Life Lessons in Leadership

The U.S. semiquincentennial has me reflecting on the lessons my life’s experiences have taught me about leadership. Full disclosure: I have recently started writing a memoir. So, my reflection isn’t rooted solely in the country’s historical milestone.

My memoir spans my early teen years, during which I discovered that I carry the burden of the family health curse: migraine disorder. Not that uncommon, as one in five women in the U.S. has this disorder. But add into the mix a military family, the early 1970s, the Vietnam War, and the San Francisco Bay Area, and you have some drama.

More to come on that.

For now, let me say that my background colors my views on what makes a good leader. Those views were further refined by my experiences as a teacher, technical communicator, and program manager. Then they were topped off by my experiences as a community volunteer and non-profit board member.

Now, at the memoir stage of my life, which coincides with an extraordinary time in my country’s history, I share some comprehensive thoughts on leadership.

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Neurodivergence and Content Design: The Migraine Edition

Designing online content sensitive to user differences has been our responsibility for at least 20 years – in the U.S., since the advent of Section 508 requirements. During that time, our awareness of inclusivity has evolved to include (pun intended) neurodiversity, a term coined in the 1990s by Judy Singer.

Nick Walker, Ph.D., defines “neurodivergent” folks as having “a mind that functions in ways which diverge significantly from the dominant societal standards of ‘normal.’” (See her helpful blog post “Neurodiversity: Some Basic Terms & Definitions.”)

The mind functions differently. That definition encompasses folks with dyslexia, autism, dyscalculia, ADHD, anxiety, and a neurological injury. It also includes me, a person with migraine disorder. Or it should.

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