Inaugural Event - Neurodiversity 101
On October 27th, 2022, the Colorado Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce (CNDCC) held its first member event. This speaking engagement, hosted by neurodiversity community leaders Tiffany Feingold, Amanda Kelly, and Danny Combs, kicked off a series of informational sessions that aim to bring light to not only neurodiversity, but also the impact our business community can have on acceptance.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Tiffany Feingold and interview her about the event. During our conversation, we discussed the event itself, the CNDCC's goals, and her passion for creating change.
The Event
Neurodiversity 101 was led by Dr. Amanda Kelly. She gave an open-ended presentation to a total of 22 employer groups that attended. The groups were a mix of neurodivergent individuals, business leaders, and mid-size/large companies that focus on aspects of neurodiversity or are familiar with the community.
Amanda Kelly presented on a handful of topics including:
What is the definition of neurodiversity?
What is neurodivergent versus neurodivergence?
What is atypical?
What is inclusive language? How has inclusive language changed over time?
As topics were being presented and discussed by Amanda, the floor was occasionally opened up for attendees to ask questions, give an opinion, or comment on their own personal experiences. This included individuals that personally identified as neurodivergent, had neurodivergent family members, coworkers, or employees.
Tiffany commented on the personal anecdotes and mentioned how beautiful it was to hear about these experiences. It allowed the audience to connect in new ways and also helped "employers [understand] what some of their structure does and how it impacts people. [It] opens the lens to flexibility and fluidity." The conversations and anecdotes were warmly received by all audience members. The acknowledgement of personal stories brought everyone together on a topic that is so difficult to grasp.
Despite being a more personal topic, once the audience heard one person speak up, the floodgates opened. What originally began as a group presentation transformed into deep conversation. Stories, anecdotes, and personal experiences became interwoven with Amanda Kelly's research and soon most of the room was engaging with the presentation.
Business owners present at the meeting discussed what changes they have made in recent years to include the neurodiverse community. Some mentioned that having a "neurodivergent friendly" aspect of their website, hiring application, or sign hanging in their window helps to show support and open up doors of opportunity for individuals. It helped to highlight what practices businesses currently have that may need adjustments in the future. This includes, but is not limited to, certain types of lighting, conversation tracks between managers and employees, and how meetings and communication is conducted.
Tiffany then went on to share that one of the most rewarding items to arise during the event came from Denver's own Dumb Friends League, a non-profit community based animal shelter/humane society. The Dumb Friends League shared how they had changed their hiring practices recently to be more inclusive of those who aligned with the neurodiversity community. "The discussion ultimately went to how we need to revamp... the hiring process", Tiffany said.
From start to finish, Dr. Kelly's presentation lasted about 45 minutes. However, Tiffany mentioned, not a single person left directly after Amanda Kelly was done speaking. All 22 businesses stayed for an extra 15-30 minutes, to discuss highlights and their personal thoughts about the information presented to them.
As everyone finished their coffee and snacks, they connected over their experiences and networked about how different organizations worked when approaching the topic of neurodiversity. "There was networking, there was engagement, there was discussion among the employers that were there and the individuals that attended. As well, that camaraderie of gaining so much knowledge."
Going forward into 2023, the CNDCC will be hosting a Neurodiversity 101 event every month. This will take the form of either a 'National Speaker Series' or 'CNDCC's Education & Speaker Series'. The two event types will be exclusive opportunities to listen and interact with business contacts that also have ties to the neurodiversity community. Some events may be virtual while others will be in person, depending on the host and where they are located.
Additionally, the chamber at this time is planning events for all aspects of the business community. Tiffany discusses the different needs between neurodivergent entrepreneurs, hiring managers, businesses, and employees. The chamber's goal, she says, is to strike a balance between all of these groups and provide information so that all can succeed going forward. Between knowledge and experience, the CNDCC believes it can provide the support necessary for all business professionals to thrive.
If you are interested in attending a CNDCC in-person or virtual event, please visit our website's events page (located on the event calendar). The organization has a series of casual networking events as well as member only events, which focus on business networking and knowledge sharing. If you are interested in becoming a member, please review our membership tiers or contact them to learn more.