Neurodiversity and inclusion in tech – with Jennifer Opal

Neurodiversity and inclusion in tech – with Jennifer Opal

Author: Carolyn Kiel June 27, 2022 Duration: 36:29

Jennifer Opal is a DevOps Engineer with the HelloSign Team at Dropbox, a multi-award winning neurodiversity & inclusion advocate, blogger & keynote speaker. She also has dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD. Jennifer has worked with clients such as Bloomberg, Google and HackAJob, providing insight on being a neurodivergent queer Black woman engineer in tech, in the hopes of educating & inspiring others.

During this episode, you will hear Jennifer talk about:

  • How she got diagnosed with dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD as a university student
  • What inspired her to get into coding and tech as a career
  • The challenges she's faced as a neurodivergent employee, and as the only Black person at one of her first tech jobs
  • The importance of inclusive work environments
  • How she shares her story and tech career journey to educate and inspire others

To find out more about Jennifer and her work, you can follow her on LinkedIn, Twitter, and TikTok. You can also find her on JenniferOpal.com.

 

This episode features a promo for All About Change hosted by Jay Ruderman. All About Change is a podcast about people who have leveraged the hardship they faced to better the lives of others. For your dose of hope and inspiration, check out All About Change on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

 

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes!

Click here for the episode transcript.

*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

 


Hosted by Carolyn Kiel, Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people moves past the snap judgments that so often define how neurodivergent people are perceived. Each conversation here is an invitation to listen deeply, exploring the nuanced realities of entrepreneurs, artists, advocates, and other neurodivergent individuals as they share their own experiences in their own words. You’ll hear personal accounts that challenge stereotypes, not through abstract arguments, but through the vivid details of lived experience-the unique pathways to creativity, the challenges navigated in work and relationships, and the personal definitions of success and well-being. This podcast creates a space where identity is explored with authenticity, highlighting the strengths and perspectives that arise from thinking differently. Tuning in means connecting with stories that are as diverse and dynamic as the neurodivergent community itself, offering genuine insight into mental health, societal norms, and the richness of human cognition. Carolyn guides these discussions with a focus on depth and connection, ensuring every episode goes far beneath the surface to celebrate the vibrance of neurodiversity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
Podcast Episodes
A nonspeaking autistic writer's advocacy – with Ben Breaux [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:35
How do you get an education when you cannot speak, and the school system does not understand your abilities or support your needs? This was the experience of Ben Breaux, a 22-year-old nonspeaking autistic man with epilep…
Tourette's advocacy on TikTok – with Monica Nguyen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:44
Note: This episode contains occasional swearing (coprolalia). Monica Nguyen is a 20-year-old disability advocate who lives in Sydney, Australia. Monica began sharing her experiences online after facing a lot of discrimin…
Apraxia Story – with Tessa McEvoy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:40
Content warning: This episode mentions emotional abuse. Tessa McEvoy is autistic, has a speech disability called Oral Motor Apraxia, and was recently diagnosed bipolar. She talks about her experiences on her popular Face…
ADHD and the Black neurodivergent community – with Rickey Z [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:35
Rickey Z is a Pre-K Special Education teacher who started her podcast management business in 2020. She is a co-host on Woe Nelly Media's "Geekin' Out" and is in partnership with ADHD + Black, an up-and-coming organizatio…
Disability representation in media – with Jeremy Andrew Davis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:05
Jeremy Andrew Davis is a screenwriter, film director, and consultant for disability representation in media. He describes himself as multi-disabled with several neurodivergencies as well as chronic illnesses. As a recogn…
Leaning into your ADHD strengths – with Dr. Lola Day [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:10
Dr. Lola Day is a multi-passionate busy mother of 3, a pediatric cardiologist, podcaster and ADHD trained life coach and productivity strategist for women. She is also the CEO and Founder of LollieTasking, a coaching and…
Tourette Syndrome representation in film - with Jack RH O'Sullivan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:21
Jack RH O'Sullivan is an award-winning independent filmmaker and film director based in London. He is autistic, has Tourette Syndrome and OCD. He has directed ten short films including "Tourettes & I", a coming-of-age dr…
An autistic Christian experience – with Miya Sae [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:33
Miya Sae is an autistic Christian, blogger, and aspiring author. Through her writing, she strives to help bridge the neglected gap between autism and Christianity, while bringing hope and encouragement to other misunders…