Noteworthy Neurodivergent Figures
Neurodivergent people can face various challenges and difficulties throughout life. And while that can possibly influence confidence, neurodivergent individuals are generally highly inventive and extraordinarily efficient problem solvers. The neurodivergent mind is particularly great at effectively spotting patterns and designs. And though stigmas around neurodiversity remain, it is estimated that at least 30% of the population is neurodivergent, with that statistic being higher for our most creative innovators (in fact, around 40% of self-made millionaires are dyslexic).
Point being, there are many neurodivergent individuals who have had and continue to have an amazing impact on society.
The following is a list of individuals with varying neurological conditions that left an incredible mark on society.
Point being, there are many neurodivergent individuals who have had and continue to have an amazing impact on society.
The following is a list of individuals with varying neurological conditions that left an incredible mark on society.
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•Dr. Temple Grandin - author, activist, professor, Autism
As an autism and animal rights activist, Grandin has written several books to land her on the New York Times Best Selling list, as well as on the Canadian best seller list. Her life story was made into an HBO movie titled "Temple Grandin, staring Claire Danes," which won seven Emmy awards and a Golden Globe. In 2017, she was inducted into The Women's Hall of Fame and in 2018 made a fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She was named as one of the top 10 Best College Professors in 2020 by CEO Magazine. In 2022 she was awarded with the University Distinguished Professor degree at Colorado State University.
She has taught the Graduate Animal Behavior and Welfare program at Colorado State University for 25 years, and the Temple Grandin Equine Center at Colorado State University is home to one of the leading equine-assisted services facilities in the world.
As an autism and animal rights activist, Grandin has written several books to land her on the New York Times Best Selling list, as well as on the Canadian best seller list. Her life story was made into an HBO movie titled "Temple Grandin, staring Claire Danes," which won seven Emmy awards and a Golden Globe. In 2017, she was inducted into The Women's Hall of Fame and in 2018 made a fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She was named as one of the top 10 Best College Professors in 2020 by CEO Magazine. In 2022 she was awarded with the University Distinguished Professor degree at Colorado State University.
She has taught the Graduate Animal Behavior and Welfare program at Colorado State University for 25 years, and the Temple Grandin Equine Center at Colorado State University is home to one of the leading equine-assisted services facilities in the world.
•Michael Jordan - professional athlete, businessman, ADHD
Regarded as the NBA’s greatest player of all time, Jordan used the characteristics of his ADHD diagnosis to his advantage. Utilizing hyper focus — highly focused attention where you concentrate on something so hard — to help him win 6 NBA Championships, 6 NBA Finals MVP’s, 5 NBA MVP’s, become a 14-time NBA All- Star, a 3-time NBA All-Star Game MVP, 10-time All-NBA First Team, Defensive Player of the Year, NBA Rookie of the Year and 10-time scoring champion... to name a few! Oh, he also owns the best selling shoe of all time; the Air Jordan.
•Billie Eilish - professional singer/songwriter, Tourette’s Syndrome
Diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome when she was 11 years old, the neurological disorder is a condition of the nervous system that causes people to experience tics, or sudden movements or sounds that are done repeatedly. That hasn’t stopped Eilish from winning seven Grammy Awards, breaking two Guinness World Records, winning a Golden Globe, or from becoming the second-youngest winner ever in the Best Original Song category at the Academy Awards (she has an Oscar!)
Diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome when she was 11 years old, the neurological disorder is a condition of the nervous system that causes people to experience tics, or sudden movements or sounds that are done repeatedly. That hasn’t stopped Eilish from winning seven Grammy Awards, breaking two Guinness World Records, winning a Golden Globe, or from becoming the second-youngest winner ever in the Best Original Song category at the Academy Awards (she has an Oscar!)
•Muhammad Ali - professional boxer, activist, Dyslexia
He was known as a wordsmith – someone who is remembered for his lyrical quotes, and would often recite poems before his fights – but the late Muhammad Ali struggled with dyslexia, and just barely graduated from high school. He had the motivation to find success outside of the classroom, and dedicated much of his life to helping improve African American literacy.
At the end of his career, his final record was 56 wins, 5 losses and 37 knockouts. He won an Olympic gold medal and was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship three times.
He was known as a wordsmith – someone who is remembered for his lyrical quotes, and would often recite poems before his fights – but the late Muhammad Ali struggled with dyslexia, and just barely graduated from high school. He had the motivation to find success outside of the classroom, and dedicated much of his life to helping improve African American literacy.
At the end of his career, his final record was 56 wins, 5 losses and 37 knockouts. He won an Olympic gold medal and was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship three times.
•Emma Watson - professional actress, ADHD
ADHD is one of the most misunderstood and overlooked conditions in adult women. 50 – 75% of adult women with ADHD often aren’t diagnosed until adulthood and are three times less likely to ever receive a diagnosis compared to their male counterparts.
Watson has appeared in 15 films including Harry Potter (ever heard of it?) and has a degree in English Literature from Oxford University. She was diagnosed with ADHD as a young child and took medication for it throughout the filming of Harry Potter. She is very passionate in her work with the UN (United Nations) on women’s rights.
