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Focus Bear creator builds up tech inclusivity
Wants to see neurodiversity on the tech agenda
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By Peter Clark (Senior Editor, Autism Info Center) Wednesday 28th January 2026 |
Jeremy Nagel, a PhD candidate at RMIT University in Australia, is aiming to transform the tech landscape by turning his personal journey with Autism and ADHD into a mission for systemic inclusivity.
After facing significant early-career hurdles, including the loss of five consecutive jobs due to executive dysfunction and emotional regulation challenges, Nagel utilized his late diagnoses as a blueprint for innovation.
He developed Focus Bear, a productivity app designed to act as a "personal trainer for the brain", moving away from traditional, shame-based to-do lists toward a supportive framework.
Beyond the app's commercial success, Nagel is pioneering research to ensure the tech industry moves toward true neuro-inclusivity.
His doctoral work focuses on the behavioral nuances of neurodivergent users, such as analyzing tab-switching patterns to identify moments of lost focus.
By gathering empirical evidence on how ADHD and autistic brains interact with software, he aims to provide developers with the tools to create applications that accommodate diverse cognitive styles rather than frustrating them.
It seems that, through initiatives like providing funded access for university students and integrating smarter AI, Nagel is proving that lived experience is a vital asset in building a more accessible and empathetic digital future.
Source: RMIT University (Australia)
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/news/2025/may/
Further reading, listening and viewing...
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