Following his heartwarming reaction to his father’s speech at the Democratic National Convention, netizens enquired if Gus Walz was autistic. However, his parents have confirmed that he has dealt with a similar condition of Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NVDL) since a young age.
The 17-year-old Gus stood up during the ceremony with teary eyes as he rejoiced at his father, Tim Walz’s, Vice Presidential nomination. He remarked, “That’s my dad,” garnering massive attention from people.
As the clip of the teenager received views, many found traits of him being autistic, as Gus Walz had trouble regulating his emotions in a social setting.
However, his parents have always been open about Gus’s condition, as he is neurodivergent and has ADHD, anxiety, and a nonverbal disorder (NVDL) and struggles with showing his raw and pure emotions.
Gus Walz is neurodivergent. He deals with ADHD, anxiety, and a nonverbal learning disorder. Kids and teens like Gus might struggle with controlling their feelings in social situations. pic.twitter.com/l4Y3SO1Rkh
— Sophie Rain Thread 🔥❤️ (@SophieRainForum) August 22, 2024
Despite their similar nature, autism and NVDL can impact different aspects of one’s life, as autism impacts language, social, and the overall learning process. At the same time, NVDL is deeply rooted in the deficit of visual-spatial processing and motor skills.
Moreover, the neurodivergent community has come together to protect Gus as some of the users spewed hate comments.
In his defense, one of the users on Twitter wrote, “As an autistic parent of an autistic adult, Gus Walz and his love for his dad tonight just.. … just… damn. Tim Walz is clearly a damn good parent and that’s all I’m gonna say.“
Gus Walz was different from his classmates, which helped his parents figure out his condition!
Since early childhood, Gus has displayed unique qualities. As the youngest of the family, he received a lot of attention but preferred to play video games alone.
While he was entering his teen years, his parents, Tim and Gwen, realized his condition, which millions of Americans also have. However, doctors later mentioned that nonverbal learning disorder wasn’t the same as nonspeaking.
In their interview with People magazine, Tim detailed their life with a special child, saying, “It took time, but what became so immediately clear to us was that Gus’ condition is not a setback.“
Walz’s son is in tears pic.twitter.com/01fCQZoiyP
— Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) August 22, 2024
Gus Walz’s family has been encouraging and supportive throughout this time as he is often hyper-aware of details many people pass by. His father congratulated him after Gus recently passed his driving license test.
On his social media, Gus mentioned the NVLD Project in his bio, a non-profit organization that raises awareness and builds support for children and adults with neurodivergent conditions.
Likewise, his mother has often spoken about his importance in their lives, expressing, “We love our Gus, we are proud of the man he’s growing into, and we are so excited to have him with us on this journey.“
With Gus’s father, Tim Walz, in the national spotlight after Kamala Harris nominated him as her running mate for the Presidential Campaign, Gus has found himself in the limelight much more than he’d expected, and many have requested others to remain kind while talking about the teen.
Additional Information
- Guz Walz, 18, was born on October 14, 2006, and has an elder sister named Hope. Their mother struggled with pregnancy for seven years before receiving treatment from the fertility center.
- His father, Tim Walz, is a retired U.S. Army non-commissioned officer who served as the governor of Minnesota since 2019.
