Neurodiversity: The Real Superpower

Step aside Captain Marvel, buzz off Ant-Man. The real superheroes are here. Neurodiversity is on the rise, and with it come a legion of superpowered savants with enhanced memories, superior problem solving abilities, and debilitating anxiety disorders. Though initially coined by the autistic community itself, the narrative of ‘neurodiversity as a superpower` is now pushed onto neurodiverse individuals by well-meaning allies. This leaves many who struggle with the experience of being socially ostracised, patronised, or compared to heartless robots, wondering ‘what superpowers?’

Our panel to explore issues around neurodiversity will be:

• Mike Hall is the former president of the Merseyside Skeptics Society, one of the QED organising team, and the host of the panel. Mike was diagnosed as autistic at the age of 40, and regularly covers topics related to neurodiversity on Skeptics with a K, the long-running podcast he produces and co-hosts.
• Ella Tabb is an popular content creator with 150K followers on online channels including YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. As PurpleElla and as a neurodiverse, physically disabled queer person with autistic/neurodivergent children, they aim to expand the understanding and acceptance of diversity in the public and private sector, through research and drawing on real life experience.
• Dr Lindsey Osterman earned a PhD in social psychology in 2012 and was an associate professor of psychology until 2022, when she left to pursue a career in public science communication. She co-hosts the podcasts Serious Inquiries Only, What The FUP? Downloads From The Secret Ghost Library, and We’re On The Same Page_.