The Aspie Techie

As a kid I wanted to be (at various times) a police officer (like my father), hockey player, a journalist, and a teacher…and an astronaut. Eventually I found my passion to be a combo of education and technology.

The technology aspect came from my mother. She is a very handy woman who took a few computer classes at the community college…and ran with it. She is the geek goddess. While my father would have his doubts (he’s a little…er…traditional, shall we say?) my mother always encouraged me to chase a dream and take on the guys.

When I was 7, I was diagnosed with PDD-NOS (later Asperger’s Syndrome). The doctor apparently kept telling my parents all I couldn’t do 5-10-15 years down the road. I also have ADHD…just to make things even more interesting.

I graduated from the Community College with honors and start at the state college in the fall. I am majoring in Special Education, but will also work on getting the A+ computer certification. My dream job is to be an Assistive Technology Professional, or perhaps an IT professional at a school. Over this summer, I took a course in hardware repair, and was so nervous about my first computer class. Mom said she expected me to kick butt.

I was one of two girls in my computer class, and found the guys (especially the professor) to be very supportive of women in technology. It also turns out that my professor is Dyslexic and didn’t bat an eye when I said I have Asperger’s. To me this is a sign that the tech world is moving in the right direction.
I passed the class with an A- (98/100 on my *intense* hands on final).

When you’re a girl, people may judge you and have doubts from the get go. When you are a woman with a disability (or two) there may be even more so. You may have to work twice as hard to keep up and three times as hard to pull ahead. Just do it. Let their doubts be your fuel. When you get to that moment (crossing the stage, or getting the job) it will feel amazing. Be an example to the people behind you and proof to those ahead.

Find me at: http://www.aspietoaspie.vpweb.com