Reaching out to the brightest new technologists… across the neurodivergent spectrum

If you’ve ever been to a tech event you know the promise of innovation and empowerment is palpable, yet the unfamiliar environment and sensory overload can be daunting. That’s especially true for those of us who navigate the world through a neurodivergent lens.

This was certainly the case for Tori Kaufman, a Business Transformation Associate at JPMorganChase and a member of the neurodivergent community. She remembers attending several tech recruiting events in college—and, sometimes, walking out of them.

“Some settings could be obnoxiously loud. Activities would group people really close together, or shine flashing lights in your face throughout the event,” Kaufman says. “If I couldn’t carry on conversations, usually I just left, which means I didn't get to talk to people or hand out resumes or learn about whether I’m a good fit anywhere.”

Kaufman's experience is not unique. According to an independent panel advising the UK Department for Work and Pensions on advancing job prospects for the neurodivergent community, the employment rate for people with autism measured 31 percent, compared to 54.7 percent for all disabled people. In another study, the American Enterprise Institute found that, while neurodivergent people comprise up to 20 percent of the total US population, just 15 percent of adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder are employed—and many hold jobs that don't fully use their knowledge and skills.

Extending Opportunity

Last year, JPMorganChase’s Tech for Social Good team hosted “GenerationTech: Celebrating Neurodiversity” events in Columbus, Ohio; Bournemouth, England; and Glasgow, Scotland. Designed to foster accessibility, the events gave participants an opportunity to engage in hands-on tech activities, develop their skills, and to learn more about technology at JPMorganChase.

Tech for Social Good, the host of these events, works to leverage the technology skills and expertise of JPMorganChase employees to drive social impact and increase access to education in communities around the world. GenerationTech, a flagship global youth program, does just that.

Ahead of the events, organizers collaborated with Autism at Work (AAW), JPMorganChase’s autism inclusion initiative, to explore new ways to connect and engage neurodivergent youth who aspire to careers in technology. Jeff Cowgill, AAW Program Manager, notes that, working together, the AAW team and Tech for Social Good were able to foster safe and welcoming environments for both neurotypical and neurodivergent participants.

“It’s a community whose members largely don't see themselves as having an opportunity to work at a company like JPMorganChase,” Cowgill says. “Our main goal was to bring them on campus to participate in the event so they could see themselves as having an opportunity at JPMorganChase once they were ready to begin their careers.”

To find potential attendees, the AAW team collaborated with local partners, schools, vocational rehabilitation centers, and agencies that work with neurodivergent students. They also reached out to public school districts that have student services with programming for members of the disability and neurodivergent community.

Fostering a Safe and Welcoming Environment

Before the Columbus event, the volunteers attended an autism inclusion workshop to understand the unique perspectives of potential participants, as well as uncover their own implicit biases across the neurodiversity spectrum.

The events also served as a platform for employees within the neurodivergent community to give back and mentor youth as they work through technical challenges. “For their part, neurodivergent volunteers understand and can attend to participants’ communication needs and styles and can share valuable insights on sensory environments,” says Bournemouth event organizer, Tom Norrish, EMEA Neurodiversity Lead at JPMorganChase.

The event space played a large part in fostering an inclusive environment. “Some of the changes we included were having a quiet space or a sensory room where people could work, lowering the lights, moderating the temperature, and ensuring that the volunteers were trained in neurodivergent behaviors.” Cowgill says.

The team also spaced tables to minimize crowding and provided comfortable chairs and access for attendees with mobility differences, to help them navigate the event space more easily.

Planning Bears Fruit

Students arrived at GenerationTech somewhat disoriented by the unfamiliar environment, but by the event’s conclusion, the room was a hive of vibrant conversations and collaborations. Participants left inspired with what they can create utilizing technology, and by the opportunities that JPMorganChase offers. 

Kim Fernee, the EMEA regional lead for Tech for Social Good at JPMorganChase notes the long-ranging impact of the events.  “This is why we do what we do. Events like this increase the access and mobility of community members in a tech evolving world. Seeing youth and employees leave with the tools to carry on and inspire was a humbling moment.”

In the end, providing opportunities for individuals to interact with, learn about, and apply technology in meaningful ways is not just a core tenet of Tech for Social Good, but a vital step in fostering inclusivity and empowerment.

“It is exciting to see that JPMorganChase is working to ensure that neurodivergent individuals are not only equipped with technological skills but also inspired to envision a place for themselves in the tech world,” says Kaufman.

The success of initiatives like GenerationTech underscores the transformative power of accessibility and community support in unlocking potential and driving innovation.