By Scott O’Connell, Telegram & Gazette Staff
Feb 26, 2019 at 7:05 PM – WORCESTER –
Jay Cahill, co-founder of Bluefin Technology Partners in Worcester, wouldn’t say no to a job applicant who might be a little different.
“We’re looking for folks who have the right experience,” he said, including neurodiverse people. “I’ve worked with a number of people who have been on the (autism) spectrum. Many of them have been great at solving complex problems.”
A new report from a professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute makes the case that neurodiversity, which encompasses a range of disorders including autism, dyslexia and ADHD, should be acknowledged and embraced by employers, particularly in the tech industry. Many neurodiverse professionals, while in need of special accommodations in some cases, are very good at specialized, high-skill work, and add to the diversity companies should be trying to cultivate in their workforce, argues Eleanor Loiacono, whose article was published recently in MIS Quarterly Executive.