Interview with Iliana (ChatGPT)

QUESTION 01 Can you tell us a bit about yourself, and how your disability might impact your experience, as someone who attends live in-person and virtual events?

My name is Iliana, and I’m a freelance software engineer who identifies as an autistic person.

As a person who thinks in images and colors, rather than words, I tend to rely on visual cues and patterns to understand information. I often have a vivid imagination and think in pictures, which means that I prefer to process information in a more visual way, such as through diagrams, charts, or images. This type of thinking allows me to see connections and patterns that might not be immediately apparent to others who rely primarily on words to understand information. However, this can also make it challenging for me to perceive the information presented to me in certain situations, especially in noisy or distracting environments. For example, in an in-person event or meeting, I may struggle to follow the conversation if there are many people speaking at once, or if there’s a lot of background noise. In these situations, I may become overwhelmed and find it difficult to focus on the information that’s presented.

Also, I have challenges related to processing verbal information and social cues sometimes. For instance, I have a hard time understanding sarcasm, irony, or figures of speech. I also have difficulty interpreting cues like body language and facial expressions, which can make it challenging to understand the intended meaning of the conversation or to pick up on social cues. Another aspect that I struggle with is interpreting someone’s tone. Without visual cues or context, it gets pretty hard to gauge the person’s emotional state while they’re talking to me. If they say something in a monotone or detached voice, I probably won’t be able to tell if they’re serious, sarcastic, or joking.

These challenges create barriers as I do my best to follow what’s happening during events and communicate effectively with other attendees. Since I can recognize and somewhat understand my challenges, I can take action like asking for clarification when I’m not clear about something, or seeking out visual aids to better understand the material.

QUESTION 02 Thinking back on some of your experiences attending in-person or virtual events, what are some of the worst things speakers, trainers, and other communication experts can do to ruin your experience as an attendee?

Some of the worst things speakers can do to ruin my experience as an attendee is provide unclear or inconsistent instructions. As someone who relies on structure and routine to feel comfortable, I quickly get frustrated when events lack predictability or are disorganized.

Unclear or inconsistent instructions cause a lot of frustration. Especially when presenters fail to provide clear expectations or deadlines for their exercises or activities, when they introduce contradictory statements, or when there are unexpected changes that aren’t communicated in advance. As someone who relies on structure and routine to feel comfortable, I find it challenging to adapt to sudden changes or unexpected surprises. This leads to anxiety or a sense of being overwhelmed. When I get triggered in these situations, it becomes very difficult to focus on the content of the event, or engage with others. I’ll quickly feel like I’m falling behind, or that I don’t understanding, and this causes me to withdraw or become disengaged. And that makes it even harder to follow along or to participate.

Another thing that can easily ruin my experience is when colour patterns used in presentations or graphics are too bright or triggering. That’s because bright colours cause sensory overloads, make me feel overwhelmed, and make it difficult for me to concentrate or focus. For instance, bright reds and oranges are often too intense for me, while colors like yellow or bright green will be too stimulating. When I encounter these colours, I feel a sense of discomfort, anxiety, and sensory overload. This makes it much harder for me to concentrate on the material being presented, or to fully engage with what’s going on.

To mitigate these challenges, whenever possible, I do my best to communicate my needs and preferences to event organizers and speakers ahead of time, so that they can take steps to make the event more accessible and inclusive to people like me. But honestly, I wish I didn’t have to ask! As an example, I might ask for materials to be available in alternative formats, or for colour schemes to be more muted. I also try to take breaks as needed and to practice self-care techniques before and during the event to help manage my stress and anxiety. By being proactive and advocating for my needs, I help ensure that I can fully engage with and enjoy the event. I just wish speakers and event planners were aware of these things, and naturally paid attention to them.

QUESTION 03 Can you share some of the great things speakers, trainers, and other communication experts sometimes do that make a positive impact on your ability to fully enjoy your in-person or virtual event experiences?

On the other hand, one of the most helpful things that speakers and trainers can do to help me is make sure to provide clear and concise instructions. Don’t make me guess! This includes giving clear expectations for assignments, deadlines, and any necessary follow-up actions. When instructions are clear and consistent, I can better understand what is expected of me and feel more confident in my ability to complete the tasks. This helps to reduce my anxiety and stress levels and can make me feel more comfortable and engaged.

