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“Gus Walz Is the Unintentional Ambassador of Neurodivergent Youth We All Need”

“Gus’s reaction to his father’s speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention was another example of how kids who learn and think differently are vulnerable to cruelty — only this moment was televised.”

Andy Kahn, Psy.D., Understood
By Andrew Kahn, Psy.D. Updated on September 5, 2024
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Gus Walz was appointed an unintentional ambassador for neurodivergent youth during the third night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 21. Millions of Americans watched the 17-year-old leap to his feet with tears streaming down his face as he cheered on his father, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, as he accepted his party’s vice presidential nomination.

Gus Walz’s expression of pure love and joy should have been seen for what it was: an unfiltered and positive emotional response to a big moment. Sadly, the moment served as yet another opportunity to divide Americans. While most people saw Gus’s reaction as an historic moment for neurodiversity, a vocal minority sneered, criticized, and hurled insults at an innocent young person.

What Does Neurodivergence Mean?

Neurodivergence is a word used to describe naturally occurring differences in how the human brain develops that result in variations in “wiring” and how we process information. These differences may affect around 20% of the population and occur in people with ADHD, dyslexia, autism, and nonverbal learning disorder (NVLD). These and other conditions can lead to challenges with functioning in key life areas. In young people like Gus, these differences may result in variations in how they process nonverbal information, recognize patterns, develop social skills and awareness, process sensory information, and engage in executive function tasks.

[Take This Test: Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD) in Children]

It’s not uncommon for the neurodivergent community, particularly children and young adults, to battle stigma, insults, and misconceptions about their conditions. Gus’s reaction to his father’s speech was another example of how kids who learn and think differently are vulnerable to cruelty — even in their most benign or joy-filled moments. Only this moment was televised. Frankly, I’m glad it was.

Neurodivergence is a relatively new term, but it’s becoming more commonplace in American society. This is likely due to increases in diagnoses and perhaps increases in social media use to amplify individuals’ experiences. For example, a 2022 report from the CDC revealed that about 1 million more children received an ADHD diagnosis in 2022 than did in 2016. Even so, neurodivergence isn’t discussed nearly enough, making it easier for people to make false assumptions that impact children and their families every day.

Parents of neurodivergent children often face challenges in accessing accurate and reputable resources to help them in their day-to-day lives, resulting in feelings of isolation and loneliness. In the absence of awareness and widespread education, navigating learning and thinking differences can be a nightmare for the child — and a massive source of stress for their parents. Understood.org’s Neurodiversity and Stigma survey from 2022 found that nearly 70% of parents felt stigmas surrounding their child’s differences affected their mental health negatively. Another 2024 survey revealed that 96% of parents with neurodivergent children reported feeling stressed during the back-to-school season.

How to Help Neurodivergent Children Navigate Stigmas

As a licensed psychologist with more than 20 years of experience working with neurodivergent people, I’ve participated in dozens of programs designed to help educate the public and reduce stigmas for people with differences. Here are a few takeaways I share with parents:

  • Educate yourself on current evidence-based information about your child’s learning and thinking differences.
  • Talk to your child about their differences and how it affects them.
  • Provide an informational bridge between home and school to help educate and inform teachers about thinking and learning differences and to help your child access accommodations.
  • Advocate for inclusion and use of Universal Design for Learning strategies to support neurodivergent and neurotypical students in shared learning environments.
  • Provide direct strategies for identifying challenges and asking for help. Role-playing or practicing with a script can help kids and adults ask for what they need to thrive.

[Free Download: Signs of Dyslexia at Every Age]

When I watched Gus Walz’s reactions to his father’s nomination, I was brought to tears by this pure and amazing display. Politics aside, this moment provides us with a remarkable opportunity to amplify and support neurodivergent individuals by having an open dialogue in our country about what it means to learn and think differently. Let’s not let this moment slip by.

Gus Walz and Nurturing sNeurodivergent Children: Next Steps

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