When raising a child with a learning disorder, many parents are quick to worry about the challenges their child will face. But Tim Walz sees his son Gus' non-verbal learning disorder as a strength. Ever since Democratic nominee Kamala Harris , Walz's and have been thrust into the spotlight.
Since then, the politician has been open about the he and his wife endured and their successful experience with intrauterine insemination (IUI). In recent weeks, Walz has also spoken openly about his 17-year-old son's condition, telling that he calls it Gus' "secret power." He's also shared that his son has two other conditions.
Here's what the Walz family has shared about about Gus' diagnoses. In a new interview with People, Walz and his wife, Gwen, described what their son Gus was like as a child. “When our youngest Gus was growing up, it became increasingly clear that he was different from his classmates,” they said.
“Gus preferred video games and spending more time by himself.” In his teen years, Gus learned that he had a non-verbal learning disorder (NLD), an anxiety disorder and ADHD. “Like so many American families, it took us time to figure out how to make sure we did everything we could to make sure Gus would be set up for success as he was growing up,” the couple said.
As the parents sought to better understand how to help Gus, they soon realized that their son’s conditions weren’t necessarily a negative thing. “It took time, but what became so immediately clear to us was that Gus’ condition is not a setback — it’s his secret power,” they said. While talking about Gus’ personality, his parents said he is “an excellent son and brother” and described him as “brilliant” and “hyper-aware of details that many of us pass by.
” The couple went on to say they are “proud of the man he’s growing into, and we are so excited to have him with us on this journey.” Both of Walz's children attended the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago to support their father. At one point during his speech, the governor said, "Hope, Gus and Gwen, you are my entire world and I love you.
" An emotional Gus stood up and declared, "That's my dad," as he applauded. Per the , (NLDs) affect "'non-verbal' kinds of learning like the ability to notice patterns and learn concepts. These include visual patterns, social patterns, and concepts in language and math.
" According to the , children with non-verbal learning disorders (NLDs) typically possess "good basic language skills." “They can excel at memorizing words too. But these children may have trouble with some skills that don’t involve speaking,” the website reads.
These skills can include: Walz hasn't shared specific details about his son's disorder, but the says anxiety disorders typically create "intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations." "Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks)," the website reads. There are several types of anxiety disorders, including the following: Walz also shared that his son has (ADHD), which the defines as "a chronic condition that .
.. includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior.
" ADHD symptoms may start in childhood and continue into adulthood. These typically include: Chrissy Callahan covers a range of topics for TODAY.com, including fashion, beauty, pop culture and food.
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