The first time I was involved in a design process, I never knew it.

In college, I got my degree in psychology and linguistics. I was determined to work in mental health. My first job out of school was working at a behavioral health rehabilitation center with non-verbal children with autism, aged 2-6.

In this role, I would teach toddlers who were neurodivergent specific skills and tools to navigate the world. These are people who experience a life that is more stimulating, and often overwhelming than neurotypical folks.

Often, we'd practice basic socially-adaptive actions like eye contact, eating on your own, and how to interact with strangers and friends. My favorite part was working with speech pathologists — I would watch them set up lesson plans and daily objectives to help kids communicate. Something I got to help with on rare days, was teaching kids to use a "communication board", which let them indicate words and feelings they otherwise couldn't express.

An augmentative and alternative communication board (source)

I will never forget the moment a kid tapped a phrase I put on his board — the first time someone used an interface I designed! We cheered and celebrated when this child found the phrase on their own.

It was a rush of joy and connection, and it marked a moment where I realized that I might be able to make tools that make people's lives just a little bit easier.