vGHC 2020: Wherever You Show Up You Belong

Grace Hopper Conference, an incredible conference geared towards women in the tech scene, became virtual for the first time this year. Despite this challenge, virtual Grace Hopper Conference, or vGHC, was a smashing success. I left this conference feeling like I had real tools I could use the very next day. Plus, it felt extraordinary to attend a tech conference geared towards women for four whole days. This was especially true, because, in my daily work-life, I exist in a company that represents the state of the industry: majority men. I felt further inspired by connecting with fellow women in Navigating the Tech Scene with a Disability Q and A zoom session.

Best Quotes From the Opening Session:

All quotes from Brenda Darden Wilkerson.

President and CEO of AnitaB.org, Brenda Darden Wilkerson gave a speech to open the conference. Wilkerson was a poetic and a talented orator, so I felt compelled to share some of her word gems:

• Reflecting back on when Wilkerson’s professor asked her “Why are you here?”, she wished she could retroactively respond with “You must not know about me.” Because he hadn’t. He’d tried to alienate her before he even knew what she was about. I think a lot of us can find comfort in that mantra, “you must not know about me!”
• Along that theme, Wilkerson encouraged us to embrace the fact that: “Wherever you show up you belong.”
• And further she gave us a call to action, telling us to “walk in our fullness.”

Through the conference, though the focus was mainly on the keynotes, her words and her vision of vGHC 2020 also shined through. And I’m grateful it did.

In the end, my journey through vGHC 2020 was about walking in my fullness and to finding that I already belong where I struggle to feel I belong. As a software engineer with a disability, it’s difficult to celebrate my talents, remind myself of all I’ve conquered, and challenging to feel like something other than an impostor. Despite the fact I sometimes feel alone in this, the very first day of GHC, there was a session “ Navigating the tech scene with a disability.” This session felt tailor made for me, but in fact, it spoke to many of the participates. During the Q and A many other attendees where present asking their own questions. It was clear to me that I wasn’t the only person who had connected with the content of this session. I even got to do some networking in that zoom session, and further connected with others dealing with the same feelings and decisions.

vGHC has the ability to take people who feel isolated and help them connect with each other to see, in truth, they’re not alone. Others, in fact, share their thoughts and feelings. The Navigating the Tech Scene with a Disability session was certainly that for me.

Highlights from Navigating the Tech Scene with a Disability vGHC Session

Speakers:
Brianna Blaser, Project Manager, University of Washington
Kayla Williams, IT Analyst, Eli Lilly and Company
Lisa Maberry, Program Manager, Microsoft
Meenakshi Das, Student, Auburn University
Paulette Penzvalto, Program Manager, Google Cloud TI, Google

I was assigned to be one of GHC’s official notetakers for the conference, and because I personally connected with this session, I’m really excited to include this panel discussion in my finalized notes here. Whether or not you identify as having a disability, you’ll be able to get a little something from reading further, even if it’s just the Best Practices section of my notes (take a look!).

During this panel discussion the topics ranged far and wide, due to a looser format that took the form of a natural flowing conversation. I’ve grouped my notes into the main themes. Some highlights are: Accommodations During the Hiring Process, and Encouragement to find your Advocate / Also to Self-advocate.

Encouragement to find your Advocate / Also to Self-advocate:

• If you’re comfortable with it, try communicating what you need yourself. Crucial to have those conversations
• Lead with vulnerability, as a way of showing/inspiring others
• Know who your advocates are and know what your escalation path is.
• Also go with your gut
• Example phrases when advocating for yourself: “how I can be supported” , “my objective is to succeed.”
• Have practical conversations such as “I don’t make a lot of eye contact but I’m still paying attention”. Or “I don’t get sarcasm so if you say something sarcastically I may learn something wrong.” Help others help you.
• Get documentation if you can, but sometimes that’s not possible can be expensive
• Take a leap sometimes people will surprise you — but also go with your gut (it’s a bit of a balance, right? :)
• Note: Only roughly 30 years since the American with disabilities act

Accommodations during the Hiring Process:

A lot of us wonder: What accommodations can I even ask for when applying for a job?

• Remember that a lot of these accommodations during the hiring process don’t cost the company anything at all.
• You don’t have to disclose you’re specific disability , to ask for accommodations. You don’t need to tell anyone why
• Example: You can also ask for questions written out in advance… so you have time to process
• Example: You can get more information about the structure of the day
• Example: Can ask for extra breaks throughout the day — or ask for reorganization of the day (say if you need to take a medication at a particular time, or medication leaves you tired in the afternoons etc.).
• Ask for what you need.

You are not alone. Find your Passion:

• Every feels like the odd one out, we felt that too
• Try different parts of computer science to find the right fit.

Interacting with others, practicing accessibility: Get In the habit of best practices to help out others:

• Announcing yourself when you speak. Can be helpful for those with visual disability or even people with kids! — describe all your visuals on a screen
• Calling out the most important things on the slide — Helpful for those with disabilities or even with people who just have half attention as we juggle being at home and at work!
• By doing these best practices, you’re sending a message to people, you’re thinking of them. Might make them be more comfortable to ask for specific accommodations
• Remember you don’t always know if you’re interacting with those with a disability!
• Make these best practices of how to relate to each other as more normal and more common

Advice for Daily-life accommodations, School or Work:

• You can mix and match and see what accommodations work best for you.
• Having a network of people with disabilities that you can reach out to can be really helpful
• Remember: It’s the process that is “broken” not the people
• Some companies have more or less of that culture — can influence how you approach these companies
• Knowing if a company is supportive is huge in approaching the company. Something to also look into while you’re looking into jobs as well.
• Look into those employee groups to find your allies and support. You’re not alone

I had an incredible time at vGHC, and this stand out session was a big reason why. Thank you to all these speakers, for teaching me something new, and helping me connect in a way I didn’t expect!