Who is Gus Walz and what is a non-verbal learning disorder?
Midway through Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's keynote address Wednesday night accepting the Democratic Party's nomination for vice president, he turned to his family and said: "Hope, Gus and Gwen, you are my entire world, and I love you."
His son Gus stood up, clapping with unrestrained emotion and pride, repeating "That's my dad!" The crowd at the Democratic National Convention erupted into applause and soon, social media erupted either because of the sheer emotion of the moment or because people wanted to express pride in having their own neurodivergent child or being neurodivergent themselves.
In a speech centered on gun control, reproductive rights, being a good neighbor and supporting one another despite what separates us, this extraordinary moment between father and son has ignited a conversation not often broached in political arenas.
Here's what to know.
What is Gus Walz's condition?
The vice presidential nominee's son, 17, has ADHD, an anxiety disorder and a non-verbal learning disorder, according to his parents.
The non-verbal learning disorder, which his dad calls his "secret power" is shared by millions of Americans. Despite the 3% to 4% of people (both children and adults) who have the condition, it's not nearly as understood as Gus's other diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
According to the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), it's estimated that upwards of 2 million children and adolescents in North America may have a non-verbal learning disorder. Here's what to know about this lesser known but not uncommon disability.
Despite its name, children with a non-verbal learning disorder can not only speak but exhibit strong verbal skills. Their challenges revolve around processing non-verbal or visual information, Marcia Eckerd, a licensed psychologist who specializes in autism spectrum disorder and anxiety, told Psychology Today.
It's the difference between having a conversation and absorbing details of that conversation.
OPINION: Gus Walz loves his dad, Tim. Anyone who doesn't see the beauty of this is weird.
How does the disorder present itself?
Children and adolescents with non-verbal learning disorders tend to struggle with at least one of the following areas:
- Visual and spatial awareness
- Comprehending the big picture
- Social communication
- Math concepts
- Executive functions
When it comes to a deficit in visual and spatial awareness, the best way to think about it is to imagine a child being told to draw a shape like a cube or an octagon. Children with a non-verbal learning disability may not accurately produce this shape from recall. It can also mean that children grapple with how they navigate the space around them. They might move with some degree of awkwardness.
Big picture deficits, or difficulty comprehending higher order thinking, may show itself as being unable to convey the main idea of a story. Students may not be able to discern the crucial points in a teacher's lecture and will, instead, write everything they say down.
Children with a non-verbal learning disability also may not pick up on facial expressions during a conversation. They may miss social patterns that other children automatically pick up on, and have trouble knowing what the appropriate behavior should be.
Math tends to be a strength among children with non-verbal learning disabilities up to a point. These children excel at rote learning, or memorization techniques based on repetition, but as these math concepts advance, similar to social communication, they may have trouble recognizing patterns.
Finally, problem solving is a cornerstone of executive functioning. Children with a non-verbal learning disability may not be able to break problems down into smaller pieces, or even conceive the steps necessary to accomplish a task.
What is ADHD?
Attention deficity hyperactivity disorder is marked by difficulty maintaining attention and being easily distracted, as well as having excessive energy and difficulty with self-control.
It has come to be an umbrella term for multiple degrees of the disability, with people who may have wide variances in symptoms, and who may be able to manage over time with treatment.
Wednesday's images from the DNC generated overflowing support
In the wake of the third night of the DNC, parents tweeted photos of their own children, stating "This is my Gus Walz." Others shared heartwarming photos of Tim and Gus Walz hugging on the national stage, praising the men for being open with their emotions.
Others saw themselves in Gus Walz. Many took to social media to share their own journeys of being accepted for their unique learning disabilities.
The images of Gus Walz also generated insensitivity
Conservative pundit Ann Coulter saw the display of emotions as an opportunity to deride the family. In a since deleted tweet, Coulter shared a gif of Gus Walz at the DNC and called it "weird," an obvious reference to Tim Walz popularizing the idea that MAGA people are "weird."
Closer to home, Jay Weber, a radio host for 1130 WISN-AM, tweeted, "If the Walzs [sic] represent today's American man, this country is screwed: 'Meet my son, Gus. He's a blubbering bitch boy. His mother and I are very proud'." The now-deleted tweet was screenshotted and shared by Milwaukee County Board Supervisor Shawn Rolland to hold Weber accountable.
Weber apologized for the tweet, stating that he didn't realize Gus Walz had a disability.