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article

What's your superpower?

Dav Pilkey says ADHD and dyslexia are his superpowers. The creator of “Captain Underpants” and “Dog Man” told Understood that his ADHD “helped me to write stories that were not boring, and my dyslexia helped me too. It helped me to choose my words very, very carefully.” 

All kids have superpowers. This doesn’t mean every child excels in some area or does something better than everyone else. It means all kids have strengths or passions that can help them thrive. It’s what revs them up and keeps them going.

A superpower can be a special talent. It can also be a personality trait or a frame of mind. Many people who learn and think differently have grown to see their challenges as superpowers. Dav Pilkey is a great example. The creator of Captain Underpants and Dog Man told Understood: “My ADHD helped me to write stories that were not boring, and my dyslexia helped me too. It helped me to choose my words very, very carefully.”

“These challenges that I had ended up being my superpowers,” he says.

“I encourage all of you to find your superpowers,” Pilkey says. “I think one of the reasons why Captain Underpants has resonated with so many children is because of the two boys that star in the books, George and Harold,” Pilkey said in a recent interview with Reading Rockets, one of Understood’s founding partners. “They’re always using their imagination…. That’s kind of an attainable superpower that we can all have.”

As a child, Pilkey’s hyperactivity got him in trouble a lot at school: “My teacher would just point to the classroom door and say, ‘Mr. Pilkey, out!’ And I’d have to go sit out in the hallway.” But he used that time to work on his drawing and storytelling. He created Captain Underpants and Dog Man in second grade!

Find out more about Dave Pilkey's super powers.

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  • What is ADHD?
    • Adults with ADHD
    • Children and teens with ADHD
    • ADHD is more common than you think
    • Why it's good to have ADHD
    • Inspiring stories from people with ADHD
    • News and Research on ADHD
  • Have you got ADHD?
    • Think you're an adult with ADHD?
    • Think your child has ADHD?
    • How to get a diagnosis for ADHD >
      • Getting an assessment and diagnosis for ADHD
      • Self screening assessment tool for adults who suspect that they have ADHD​
    • Co-Morbidities
    • FAQs
  • Succeed with ADHD
    • Access ADHD Healthcare Professionals >
      • The Different Types of Healthcare Professionals
    • Managing ADHD >
      • Families living with ADHD >
        • Tips on how to support children with ADHD
        • Parent Support is a Phone Call Away
      • ADHD in schools
      • ADHD in tertiary education organisations >
        • FAQs for staff at tertiary education organisations
        • Feedback from staff at tertiary education organisations
      • Tips for adults managing life and ADHD
    • ADHD Medication >
      • ADHD Stimulant Medication
      • ADHD Non-Stimulant Medication
      • ADHD Anti-Depressant Medication
    • ADHD Support Organisations
    • Become a member of ADHD NZ's community >
      • ADHD Wellington
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  • About Us
    • ADHD NZ 2021: past, present and future
    • Our People
    • Help Us By Volunteering
    • Contact Us
    • Sponsors
    • ADHD Ambassador