What’s your superpower?
Hi! It’s Heidi here. I certainly don’t have to tell you about the challenges that come with having a neurodiverse brain. But did you know you also have superpowers? (YES, REALLY!) Look, I get it. As a dyslexic thinker myself, my previous concept of how my brain worked was, to be blunt, pretty negative. School was tough. Some things that seemed extremely easy for everyone else, were monumentally challenging for me. I felt that I had to work 5 times as hard as my peers and was desperate to cover up any indication of my learning disability.
Then something changed. As I got older, I started to become more and more aware of things I could do better than others. I was realizing for the first time that I had so call “superpowers” that others didn’t. Now, every brain is unique but in general, dyslexic thinkers often possess remarkable strengths that make them creative, intuitive, and highly capable problem-solvers. Many excel at big-picture thinking, spotting patterns, and connecting ideas in ways others may overlook. They frequently demonstrate strong spatial reasoning, imaginative storytelling abilities, and a natural talent for innovation. Dyslexia can also foster deep empathy, resilience, and an entrepreneurial mindset, as navigating challenges builds adaptability and grit. Together, these superpowers enable dyslexic individuals to bring fresh perspectives, meaningful insights, and unique contributions to the world.
In fact, as the value of dyslexic thinking has become more and more well known, some organizations seek out dyslexic thinkers. Ever heard of NASA? Thought so! NASA has openly acknowledged the value that dyslexic thinkers bring to scientific and technical fields, noting their strengths in spatial reasoning, creative problem-solving, pattern recognition, and 3D visualization. While NASA intentionally seeks people with these cognitive abilities, which are especially useful in engineering, mission planning, robotics, and anomaly detection. Many dyslexic scientists and engineers have contributed significantly to NASA’s work, reflecting the organization’s commitment to cognitive diversity and recognition of the unique strengths dyslexic minds offer. See? Superpowers!
Turning our attention to our friends in the ASD camp, the same is true for this remarkable type of brain. Autistic individuals often possess remarkable strengths that make them insightful, creative, and highly capable contributors. Many excel at deep focus, detailed thinking, and strong pattern recognition, allowing them to master complex topics and spot things others miss. Their communication is often direct and honest, paired with a strong sense of integrity and fairness. Autistic thinkers also bring innovative problem-solving, consistent follow-through, and a natural ability to understand systems and improve processes. Heightened sensory awareness may enhance creativity or technical skill, and their loyalty and sincerity make them deeply committed partners, friends, and teammates.
ADHD friends, you have “superpowers” too! Individuals with ADHD often possess powerful strengths that make them energetic, creative, and highly adaptive thinkers. Many excel at hyperfocus when something captures their interest, allowing them to produce exceptional work quickly. Their brains naturally generate fresh ideas, make unique connections, and approach problems with originality. People with ADHD also bring enthusiasm, quick thinking, and flexibility, thriving in fast-paced or unpredictable environments. Strong intuition, big-picture vision, emotional sensitivity, and resilience further enhance their ability to innovate, connect deeply with others, and navigate challenges with determination.
So, no matter where you fall in complex world of neurodiversity, your brain is incredible! You don’t need to be “fixed” or “changed” and you certainly don’t need to try your hardest to be just like everyone else. We wouldn’t have the lightbulb, E = mc2, the iPhone or the greatest gymnast of all time without neurodivergent brains. So welcome to the club, we’re a pretty great crowd!