ADHD is one of the most misunderstood and overlooked conditions in adult women. 50 – 75% of adult women with ADHD often aren’t diagnosed until adulthood and are three times less likely to ever receive a diagnosis compared to their male counterparts.
Watson has appeared in 15 films including Harry Potter (ever heard of it?) and has a degree in English Literature from Oxford University. She was diagnosed with ADHD as a young child and took medication for it throughout the filming of Harry Potter. She is very passionate in her work with the UN (United Nations) on women’s rights.
•Amanda Gorman - poet, activist, Auditory Processing Disorder
Auditory Processing Disorder, or APD, causes a disruption in the way one’s brain understands what they are hearing. Gorman is hypersensitive to sound, and also had a speech impediment as a child and participated in speech therapy. She see’s those obstacles as a strength, as they helped her become really good at reading and writing.Gorman became the youngest inaugural poet in U.S History, made Time Magazine’s 100 list, and became the first poet to ever perform at a Super Bowl. She’s published 3 books and is a New York Times best seller.
Auditory Processing Disorder, or APD, causes a disruption in the way one’s brain understands what they are hearing. Gorman is hypersensitive to sound, and also had a speech impediment as a child and participated in speech therapy. She see’s those obstacles as a strength, as they helped her become really good at reading and writing.Gorman became the youngest inaugural poet in U.S History, made Time Magazine’s 100 list, and became the first poet to ever perform at a Super Bowl. She’s published 3 books and is a New York Times best seller.
•Justin Timberlake - singer/songwriter, actor, ADD, OCD
In a 2008 interview, Timberlake revealed that he has both Attention Deficit Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. His OCD manifests in the need to have things line up correctly, and only allowing certain foods in his refrigerator. Despite battling his obsessive thoughts, Timberlake has had an incredibly successful career in entertainment; winning 10 Grammy Awards, 4 Emmy Awards and having eight #1 songs. He also earned an Oscar nomination for “Can’t Stop The Feeling!” from the Trolls soundtrack; one that he also produced and voiced the character Branch. That song was the most downloaded song of 2016!
In a 2008 interview, Timberlake revealed that he has both Attention Deficit Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. His OCD manifests in the need to have things line up correctly, and only allowing certain foods in his refrigerator. Despite battling his obsessive thoughts, Timberlake has had an incredibly successful career in entertainment; winning 10 Grammy Awards, 4 Emmy Awards and having eight #1 songs. He also earned an Oscar nomination for “Can’t Stop The Feeling!” from the Trolls soundtrack; one that he also produced and voiced the character Branch. That song was the most downloaded song of 2016!
•Greta Thunberg - environmental activist, Autism, OCD
Known for challenging world leaders to take immediate action for climate change mitigation, Thunberg was diagnosed at age 11.
“A lot of people with autism have a special interest that they can sit and do for an eternity without getting bored,” she explained. “It’s a very useful thing sometimes.”
Greta was Time Magazine’s youngest person of the year and has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize twice!
Known for challenging world leaders to take immediate action for climate change mitigation, Thunberg was diagnosed at age 11.
“A lot of people with autism have a special interest that they can sit and do for an eternity without getting bored,” she explained. “It’s a very useful thing sometimes.”
Greta was Time Magazine’s youngest person of the year and has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize twice!
•Armani Williams - professional Nascar Driver, Autism
Williams was diagnosed at the age of two and spoke his first word at three years old. He was around 7 years old when his parents talked to him about his autism diagnosis, and that conversation changed his life.
Determined not to be defined by the diagnosis, Williams embraced it. When his parents enrolled him in a two-week course designed to help autistic children learn to ride a bicycle, Williams mastered it in one day. He is the first openly autistic professional Nascar driver, and to date has 18 wins and two championships. He attends Oakland University, studies mechanical engineering, and maintains a 3.0 GPA while balancing school and professional racing.
Williams was diagnosed at the age of two and spoke his first word at three years old. He was around 7 years old when his parents talked to him about his autism diagnosis, and that conversation changed his life.
Determined not to be defined by the diagnosis, Williams embraced it. When his parents enrolled him in a two-week course designed to help autistic children learn to ride a bicycle, Williams mastered it in one day. He is the first openly autistic professional Nascar driver, and to date has 18 wins and two championships. He attends Oakland University, studies mechanical engineering, and maintains a 3.0 GPA while balancing school and professional racing.
•Michelle Rodriguez - actress, ADHD
Known for her roles in The Fast and the Furious franchise, she struggles with focus and has a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder. She has found it difficult to progress from acting to directing because of her lack of focus.
But her difficulty with focus hasn’t stopped her from winning a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) award, an Independent Spirit Award, or from appearing in several Fast and Furious films which are Universal Pictures biggest franchise, and some of the highest grossing movies ever.
Known for her roles in The Fast and the Furious franchise, she struggles with focus and has a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder. She has found it difficult to progress from acting to directing because of her lack of focus.
