We will talk about how people with “disAbilities” add value and privilege to the diversity discussion. Supports and services for the disabled focus on what they can’t do and what they will probably never do well. This includes the non-neurotypical, learning disAbled as well as those with visual disabilities. Let’s explore together a world that sees everyone as having gifts and that helps people focus on those gifts. Sometimes that world requires providing support for many traditionally “normal” things that typical people do without thinking. The presentation will be interactive and hands on, so bring a project that you are working on and be prepared to think about Ability differently.

About Nechama Katan, Director of Data Science Insights

Nechama Katan, is a “Data Wizard with Personality.” Nechama believes that until those like her, with “non-visible” disabilities are embraced for what they bring to the community, those with visible disabilities (her son) will never be fully included. Nechama works in Pharma helping improve the quality of clinical trial data.  She helps organizations access and use their data to drive business decisions. Nechama blends an ability to write code and provide prototypes, an interest in driving the “business conversation”, and the ability to prioritize decisions.   In addition to working with various organizations, she is an experienced instructor in Statistics, Operations, Data presentation, Data Science and Metrics development.  Her education includes an MSc from NYU in Mathematics and an MA from Columbia University in Statistics.