When Afton Quast Saler was diagnosed with ADHD, something in her neurodivergent brain clicked. Like so many who receive overdue diagnoses, she realized the shame she carried from her differences wasn’t because something was wrong with her. There’s a reason she’s always operated on a separate level, and that realization felt freeing to her. Being a filmmaker, she had to wonder: What if she could create a documentary to help other women with ADHD understand they are not alone? With that, she set in motion Neurodivergent, a personal documentary about Saler’s diagnosis and her quest to understand ADHD. But this wasn’t an easy undertaking.
One thing about having ADHD is that it often makes accomplishing extensive tasks incredibly overwhelming. It was a turbulent process to film Saler’s educational project, and she doesn’t shy away from showing us her highs, lows, and everything in between. The excited light in her eyes when she tells her husband she wants to make a documentary about her ADHD eventually goes out; she cries to think of the weight of everyday undertakings and how her neurodivergent brain feels so ill-equipped to handle them.
But Saler reminds herself, and us, that this is part of the process. She’s not making a perfect package of herself and her diagnosis for audience consumption, but to present the raw reality in all its messiness—hoping to make at least one other person feel less alone.
The resulting documentary is a moving account of self-love, personal growth, and encouragement. The downside to that is there are obviously more educational directions Saler wanted to take but failed to follow through with. Although the director strives to present a multifaceted take on what it means to have ADHD, especially as a woman–Neurodivergent has little helpful information on what ADHD is, how it can present differently in women, and whether medication is worth taking.
She ultimately favors medication but doesn’t back up her conclusion with anything but a brief interview with a professional who draws unhelpful parallels between medicating ADHD and taking insulin for one’s diabetes. Even Saler’s own experience with Adderall she leaves vague.
Ultimately, Neurodivergent is not as much an educational documentary as it is a resonant personal story. Although the film says nothing new and barely touches on the wealth of information out there about ADHD, Saler’s love for filmmaking and passion for the subject is clear, and it drives at least one cohesive message: Different isn’t worse, it’s just different. Neurodivergent is an optional purchase for your library collection.
What type of library or educational programming could use this title?
Library programs such as mental health workshops could benefit from screening this documentary. Afton’s journey to self-acceptance is a short but helpful one to help destigmatize ADHD/neurodivergence and to advocate seeking help for one’s mental health.
Public Screenings: Libraries and educators can host public screenings of the documentary for their communities or classrooms. This can be followed by a discussion or Q&A session to allow participants to share their thoughts and questions about the content.
Educational Resource: Libraries can include the documentary as part of their educational resources for neurodiversity. It can be made available to patrons or students as a resource for learning about the experiences of people with neurodivergent conditions and understanding the importance of accommodating their needs.
Professional Development: Educators can use the documentary as a professional development tool to better understand the needs of neurodivergent students in their classrooms. They can learn about effective teaching strategies, accommodations, and resources for supporting students with neurodivergent conditions.
Collaboration: Libraries and educators can collaborate with local organizations that support people with neurodivergent conditions to host screenings or discussions. This can help build connections between the community and organizations that are working to support neurodiversity.
What public and academic library shelves would this title be on?
This short film belongs to documentary shelves in public and academic libraries—specifically those on mental health, ADHD, neurodivergence, women’s issues, and wellness.
Does this film have Public Performance Rights available?
Neurodivergent does have public performance rights available, beginning at $195.00 for K-12 schools and public libraries.