In the last post, I talked about how Year Zero and Operation: Mindcrime offer more than sonic paranoia—they feel like warning signals. Not just about a far-off dystopia, but about a pattern we’re already starting to live through: creeping control, disinformation dressed as patriotism, and the way apathy can blur into complicity.
I still believe we’re in that uncomfortable middle space—between the warning and the consequence.
And here’s a thought I keep coming back to: people who move through the world differently—who think sideways, ask weird questions, or don’t fit neatly into neurotypical molds—might actually be the best equipped to disrupt that slide.
If you’re neurodivergent—ADHD, autistic, dyslexic, or otherwise wired in a way that’s out of sync with traditional expectations—you’ve likely spent most of your life navigating systems that weren’t made for you. You’ve developed a kind of sixth sense for when things don’t add up, or when rules feel arbitrary. You probably notice patterns others miss.
I don’t say that to be self-congratulatory. I say it because I think it’s a call to action.
Here’s why I believe people like us—especially those of us in tech, leadership, or both—might be uniquely equipped for resistance.
1. Pattern Recognition Is a Superpower—Use It
Many ADHD or autistic folks describe their thinking as nonlinear, associative, or driven by a kind of constant signal-scanning. It’s not always easy to explain, but the ability to notice when something shifts or feels “off” is real—and valuable.
Authoritarianism often thrives in subtle shifts: language changes, emotional cues, contradictions between words and actions. It’s not always a dramatic event—it’s the slow boil.
If you’ve noticed those shifts earlier than others, that’s not just sensitivity—it might be your brain doing what it does best: spotting inconsistencies in the noise.
Research suggests that many neurodivergent individuals exhibit heightened pattern sensitivity and divergent thinking—especially in complex, ambiguous environments.
Use that ability. Surface what others overlook. Build tech, tools, and teams with integrity baked in. Sound the alarm when it matters.
2. Rules Aren’t Sacred—And That’s a Strength
Most neurodivergent people I know have a complicated relationship with rules. We’re either constantly crashing into them or questioning why they exist in the first place. That might sound disruptive—but in fragile or unjust systems, it’s exactly the mindset we need.
Because authoritarianism depends on people following rules without asking why.
If you’ve never fully bought into “because that’s how it’s done,” you’re already outside the frame. You see the game. And you’re more likely to break it when it starts hurting people.
Don’t lose that edge. Use it to challenge broken processes, design better systems, and ask better questions.
3. Empathy at the Edges
Living outside the default often comes with misunderstanding, exclusion, or being labeled as “too much.” It can be painful—but it also builds real empathy. The kind that knows how to spot injustice because you’ve felt it in your bones.
In moments like this—when cruelty is becoming policy, and othering is a political tactic—empathy is a kind of resistance. It keeps us connected. It keeps us human.
And that kind of empathy? It’s often strongest in those who’ve had to explain their existence every day.
👉 Neurodivergent individuals often exhibit intense emotional resonance—not less empathy, but a differently expressed kind.
4. Adaptability Is Our Baseline
When you’ve spent years building workarounds for a world that wasn’t designed with you in mind, you become incredibly good at improvising. Whether it’s task management hacks, communication strategies, or masking behaviors—it’s all adaptive.
And in moments of systemic stress or collapse, that flexibility is gold. While others are trying to get back to normal, we’re already figuring out what comes next.
Authoritarian structures rely on rigidity. They break when people stop complying and start creating alternatives. That’s where we shine.
5. We Lead Differently—and That Matters
If you’re in a leadership role—especially in tech—you probably already know your voice carries further than you think. But if you’re neurodivergent, your leadership style might look different from the default: more collaborative, more transparent, more people-first.
That’s a feature, not a bug.
Authoritarian systems thrive on hierarchy, control, and fear. Neurodivergent leaders tend to lead with trust, curiosity, and an openness to being wrong—and that’s a cultural vaccine against fascism.
We build cultures of permission, not punishment. Of accountability, not fear. And that ripple effect? It matters.
It’s well known that Inclusive Leadership directly increases team resilience, engagement, and innovation—things that counter authoritarian groupthink.
We don’t need more perfect thinkers. We need divergent ones. People who ask inconvenient questions. Who see problems differently. Who don’t flinch from discomfort.
Year Zero warned us about what happens when no one pushes back.
Mindcrime showed us the price of waking up too late.
If you’re awake, and weird, and wired for complexity—this is your moment.
You’re not broken. You’re the blueprint.