Another thing that helps me is the use of predictable, easy-to-follow page or slide layouts where visual clutter is kept to a minimum. When slides are well-organized with a clear hierarchy, it’s much easier to follow the presenter’s train of thought. This helps seeing how the different pieces of the presentation fit together, and helps me feel more confident in my ability to understand the material and stay engaged.

And then of course, using larger fonts and simpler language is also extremely helpful! This allows me to better understand the information presented, and helps by reducing my cognitive load. When information is presented in a way that’s easy to wrap my head around, it makes me feel more comfortable and more confident in my ability to engage.

Regarding colour schemes, muted colours are certainly preferable to bright or triggering ones. Muted colours like pale blue or dark green, are easier on my sensory system and less likely to cause sensory overload or discomfort. When presenters use muted colours, it helps people like me better focus on the material presented, and it makes me feel more comfortable and relaxed.

Overall, when speakers, trainers, and other communication experts take steps to make their content more accessible and inclusive, it makes a significant positive impact on my ability to fully enjoy my in-person or virtual event experiences. By providing clear, concise instructions, using easy-to-follow page or slide layouts, using larger fonts and simpler language, and avoiding bright or triggering colours, presenters can help me to feel more comfortable, more confident, and more engaged in the event.

QUESTION 04 If you had one piece of advice to give speakers, trainers, and other communication experts, so their content became more inclusive of people who have disabilities, what would it be?

Beyong what I’ve already said, one important perspective to consider is that people on the spectrum like myself can find executive functioning skills, like planning, organizing, and time management to be challenging. This means that we may need more explicit instructions, more structure, and more time to complete tasks. Speakers can help by providing clear instructions, breaking down tasks into smaller steps, and giving ample time for individuals to complete assignments. Furthermore, providing a clear outline of the agenda, timeline, and breaks is extremely helpful for people on the spectrum to manage their time and to feel more in control.

Another thing to consider is that individuals on the autism spectrum generally have difficulty with sensory processing, and may have sensory sensitivities or sensory seeking behaviours. Speakers and trainers can help by creating a sensory-friendly environment, which can include providing a quiet space for individuals to retreat to if they become overwhelmed, having fidget toys or other sensory aids available, or providing earplugs or headphones for individuals who are sensitive to noise.

Finally, it’s important to consider that people on the spectrum often deal with social communication challenges, when it comes to nonverbal communication and understanding social cues. They can help by being clear and direct in the way that they communicate, and always make it a point to avoid sarcasm, jokes, or idioms that may be difficult to interpret. It’s always good to provide opportunities for social engagement and connection in a structured and predictable manner…

By keeping these additional perspectives in mind, speaking professionals can make their content more inclusive of people who are on the autism spectrum and create a more welcoming and accessible environment for all attendees.

QUESTION 05 Thank you for sharing some of your insights with us today. As we wrap up our conversation, is there anything that you’d like to add, such as another thought, another piece of advice, another perspective, etc.?

Thanks for having me and for allowing me to share my experiences and insights with everyone today.

Maybe one other thing I’d add would be to consider the diverse needs and preferences of neurodiverse individuals and strive to create environments that are as accessible and inclusive as possible. Understand that no two neurodiverse individuals are the same. Therefore, not all people on the spectrum have the same needs or preferences. Make sure to provide a range of options and accommodations for individuals to choose from, like visual aids for those who think in images instead of words, or materials in alternative formats like audio recordings or text transcripts for people to access information in a way that works best for them.

It’s also important to be aware of potential sensory sensitivities and provide sensory-friendly environments with quiet spaces for individuals to retreat to if they become overwhelmed, making fidget toys or other sensory aids available, or providing earplugs or headphones for individuals who are sensitive to noise.

Lastly, it’s also important to provide opportunities for social engagement and connection in a structured and predictable manner, while being mindful of social communication difficulties that some neurodiverse individuals may experience. Providing clear and direct communication, avoiding sarcasm or idioms, and providing opportunities for social interaction in a structured and predictable manner will all be very helpful for individuals who struggle with social communication.