, complexity, and difficulty of these tools is intimidating for everyone, neurodiverse folks especially. Elias Kouloures has figured out how to take the best of AI tools and support his work and lifestyle, while being aware of its shortcomings and what to look out for. Join us for a deep dive on how AI can support neurodiverse people in their decision making, executive functioning, and indulgence in special interests!

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/using-ai-to-supercharge-your-brain-with-elias-kouloures

Connect with Elias:

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

Follow us on social media:

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

https://www.instagram.com/autistic_techie

Adaptive fashion is a burgeoning industry, and neurodivergent people are in need of sensory friendly clothing. Sense-Ational You is a clothing line whose mission is to address the sensory and accessibility needs of kids and adults everywhere. Julia DeNey joins Autistic Techie to talk about the journey to founding Sense-Ational You, how her studies and experiences led her to this career path, and how the brand creates community for people who may never have had one.

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/sense-ational-you-sensory-friendly-clothing-adaptive-fashion-with-julia-deney

Sense-Ational You social media:

https://shopsenseationalyou.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/sense-ational-you/posts/

https://www.instagram.com/senseational_you/

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

Follow us on social media:

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

https://www.instagram.com/autistic_techie

Burnout affects everyone at some point in their careers, and neurodivergent people are no exception to this. Because of how much it takes to mask, we burn out more than neurotypical people do! Jared Williams, a former Mentra colleague of mine and now the General Manager of Florecita Panadería bakery, talks about his journey in the startup world, venture capital, knowing when he'd hit his limit, and discovering what it meant to take the reins of his career into his own hands.

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/burnout-baking-and-being-a-business-owner-with-jared-williams

Connect with Jared Williams and find Florecita Panadería on the web:

https://florecitapanaderia.square.site/

https://www.instagram.com/florecitapanaderia

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-w/

Follow us on social media:

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

https://www.instagram.com/autistic_techie

Jobseeking is a painful process, and that's even more true for neurodiverse people. How can you tell if a company is inclusive and can support you? Surprisingly, there are many ways you can figure out whether a potential employer supports neurodiversity or not. Some of these things can even be done before you start working on an application! Today's episode talks through all the ways you can evaluate this for yourself, from before the application, through the interview process, and after you've landed an offer.

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/how-do-i-know-if-a-company-is-neurodivergent-friendly

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

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Join me as I sit down with Cat Contillo, a cybersecurity expert and multidisciplinary artist who is also a passionate advocate for autism and accessibility. Cat shares her journey from studying social work to becoming a cybersecurity professional, driven by her desire to help others and her love for technology. We discuss her late autism diagnosis and how it transformed her understanding of herself, leading to her advocacy for neurodiversity and accessibility in tech. Cat also offers insights into self-advocacy, setting boundaries, and creating inclusive spaces in the workplace. Tune in to hear Cat's inspiring story and learn how she empowers others to embrace their unique strengths and advocate for their needs.

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/setting-boundaries-and-discovering-your-autistic-self-with-cat-contillo

Connect with Cat Contillo on the web:

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

https://chronicallyempowered.threadless.com/

https://www.catcontillo.com/

https://www.threads.net/@chronicallyempoweredco

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

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How should you respond if someone says that you don't "look" neurodivergent? Does neurodiversity actually have a "look"? In this episode, we unpack the meaning of this question, where it might come from, and how you can stand up for yourself when confronted with this.

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/but-you-dont-look-autistic-how-should-you-respond

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

https://www.instagram.com/autistic_techie

What does it mean to belong? How do you know when you've found a place where you can thrive? Is it a job, a club, group, something else? This episode unpacks that strange fuzzy feeling when you're just vibing with the people around you. They welcome you with open arms. And if that space doesn't exist, nothing's stopping you from making it.

Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/what-belonging-means-to-neurodiverse-people

Follow us on social media:

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

https://www.instagram.com/autistic_techie