But her difficulty with focus hasn’t stopped her from winning a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) award, an Independent Spirit Award, or from appearing in several Fast and Furious films which are Universal Pictures biggest franchise, and some of the highest grossing movies ever.
•Naoki Higashida - author, Autism
Diagnosed with autism when he was five, he subsequently learned to communicate using a handmade alphabet grid and began to write poems and short stories. At the age of thirteen he wrote The Reason I Jump, which was published in Japan in 2007. Its English translation came out in 2013, and it has now been published in more than thirty languages. Higashida has since published several books in Japan, including children’s and picture books, poems, and essays. The subject of an award-winning Japanese television documentary in 2014, he continues to give presentations throughout the country about his experience with autism.
Diagnosed with autism when he was five, he subsequently learned to communicate using a handmade alphabet grid and began to write poems and short stories. At the age of thirteen he wrote The Reason I Jump, which was published in Japan in 2007. Its English translation came out in 2013, and it has now been published in more than thirty languages. Higashida has since published several books in Japan, including children’s and picture books, poems, and essays. The subject of an award-winning Japanese television documentary in 2014, he continues to give presentations throughout the country about his experience with autism.
•Simone Biles - professional gymnast, ADHD
Biles boasts 30 Olympic and World Championship medals. She holds the most World medals (25) and the most World gold medals (19). At a young age, she was diagnosed with ADHD and speaks very openly about it. She states “Having ADHD, taking medicine for it is nothing to be ashamed of [and] nothing that I’m afraid to let people know.” It’s important to her to challenge the stigma of being neurodiverse, and to stand up for kids with ADHD.
Biles boasts 30 Olympic and World Championship medals. She holds the most World medals (25) and the most World gold medals (19). At a young age, she was diagnosed with ADHD and speaks very openly about it. She states “Having ADHD, taking medicine for it is nothing to be ashamed of [and] nothing that I’m afraid to let people know.” It’s important to her to challenge the stigma of being neurodiverse, and to stand up for kids with ADHD.
•Albert Einstein - theoretical physicist, Autism(?) Dyslexia(?)
Albert Einstein is hailed as probably the best mastermind of the twentieth century – and even though it is unproven, there is a lot of proof to propose that Einstein might have had dyslexia and autism. He did not speak until he was three, would become fixated on his interests, consumed by complex topics, struggled in social settings and preferred being alone. Einstein is best known for developing the theory of relativity, but he also made important contributions to the development of the theory of quantum mechanics. He famously said, “When a man sits with a pretty girl for an hour, it seems like a minute. But let him sit on a hot stove for a minute — and it's longer than any hour. That's relativity.”
Albert Einstein is hailed as probably the best mastermind of the twentieth century – and even though it is unproven, there is a lot of proof to propose that Einstein might have had dyslexia and autism. He did not speak until he was three, would become fixated on his interests, consumed by complex topics, struggled in social settings and preferred being alone. Einstein is best known for developing the theory of relativity, but he also made important contributions to the development of the theory of quantum mechanics. He famously said, “When a man sits with a pretty girl for an hour, it seems like a minute. But let him sit on a hot stove for a minute — and it's longer than any hour. That's relativity.”
•Jennifer Aniston - actress, Dyslexia
In 2015 she revealed her struggle with dyslexia. She was diagnosed in her 20’s, which only happened due to her getting prescription glasses. When taking the sight test, it showed where her eyes would move when she read. They would jump four words and then go back two.
Jennifer Aniston is one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood, and is best known for her role on the show “Friends,” a show that was nominated for a staggering 62 Emmy Awards. Aniston has won a total of 58 awards in her career.
In 2015 she revealed her struggle with dyslexia. She was diagnosed in her 20’s, which only happened due to her getting prescription glasses. When taking the sight test, it showed where her eyes would move when she read. They would jump four words and then go back two.
Jennifer Aniston is one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood, and is best known for her role on the show “Friends,” a show that was nominated for a staggering 62 Emmy Awards. Aniston has won a total of 58 awards in her career.
•Daniel Radcliffe - actor, Dysgraphia, Dyspraxia
Most notable for his role as Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe has lived with a mild case of dyspraxia for his entire life. Dyspraxia is a common neurological disorder that affects motor skill development, meaning that at 33 years old and the star of one of the largest franchises in movie history, Radcliffe still has trouble tying his shoelaces. In an interview, he once jokingly stated ‘I sometimes think, Why, oh why, has Velcro not taken off?’
Dysgraphia is also a neurological disorder, characterized by writing disabilities. Specifically, the disorder causes a person's writing to be distorted or incorrect.
Most notable for his role as Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe has lived with a mild case of dyspraxia for his entire life. Dyspraxia is a common neurological disorder that affects motor skill development, meaning that at 33 years old and the star of one of the largest franchises in movie history, Radcliffe still has trouble tying his shoelaces. In an interview, he once jokingly stated ‘I sometimes think, Why, oh why, has Velcro not taken off?’
Dysgraphia is also a neurological disorder, characterized by writing disabilities. Specifically, the disorder causes a person's writing to be distorted or incorrect.
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