“I often see a combination of a few or all of these attributes:

1. Above average or high academic intelligence

2. History of school achievement, now interrupted

3. Learning differences stemming from (sometimes undiagnosed) neurodcomplexity and/or mental health

4. Slow processing speed

5. Family value placed on academic achievement and education

6. Significant talent in a non-academic area”

“Their strong intelligence and motivation to learn compensates for neurodivergent-related barriers until the complexity of the curriculum shifts beyond their ability to learn simply by showing up.”