The Alphabet of Neurodivergence — And Why It’s My Superpowe

Hi, I’m Ann — podcast host, writer, photographer, and proud mom of five amazing kids (three of whom are also neurodivergent). And here’s something I want to say loud and clear: I have autism. I have ADHD. I am also dyslexic. I jokingly say I have the alphabet of neurodivergence — but let me tell you something... I’m not just surviving. I’m thriving.

This world wasn’t built for brains like mine. It’s linear, it loves boxes, and it’s obsessed with “normal.” But I never signed up to be normal. I signed up to be real — and real includes messy, magical, magnificent neurodivergence.

🧠 We’re Not Broken:  We’re Wired Differently

Neurodivergence doesn’t mean “less than.” It means “different than.” My brain processes the world like a kaleidoscope ...colorful, creative, and constantly shifting. While some people see one path forward, I see twelve. That may sound chaotic to some, but for me, it’s visionary.

And you know what? This “different wiring” has gifted me with hyper-empathy. I can walk into a room and feel what others are feeling before they even speak. I notice the kid sitting alone. I catch the nuance in someone’s silence. I can love deeply, listen fully, and connect in ways that defy logic because I feel it all.

🔧 Neurodivergence Builds Resilience

I’ve had to create workarounds in a world that wasn’t designed for me. Color-coded systems, voice memos, movement breaks, alarms, and many reminders. But here’s the secret: those “workarounds”? They became my strengths.

Because neurodivergent people are natural problem solvers. We’ve spent our lives decoding systems not built for our brains, and that makes us incredible innovators. We find patterns others miss. We dream up ideas that make people say, “Whoa, I never thought of it that way.”

💼 Yes, We Can Hold Jobs. And Families. And Dreams.

There’s a stereotype that people with ADHD or autism can’t function in the “real world.” To that, I say: Watch me.

I’ve worked as a journalist, a photographer, a counselor, a podcast host, and a swim coach. I’ve led shelters, mentored teens, built a podcast that reaches millions, and raised a house full of neurodivergent love and chaos. And through it all, my neurodivergence has never been a weakness — it’s been a compass. A guide. A light.

💖 Empathy Is Our Superpower

We feel more. We see more. We notice the invisible. We hear what’s not being said. And in a world desperate for compassion, that is a superpower worth celebrating.

We care deeply. Not just in passing, but all the way to the bone. And that empathy? It makes us better parents, partners, co-workers, and creatives. We show up with heart. We show up with fire. We show up when others don't even realize someone needs to. The important thing is we keep showing up and we don't give up! 

🗣️ So, What Do I Want You to Know?

Being neurodivergent isn’t something to hide. It’s something to harness.

We are not lazy. We are not weird. We are not broken. We are brilliant in ways that don’t always fit into charts or checkboxes. And if the world hasn’t seen it yet? Well, that’s their limitation. Not ours.

So, whether you’re someone like me who is walking around with an alphabet soup of neurodivergent labels.  or someone who loves someone who is, hear me when I say:

You can make it! You will make it! And your wiring is part of what will help you do it.

Keep showing up.

Keep building your version of success.

And never forget...what makes you different is what makes you powerful.