We turned our struggles into SUPERPOWERS

When a child is diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder, such as autism or dyslexia, parents inevitably worry about the impact on their futures. However, there is now a growing movement, fuelled by academic research, exploring the notion that, contrary to traditional perspectives on these conditions as worryingly negative, they can prove a secret superpower – to be celebrated, not hidden. Researchers at Harvard Business School, in the US, have explored the ways in which those with neurological conditions can have highly useful skills, including in areas such as pattern recognition, memory and mathematics. A growing number of companies, among them Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft, have overhauled recruitment processes in the hope of attracting more neurodiverse talent.

‘ADHD HAS ME UP AT 5.15AM TO WORK’

Sandra Scott, 52, has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and is a multilingual language trainer and Director of Chataway Language School. She lives in Liverpool and has a grown-up son.

I was working