Statement of Purpose 2022

At the beginning of 2022, I completed a Product Leadership certification through product lab and found a mission for my professional career while researching for a final project.  Applying both product and hcid ux research methods, I found the 2021 stats for unemployment for people with disabilities was 4x the national average, 8x for people with neurodivergent conditions, and as high as 85% for people with ASP disorders (add reference).  

 

Not only is this an unconscionable display of ridiculous bias in all industries, but especially a lack of support from the technology industry that is at the core of life at work, work at home, work/life balance, and life in general in a lot of ways. The best part is the tech industry is especially keen for the expansion of neurodiversity as fields but tools need to be expanded to build better for all at all times.

 

It is my belief we build better when we build for all. That the future is strongest when the essential cases are identified, not the 80% or the 20% (in fact don't get me started on the 80/20 rule being misapplied - just read this <find link>

 

I'm a fan of this concept I keep popping up - Permanent, Temporary and Situational (though I don't know who to credit it to and it gets a bit dodgy when trying to depict neuroatypical conditions).

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This aligns with another concept that I picked up (that I don't know whom to credit to as well), but that in the case of disabilities, it is some of us all the time, but all of us at any time. 

 

It is my belief that all people deserve to work and be valued for the skills they do have and training they have attained, and not blocked by artificial barriers.

 

I also believe in self-enablement where I don't think there is a bar where you are "not disabled enough" (find quote again)

 

Disability enablement has always been an interest and I've volunteered with adaptive ski programs, which was so much fun.  It was something that was not new but it was suddenly very clear: Whatever work I do, I want to help close the underemployment gap for people with disabilities.

 

As a software product manager, I mainly worked on lowering the bar for low code developers and advocated for accessibility requirements to be taken into account at the product level. 

 

Why now? In October, I left my position at ServiceNow, largely due to lack of  funding for my work and took the last few months enjoying my house, nursing my elderly cat, and entertaining my elderly parents.

 

I believe the tech industry is at a cusp where AI technology is becoming a reality and it's so important that neurodiversity and all disabilities are able to take advantage and contribute to the foundations of such an important emerging technology. 

 

This can only be accomplished by organizations like yours pushing for more understanding, more visibility, more research, more education, and more legislation, that people with disabilities can better self-enable and be supported to contribute on the levels of each capabilities, instead of "despite disabilities".

 

In my mind, my next step is to work with or for organizations who have similar goals, and/or the ability to impact the industry, while I pursue further professional certificates or Ph.D programs in Disability Studies and Technology.

 

So here I am 1 year later, trying to figure out the next step on my journey and  I thought I'd say hi.

 

I am glad to have found your [organization], and even if it is not yet time for us to work together, I will follow your work, cheer you on, and hope to run into you from time to time.

 

Thank you for your consideration.