This Neurodivergent Engineer’s Strategy for Success

Being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as a child hasn't hindered computer engineer Roberto Moreno from reaching his goals. ASD, a neurodevelopmental disorder, impacts how a person behaves, learns, perceives the world, and socializes with others. Moreno, an IEEE member, is a technical leader for AgenciaSur, a Chilean company that develops tools to help businesses digitize their operations. He manages six employees at the Santiago location.

Although Moreno didn't have a mentor, he says, many people throughout his life assisted him, whether it was with schoolwork or navigating social situations. They also helped him with the mental health issues the struggles prompted.

The people who made an impact on me," he says, helped me fight for the vision I had for my life so as to not fall into the depths of depression and anxiety."

Roberto Moreno

Employer

AgenciaSur, in Santiago, Chile

Title

Technical leader

Member grade

Member

Alma mater

Universidad Andres Bello in Santiago

He says that's why he wants to build a support system for neurodivergent engineers and students, especially those living in South America. The term neurodivergent is used to describe people whose brains process information atypically, including those with ASD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and dyslexia. There is a stigma surrounding such conditions in many countries, Moreno says, leading to discrimination at school, work, and professional organizations.

Moreno helps engineering students and young professionals learn how to overcome challenges so they don't leave the profession. He participates in mentorship programs including the one on IEEE Collabratec, sharing his experiences and helping his mentees navigate challenging situations.

Facing his biggest challenges

Moreno's success didn't come easily. Growing up, he faced quite a few challenges including learning how to read, write, and speak English. Moreno is extremely literal and finds it hard to understand sarcasm, as is common among people with ASD.

That made learning a new language more challenging.

In Spanish, he notes, the graphemes and phonemes differ greatly from Germanic ones." Graphemes are individual letters or groups of letters that represent speech sounds. Phonemes are the speech sounds that make up words. The difference in graphemes and phonemes makes it difficult to quickly make the connection between words and their meaning in Germanic languages, Moreno says.

He also struggles with the go with the flow" attitude. He prefers to follow the rules and social norms at all times.

This caused people to treat me differently," he says.

When Moreno didn't know or recognize what was causing his discomfort, it would drain him emotionally, he says. But if he never tried to understand the causes, he says, he wouldn't have achieved his goals.

Experiencing things that are out of my comfort zone has led to a lot of personal growth," he says. For example, if I had been influenced by people who discriminated against me, I would not feel comfortable being interviewed by The Institute."

Tips for staying organized and mentally healthy

Having difficulty with being organized is common in people with autism, Moreno says.

Students especially find it difficult to manage their time. Moreno suggests they use programs such as Kanban and Pomofocus to create to-do lists and track the status of their homework and other projects.

Making time for oneself-to play a video game, say, or exercise-is necessary, he says. It's especially important for students who are easily overwhelmed by their environment, such as bright lights in a classroom, a room that's too hot or cold, or a place with many loud noises. Setting aside time for hobbies also can help prevent meltdowns, which are common for people with ASD when their nervous system is overloaded.

Recognizing employees' needs

It's important for employers to understand that some neurodivergent employees can become intensely focused on activities, causing them to lose track of time and their surroundings, Moreno says. He suggests that managers split large projects into multiple tasks. So-called atomic tasks can make an assignment more manageable and less overwhelming. The method also allows employees to better manage their time.

Managers should also accommodate their employees' needs, Moreno says.

For example, one of my team members was having personal difficulties, and because of this he often completed his tasks late at night," he says. When assigning him a project, I needed to take this into consideration and estimate how long it would take him to complete it so as to not cause him more stress."

How IEEE can support neurodivergent members

Being part of IEEE's technical communities has been invaluable to Moreno's professional success, he says. As an IEEE Computer Society member, he learned how to be more positive, see the humor in difficult situations, and not be as emotionally affected.

I have learned a lot from more experienced technical professionals," he says, and I continue to grow as an engineer."

There are ways IEEE can better support neurodivergent members, he says, including creating programs in collaboration with neurodivergent people. For example, he says, IEEE Women in Engineering could expand its Student-Teacher and Research Engineer/Scientist (STAR) program, which connects preuniversity girls with an engineer or scientist to encourage them to pursue a STEM career. The initiative, he says, could add a category specifically for neurodivergent students, enabling them to be mentored by a neurodivergent engineer or scientist.

Moreno suggests that IEEE streamline its proposal process for new projects, including keeping a record of what proposals were accepted or rejected and why. The feedback would help IEEE volunteers replicate successful proposals when writing their own, he says.

IEEE also could update the wording of its bylaws to prevent arbitrary interpretations. Neurodivergent people are likely to miss linguistic subtleties, sarcasm, and irony, he notes. They need regulations to be clear and direct so they can better comply with the rules and use the appropriate terms with other members. The wording in the IEEE Code of Ethics, he says, is a good example of a document that avoids arbitrary discriminatory language.

The benefits of an IEEE membership

The most important member benefit is the networking opportunities, Moreno says. Without IEEE I would not have been able to meet and work with talented engineers and members such as Tania Quiel, Fernando Boucher, Nita Patel, and others," he says.

Another benefit is the leadership training he received from participating in the IEEE Volunteer Leadership Training Program. The IEEE Member and Geographic Activities program provides members with resources and an overview of the organization, including its culture and mission.

VoLT strengthened my soft skills and encouraged me to continue to work towards achieving my professional goals," he says.