"The way my brain is wired helps me do better": neurodiversity at Dstl
AJ, a principal software engineer with Asperger's Syndrome and dyslexia, shares his experience of working at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
If I바카라 사이트檝e had a 바카라 사이트榩eopley바카라 사이트� day I need to sit in a dark room in silence or hide under a blanket when I get home.
This is how Andrew, or AJ as he is known, manages being a principal software engineer in a world-class organisation with the challenges of having Asperger바카라 사이트檚 Syndrome and dyslexia.
He started working for Dstl 18 years ago and it was through his job that he was first diagnosed 바카라 사이트� although he already suspected that he had Autism Spectrum Disorder.
He talks about his experience as the organisation marks Neurodiversity Celebration Week.
AJ said:
My story is an unusual one, perhaps since my diagnosis came later in life.
I바카라 사이트檝e always known that I wasn바카라 사이트檛 quite the same as other people, and at school I didn바카라 사이트檛 really have many friends and I was bullied quite a lot.
I was that boy at school that spent every lunchtime in the library, reading or playing with the computers.
However, it was at school that he developed a passion for science and engineering, and he remembers a favourite book at aged five was on the history of iron and steel manufacturing.
He believes attitudes have changed since he was a child and that Neurodiversity Celebration Week is important as it helps explode prevailing myths and signposts available support.
I think there are lots of stereotypes around all kinds of neurodiversity. Some people think of dyslexic people as being unable to read, or those with autism and Asperger바카라 사이트檚 as people that have no social skills at all who can바카라 사이트檛 cope in the real world.
I don바카라 사이트檛 think any of those are true. There바카라 사이트檚 an adage that says, 바카라 사이트業f you바카라 사이트檝e met one neurodiverse person바카라 사이트� you바카라 사이트檝e met one neurodiverse person바카라 사이트�. We are all different - in the same way everyone is different.
AJ바카라 사이트檚 Asperger바카라 사이트檚 also manifests itself in a hypersensitivity to sound, where an almost inaudible hum of electrical equipment can be painful, while travelling on the London Underground is unbearable.
In a work environment the general noise of an office can be very distracting and networking or making small talk is extremely stressful.
People are often surprised to learn AJ is neurodiverse as he has learnt to 바카라 사이트渕ask the symptoms and fake being 바카라 사이트榥ormal바카라 사이트�.바카라 사이트� However, he says this coping technique is emotionally and mentally draining.
He went on to say Dstl provided a package of help which included a flexibility around his work station, a screen reader and coaching to help with specific things that he finds difficult.
I think Dstl is a good, supportive employer, I think there바카라 사이트檚 lots of scope for making appropriate adjustments for people that have needs.
It바카라 사이트檚 not about curing it, it바카라 사이트檚 not about taking it away it is about giving people the tools they need to be the best they can. I was surprised at the level of support that was available.
Everyone바카라 사이트檚 journey is going to be different but the important thing for everyone to realise is that, as an organisation, Dstl really wants you to be yourself and be the individual you are and embrace that diversity.
He feels, with the support of the organisation, his condition makes him better at his job.
He said:
It gives me an ability to concentrate deeply on something technical for long periods, a skill at spotting patterns and following logical sequences.
I바카라 사이트檝e always had 바카라 사이트榯he knack바카라 사이트� when it comes to electronics and computers 바카라 사이트� and I have no doubt that my Asperger바카라 사이트檚 plays a significant part in that.
The way my brain is structured, the way my brain is wired, helps me do better. I still want to know exactly how everything works 바카라 사이트� but now it바카라 사이트檚 an asset and Dstl pays me to do it.
If the little boy sat in the corner of the library was to meet me now? I would have loved to have known as a child that I would end up working in an environment like this on things that really matter and things that have really interesting problems to solve.
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