“The future is not looking for people who do what they are told. It is looking for people who see things differently. Neurodivergent children already do. We should be listening,” writes STACEY KERSHAW-BRANT.

As artificial intelligence reshapes the way we live and work, the dominant narrative is one of loss. 

We hear about jobs disappearing, skills becoming obsolete and machines replacing human labour. But there is another story unfolding. It is a story about human difference becoming our greatest strength.

Neurodivergent children, including those diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), are often labelled as disruptive or behind. Too many are told to sit still, follow the rules and try harder to fit in. But what if their differences are not deficits at all? What if they are the very traits the future needs most?

AI is exceptional at repetition, structure and pattern recognition. It can analyse vast amounts of data and complete tasks with precision. What it cannot do is care, imagine, empathise or think creatively. These are the traits that make us human. And the children who do not conform to traditional systems often have them in abundance.

The most resilient innovators of tomorrow may be the same children who struggle in classrooms designed for uniformity. Their tendency to question norms, think in unconventional ways and follow their own curiosity could be exactly what the workforce of the future demands.

Studies are beginning to validate what many parents and educators have long observed. Research from La Trobe University’s Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre shows that autistic people often bring unique and inventive approaches to problem solving. Children with ADHD are known to excel in divergent thinking, particularly in environments that offer flexibility rather than rigid structure.

These strengths are not just useful, they are critical. Creativity, complex problem solving and emotional intelligence are among the top skills predicted to shape the next decade, according to the World Economic Forum. And these are precisely the areas where neurodivergent individuals often thrive.

We must also recognise the value of emotional experience. AI cannot build trust or understand hardship. But many neurodivergent children, especially those who have faced barriers and exclusion, develop deep empathy and insight. They can become exceptional advocates, mentors, carers and leaders, precisely because they understand what it means to be left out or overlooked.

Of course, this is not to say the road is easy. Many systems still fail to accommodate different ways of thinking. But the challenge is not just about helping neurodivergent children fit in. It is about preparing the world to benefit from their differences.

If we continue to measure children against a narrow standard, we will continue to miss their potential. But if we recognise and support their strengths, we might just discover the thinkers and leaders we need most.

The future is not looking for people who do what they are told. It is looking for people who see things differently. Neurodivergent children already do. We should be listening.

Stacey Kershaw-Brant is a Canberra-based advocacy writer with lived experience of ADHD, both personally and as a parent. She writes on issues including youth homelessness, domestic and family violence, perinatal wellbeing, and food security for school-aged children.