Laura’s fabulous review

Laura works for a consulting company called Slalom. In addition to her regular duties as a data & analytics consultant, she is also one of the cofounders of Horizons, Slalom’s employee resource group for disability, neurodiversity, and mental health. She is a Horizon’s global co-lead, with her focuses being primarily around neurodiversity and intersectional allyship.

Neurodiversity refers to the fact that there is not just one ideal type of brain. Different people have different ways of thinking and that diversity can be useful. For example, there are many extremely valuable professionals on the autism spectrum who are making incredible contributions to their companies and communities. Autistic traits are beneficial in certain situations, and can actually be an advantage at times.

I asked Laura what intersectional allyship means and she said,

“It’s important to recognize the intersections within our community (so much overlap between disability, neurodiversity, and mental health, both in how people identify and comorbidities) and with other communities. The discrimination faced by a Black person is not the same as the discrimination faced by an autistic person, which is not the same as a black autistic person. We all have overlapping identities that create unique lives experiences. We cannot achieve Horizons’ vision of “Creating a world where the infinite variations in mind and body are represented, empowered, and celebrated” without recognizing intersectionality and being allies to everyone. So, I do a lot of partnering with people with different identities, and with other Slalom employee resource groups. Which is why I lead the event last March, “Women & Neurodiversity: Presentation, Representation, and Celebration.””

Earlier this week Laura and her supervisor got a notification that a coworker of hers had submitted a peer review of Laura. These reviews are encouraged to give employees and their managers feedback about their performance. Usually they are short thank-you notes, but this one was stunningly positive from a coworker who identifies as neurodiverse:

“Laura is beyond dedicated. Most of the people at Slalom are dedicated or we wouldn’t have brought them in to the family. Laura does not work toward inclusivity, she is a pure crusader. She is constantly thinking of new ways to reach people. Any obstacle is simply a mild deterrent and she treats it as such, moving above, below, around, or simply straight through it. Laura does all of this, and she has no direct “skin in this game”. She knows others who are neurodiverse and she herself is neurotypical. Advances for inclusivity in neurodiversity change the lives of those around her, not her personally. If a new policy were created to support those with these kinds of challenges, it would not be hers to use. It would only help those around her, and for her, that is enough to take up armor and shield and sword and march through a desert. The slalom family is worth that struggle for her.​​That is not devotion. That is not dedication. That is love. And, she knows that love is not an emotion, it is a selfless commitment, and she has made that commitment to me, to us, the neurodiverse who so need champions.“

Wow! Way to go, Laura!

She’s wearing her pride sunglasses because June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month!

Zane is showing his spirit too. He’s just happy to be home after a fun but exhausting Memorial Day Weekend backpacking trip.

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