& Construction
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Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
& Manufacturing
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Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
4 min read
I work in Autodesk’s finance organization as Tax Director, Transfer Pricing, and am home-based in Dallas, Texas. I am also fortunate to serve as the Global Impact & Strategy Lead for Autodesk MIND Network, an employee resource group (ERG) representing topics and communities pertaining to Mental Inclusion, Neurodivergence, and Disability.
MIND Network’s mission is to serve employees with neurodivergence and disabilities of all kinds and support mental health by providing resources, support, and advocacy while educating those outside the community. Our goal is to make the invisible visible so everyone can feel understood, embraced, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work and fully thrive within Autodesk.
During the month of October, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we’ve been celebrating the contributions of workers with disabilities and raising awareness about the value of a workforce inclusive of their skills and talents. In addition to hosting a series of webinars about authenticity, creating and communicating boundaries at work, and a new company benefit supporting neurodivergence, we also highlighted some of our MIND Network members and shared their stories on social media.
There’s a common saying you may be familiar with: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle about which you know nothing.” For some, these battles are in the form of a mental, neurological, or physical disability. But they may not be obvious. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.3 billion people globally live with a disability. Yet 74 percent of those with disabilities do not use anything that may visually signal their impairment to others.
I may not look like I have a disability, but I do. Ménière’s disease is an inner-ear condition that causes vertigo, along with fluctuating and permanent hearing loss, among other symptoms. For me, I am fully deaf in one ear and have “Alice in Wonderland”-style vertigo attacks from time to time. Ménière’s is like a shark circling in dark waters – I never know when it’ll bite or drag me under or for how long.
For the most part, Ménière’s isn’t visible. But when I wear my hearing aids, lose my balance, or get very nauseous, people tend to notice, and I may then need to explain myself – it can be frustrating. I’ve been very fortunate to have supportive managers who appreciate the importance of flexibility and who trust their people. They help me to manage my periods of difficulty with Ménière’s and trust my colleagues enough to ask for help when I need it.
A Diversity & Belonging (D&B) executive with whom I worked once referenced inclusion in a more tangible way for me: Diversity is akin to being invited to a party, and inclusion is being asked to dance. Equity is ensuring that anyone can get into the building to attend the party (via steps, a door, or even an accessibility ramp), and belonging is ensuring that everyone gets to choose the music and the food. Our DEI (and broader leadership) efforts are all about ensuring we have the right party planning team.
So, how can you be more inclusive? Here are a few ways we’re focused on this at Autodesk:
The more awareness, understanding, and empathy we have about individuals’ disabilities, the better we can work together to create a more supportive and inclusive environment.
Learn more about Autodesk’s employee resource groups here.
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