Forum Discussion
How being neurodivergent shapes my work in learning design
Hi everyone,
Something I do not talk about often is how being neurodivergent, specifically ADHD, has shaped the way I approach learning design. For a long time, I thought of it as something I needed to manage quietly. Over time, I realized it has actually helped me see learning experiences in a very unique way.
It makes me pay close attention to clarity.
It makes me sensitive to moments where a learner might lose their place.
It helps me notice when information is doing too much or arriving without enough context.
And it reminds me that people process ideas in many different ways.
When I build or review a Storyline or Rise course, I often think about:
- What helps someone stay oriented
• What reduces unnecessary cognitive effort
• What keeps the experience predictable enough to feel safe
• What gives the learner room to pause and understand
These are things I learned because I needed them myself.
I have come to see neurodivergence as something that sharpens my awareness rather than something separate from my work. It helps me design with more empathy, more structure and more intention.
Did you know that ADHD is over-represented in creative and human-centered fields?
It often shows up as strengths in structure awareness, flow and learner perspective.
If you feel comfortable sharing, I would love to hear how who you are influences the way you design.
Which parts of your own lived experience shape your approach to learning?
3 Replies
That is so insightful! Thank you for sharing your experiences as I feel like that perspective is SO needed and appreciated!
That last one really hits home for me as someone who needs to really slow down to grasp a concept. There's a saying I've heard before that goes something like this... There are some folks who are "microwave thinkers" that can understand something almost instantly and then there's "crockpot thinkers" who are the folks who need to SIT (pardon the phrase "stew") on the information to fully grasp it. I happen to be a crockpot thinker so when I am designing, I try to think of both perspectives in that way.
Appreciate you sharing and hope my crockpot analogy helped inspire you as well 😄
Love it! Thank you Louriann_M
Really glad to hear it resonated with you. It is definitely something that is not talked about enough!
And, yes, your crockpot analogy is PERFECT! 😄
This is a great topic of discussion!
I agree, being neurodivergent can feel like something that we have to manage. But oftentimes it is a huge part of the reason that we are all good at what we do.
I'm in my late 30's and recently found out that I have Autism as well as ADHD. When I look back on my life it explains so many things. It explains why I've struggled with: Consistency, getting lost in the details, getting distracted, always asking why, differences in communication, always seeing optimization patterns...etc. However, I've learned how to work WITH my brain, not against it. And that has made a world of difference.
Based on my experience, I would say that neurodivergent people are often, "Jack of all trades." Better than a master of one, though 😁. We have medium deep skill sets on a large number of different topics. For short, I call this being "well-rounded." This serves us well in any role but particularly well within Instructional Design.
A few examples:
- Out of the box thinking
- Adaptable communication/thinking
- Idea generation
- Relational Thinking
- Ability to break down complex topics for general understanding
- Process creation and optimization
- Empathy and ability to put ourselves into other's shoes
- An ability to get the job done
I could go on. I'm sure you could too. As, I've come to understand myself better. It has allowed me to see these benefits and not only focus on the things I struggle with. Learning how to accommodate myself instead of trying to fit myself into the standard neurotypical box has done wonders for my health, happiness, and productibility.
As Louriann_N so eloquently mentioned, we all have different ways of thinking, learning, and processing. I love the analogy you used, by the way. Since so many of us struggle with a world not built for neurodivergent thinkers, it places us in a unique position to make it easier for others. That directly translates to what we do within training, development, and instructional design.
