Applied’s IndispensAbility Community of Interest hosted a panel of its colleagues who either have autism or have family members with autism in honor of Autism and Neurodiversity Acceptance Month. The session, led by Gary Brignardello, one of the co-chairs of the IndispensAbility family, provides an open space to create dialogue and reduce stigma around disabilities and neurodiversity.
Expert Panelists:
We had three Applied employees from different teams who shared their firsthand experiences with autism and with loved ones who have autism. Each one brought a unique perspective to help other Applied employees understand and appreciate neurodiversity and ask their questions.
Jean-François Grondin
Senior Customer Support Technician
Applied IT Platinum Team
Jean-François greeted the audience in multiple languages and shared his experiences, including the process he uses to calm down when things seem overwhelming, a model that anyone can use in stressful situations.
Hannah Antonelli
Senior Communications Specialist
Applied Marketing
Hannah shared her personal connection to neurodiversity, with a brother and a cousin on the autism spectrum, sharing how different their family members’ experiences were and examples of how to support friends and family with autism.
Gabriel Tremblay
Project Manager
Applied
Diagnosed with ADHD and autism and a father to neurotypical and neurodiverse children, Gabriel's focus was on how to make the decision to disclose a diagnosis, whether it’s a self-diagnosis or medical diagnosis, at work or school with helpful tips and stories from his experience.
Watch the Full Webinar
Our dynamic webinar underscored the importance to celebrate neurodiversity, but beyond neurodiversity to embrace the unique qualities each individual brings to the table and create spaces where everyone can thrive. See for yourself in our full webinar.
Promote Autism Acceptance at Your Company
Does your organization have initiatives in place to support all abilities and neurodiversity acceptance?
Learn more about supporting Autism and Neurodiversity in the workplace
Learn more about Autism Acceptance Month
*Webster's New World College Dictionary defines neurodiversity as, "the concept that differences in brain functioning such as autism, dyslexia or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are normal variations, with strengths and weaknesses. It is not a medical term. Individuals or groups that exhibit those variations are considered neurodivergent or neurodiverse."
