Stepping into my first KubeCon + CloudNativeCon, held this year in November in Atlanta, Georgia, felt like entering a world I had been following from afar for years; a world full of brilliant minds, bold ideas, and a shared dedication to building a more open and inclusive cloud-native ecosystem. What made this experience even more meaningful was navigating it as a neurodivergent person and discovering spaces where people like me not only belong but are celebrated.
Finding my place in the community
KubeCon + CloudNativeCon is often talked about as a conference but in reality, it’s a community gathering. Since Day 1 the OpenTelemetry Observatory was filled with conversations of contributors and maintainers to which I participated, and it felt like a safe space for me.
Celebrating the OpenTelemetry community
One of the most unforgettable moments of the week was receiving the 2025 OpenTelemetry Community Award. This recognition wasn’t just about my personal contributions, it was a reflection of the support, encouragement and generosity of a community that thrives on collaboration.
The award reminded me of why open source matters: because it’s built by people who care.
Embracing Merge Forward
A particularly powerful part of my KubeCon journey was engaging with the Merge Forward initiative. Merge Forward is a CNCF Technical Community Group made up of several subgroups, including Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Blind & Visually Impaired, Stuttering & Speech Diversity, Women in Cloud Native, Deep Roots, Friends of Dorothy and Neurodiversity. Its mission is to build supportive networks and safe spaces where underrepresented communities and their allies can come together to learn, mentor, grow, and simply be themselves.
Merge Forward provides a safe place for people to share experiences, find community, and ask for help without judgment. But we cannot do this alone; we need allies. True inclusion happens when those with privilege and visibility help amplify voices, remove barriers, and stand beside us in rooms where we might otherwise be overlooked.
I want to give a heartfelt thank-you to Catherine Paganini, the Co-Founder of Merge-Forward initiative, her vision and commitment helped bring Merge Forward to life and ensure that many voices, including neurodivergent ones like mine, are seen and supported.
Introducing Merge Forward to the industry
Another highlight was joining the Merge Forward initiative on the SiliconANGLE & theCUBE livestream, alongside Savannah Peterson and Jay Jackson from the Deaf & Hard of Hearing group. We talked openly about accessibility, community building, and how empowering underrepresented groups leads to stronger innovation.
Later in the week, I introduced the Merge Forward and Neurodiversity groups on stage as part of Ryan’s “Agile Brain” talk, a moment that meant more to me than I expected. Speaking publicly as a neurodivergent person, in a space historically dominated by conformity and perfectionism, felt like a step toward normalizing experiences like mine.
Merge Forward’s mission is simple: amplify voices, strengthen allyship, and build bridges across the CNCF ecosystem. And KubeCon + CloudNativeCon proved just how needed this work is.
Tips for neurodiverse folks attending their first (or next) KubeCon + CloudNativeCon
Attending a large, high-energy conference can be overwhelming, so here are a few suggestions that helped me navigate my first KubeCon + CloudNativeCon:
- Create your own pace. You don’t have to attend every session. Pick what excites you and allow breaks between activities.
- Find quiet spaces. Many conference venues have quiet corners or designated calm areas where you can decompress.
- Schedule downtime intentionally. Even 10 minutes of silence can reset your energy for the next conversation.
- Use tools that work for you. Noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, note-taking apps, stim toys — anything that helps you self-regulate is valid.
- Connect in ways that feel safe. You don’t need to network in crowded hallways. Smaller meetups, Pavilion areas, and project kiosks can be more manageable.
- Bring a buddy if possible. Having someone who understands your needs can help reduce anxiety and avoid overstimulation.
- Advocate for yourself. If you need a moment, a pause, clarification, or accommodation — you’re allowed to ask.
Connecting, collaborating, and welcoming new voices
Throughout the event, the Merge Forward Pavilion kiosk became a small but vibrant hub where people stopped by to ask questions, share their stories, and become part of a growing movement. The panel discussion brought together perspectives from newcomers, long-time contributors, and allies all focused on creating a more accessible and inclusive future in open source.
For me, these interactions were profoundly energizing. Networking at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon wasn’t just exchanging business cards; it was about finding people who care about kindness, representation, and community as much as they care about code.
A neurodivergent perspective
Navigating a large, loud, high-energy conference isn’t always easy when you’re neurodivergent. The constant motion, tightly packed schedule, and sensory overwhelm can be challenging. But what stood out at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon was how many people, speakers, volunteers, contributors, and organizers made space for conversations about mental health, inclusion, and accessibility.
Being open about my neurodivergence felt empowering rather than limiting. Instead of hiding parts of myself, I found room to share them.
Looking forward: An invitation to join us
KubeCon + CloudNativeCon taught me that the cloud-native community is at its strongest when we bring our full selves to the table. Inclusivity isn’t a checkbox; it’s a commitment that requires care, openness, and action.
If you’ve ever felt unsure about entering the open-source world whether because of neurodivergence, disability, imposter syndrome, or simply feeling different I want you to know that there is space for you here. The Merge Forward initiative is always looking for new contributors, allies, and curious minds who want to help build a more accessible future.
Closing thoughts
My first KubeCon + CloudNativeCon wasn’t just a professional milestone, it was a deeply personal one.
Open source thrives when we all thrive. And I can’t wait to continue this work with an even larger and more diverse community next year.
If you’re interested in joining Merge Forward, supporting neurodiverse contributors, or getting involved in CNCF community groups, I invite you to reach out, sign up, and be part of something meaningful.
Resources
Merge-Forward CNCF initiative: https://community.cncf.io/merge-forward/
Neurodiversity: https://community.cncf.io/neurodiversity/
Deaf and Hard of Hearing: https://community.cncf.io/deaf-and-hard-of-hearing/
Blind and Visually Impaired: https://community.cncf.io/blind-and-visually-impaired/
Stuttering and Speech Diversity: https://community.cncf.io/stuttering-and-speech-diversity/
Women in Cloud Native: https://community.cncf.io/women-in-cloud-native/
Deep Roots: https://community.cncf.io/deep-roots/
Friends of Dorothy: https://community.cncf.io/friends-of-dorothy/