Mozz O’Sullivan

EPIC Assist

Scope

• My Career (Highlights)• Disability in Employment• My Disabilities• Key Considerations for Career Planning• Industry Advice from the Inside!• EPIC Assist’s Focus• Questions…

Tax Office

• Upfront Disclosure:– Last dealings with ATO

here in Brisbane - 2009

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

My Career (short)

Invisible Disability

• Paying Tax may be annoying – but it is not a disability

• Many disabilities are invisible

• Disability may mean “different” but it should never mean “worse”

Mental Health in the Workplace?

• Narcissists

• Psychopaths

• Machiavellians

My Disabilities…

My Disabilities…

• Eosinophilic oesophagitis

My Disabilities…

• Eosinophilic oesophagitis

• Big nose

My Disabilities…

• Eosinophilic oesophagitis

• Big nose• Ugly

My Disabilities…

• Eosinophilic oesophagitis

• Big nose• Ugly• Asperger’s Syndrome• (and a few more…)

Asperger’s Syndrome

Diagnostics

• Autism Quotient: • Professor Simon Baron Cohen• Director of Cambridge University

Autism Research Centre

http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aqtest.html

Sacha Baron Cohen

Masking & Autism

• Most people on the Higher End of the Spectrum ‘Mask’ – they present the person they think is acceptable.

• If the person you are speaking to is on the spectrum, you are probably not speaking with the real person.

• That makes it difficult for interviews, job matching etc.

Masks and Work

• Right now I am wearing a ‘mask’

• I have trained for years to do public speaking.

• However, this takes huge amounts of energy!

The Problem of Masks

Learning Styles (the gift)

Learning Styles

GENERAL

Learning Styles

GENERAL

Learning Styles

GENERAL

Learning Styles

GENERAL

Criminal Destruction…

Sensory Issues

5 Senses

Other Senses

Other senses include• Pain (Nociception)• Proprioception• Pressure• Thirst• Hunger• Time• etc

“6th Sense”• Ability to subconsciously

pattern match and understand situations quickly

• Based on our need for preservation – prepared for any enemy

• Those on the spectrum struggle to fit in so have to be prepared

Workforce Planner

• Underutilised until…

• Haruspex

• Reverse Engineering the Math …

Oops!

Routine! & the Army

• Perception that Defence means ‘routine’.

• Reality is that soldiers experience very little routine.

• Officers, once trained, have some routine and control…

Limitations – Know Them!

Fight / Flight

Key Considerations for Career

•Assurance – I do not fit in, but that is OK

•Seek Help Early (mentoring helps!)

•Practice Skills that are not natural

• Investigate the Whole Job

•Expectation Management (60% Rule)

Career Development Industry Advice

• People with invisible disabilities need support just like physical disabilities.

• Don’t just accept the diagnosis if you can find a reason to think otherwise (ie – intelligence)

• Don’t pitch people too low – actually, for many on the spectrum, aim high!

• Skip the interview (if possible). Sell the person (not the mask).

EPIC Assist - Changes

• EPIC Assist has brought on key staff with invisible disabilities to broaden understanding of participants.

• Further education and training of staff.• Team devoted to finding work placements.• Point of contact for employers of those with

disabilities.• Mentoring / ongoing Coaching of those with

invisible disabilities.

My Career (short)

Back to the Tax Office

• At the ATO, I was invited to lead a service for ANZAC Day

• It was an Aspie’s nightmare – on my own, room full of people – and the TAX OFFICE!

• I was specifically requested to return the following year…

Questions?