Every semester, I teach Introduction to Political Theory. It's a survey class where we rip through Western History and discuss a dozen different political theorists from Plato to Malcolm X. Before we get into the reading for the day, I show one or two powerpoint slides with a brief bio of the theorist.
When I first put these slides together a year or two ago, I was struck by how many of these guys were clearly on the autistic spectrum. Thomas Aquinas was known as the 'dumb ox,' because he appeared to be stupid and rather clumsy. He had difficulty with speech and amazing powers of memory and concentration. He had poor social skills. Hello? Asperger's Syndrome. Having a dash of autism may be the key ingredient of great thinkers.
Doctors may now be pointing to the positives of ADHD, another neurological disorder. Some say that ADHD is the reason why Michael Phelps and others have been so successful.
There is a growing movement in disability circles for the greater acceptance of neurological diversity and even championing the different thought processes of people with autism, ADHD, and ADD. They say that these conditions aren't disabilities, but super abilities.
