I wrote this article on my way home from the CYP neurodiversity conference. I have been thinking about superpowers all week.

I do understand the draw of using a superpower narrative with young neurodivergent people. It can quickly cut through the stigma and shame associated with being quirky, weird, or just plain wrong, by turning it into something positive. 

“but, it’s Rain Man isn’t it”

Rain Man is a 1988 film, starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. This feel-good movie is about a man who kidnaps his disabled brother to ransom him for his Father’s inheritance money. A key moment in the film is when Charlie realises his autistic brother, Raymond can count cards and help with his debts. This scene transforms their relationship.

It is this aspect of the film, amongst others, which is problematic. A neurodivergent person’s value only appears when they can offer utility to neurotypical people. Before then they are a burden and an inconvenience to others.

In a similar vein, a common thing said to autistic people is,

“You must be good at maths”.

Besides the fact that autistic people can be just as bad at maths as anyone else, this desire to super-me-up shrinks me to a single dimension. All the other complexities which make me human are rendered invisible. It allows you to dismiss my disability, my struggle, because you can and do say to me, “But look, you are really good at maths, just think of all the things you can do with that!”

But what if I, as a neurodivergent person, want to own having a superpower? If it isn't being imposed on me, that's OK isn't it?

Freely choosing is often complicated by masking. Many neurodivergent people, like me, are to a certain extent dependent on you, your wants, your needs, your emotions. So, we will often do things to please you, that we think you want from us. Even if you tell us that it's entirely our choice, we will still be looking out for that look of disapproval, which tells us we picked the wrong one.

Me, I can do some crazy superpower-like things. My supervisor during one of my sessions was asking about burnout. She was just being caring. My neurodivergent brain however decided that she had given me something to please her with. Almost right after that session, I start to experience symptoms of burnout. When I realised what I was doing and we talk about it at our next session, the burnout quickly fades away. It's important to understand that I am not pretending, my experience is very real.

Instead of superpowers I like using the concept of difference. I am the way I am because I am wired differently to you. Because of that, I can do this amazing thing… and… I can really struggle to do this other thing.

Difference is central to understanding the concept of neurodiversity. It is the very existence of our neurological differences which binds us all together.

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