"Last week, my daughter, who is 16 and in tenth grade, stood onstage at a school assembly, and introduced the Neurodiversity Club she co-founded. She talked about being diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, and her personal experiences with advocating for herself while navigating school, teachers, accommodations, tests, homework, and friends, when her brain processes things differently than most of her "normal" peers. I sat in the audience next to my husband, trying not to ugly-cry as she read her speech, my hand shaking as I held my phone to record her."
"I couldn't get over how effortlessly confident, articulate, funny, and open she was in sharing such personal experiences with hundreds of kids. I remembered how six years earlier, when she was first diagnosed, I worried about how, even if, she'd be able to keep up academically, and if her neurodivergence would affect how she fit in socially. Now here she was, confidently reframing her own narrative, and inspiring other kids to do the same."
"My 13-year-old son, a neurotypical, super-athletic, gregarious seventh grader, was seated behind us with his friends. When I turned around to share my excitement with him (okay, I see now that was my bad!), he was mid eye roll. " What?" he shrugged defensively, running his hand through his gravity defying hair, and looking down at his feet."
A 16-year-old tenth grader introduced a Neurodiversity Club and described living with ADHD and dyslexia. The student detailed advocating for herself while navigating school, teachers, accommodations, tests, homework, and friendships when her brain processes information differently from most peers. A parent in the audience recorded the speech and felt emotional pride at the student's confidence, articulation, humor, and openness. The parent recalled earlier worries about academic performance and social fit following the diagnosis. A 13-year-old neurotypical sibling reacted with embarrassment and eye-rolling, highlighting typical adolescent discomfort and possible sibling envy. Parental attempts to connect with the son are often met with embarrassment or annoyance.
Read at Scary Mommy
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