MILWAUKEE — The Democratic National Convention is all wrapped up, but the aftermath of the four-night event in Chicago is still dominating political headlines.
A social media post made by conservative radio host, Jay Weber, on Wednesday is still stirring controversy. Weber is a radio host for 1130 WISN-AM.
He posted on X commenting on the reaction by Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s son, Gus, during his father’s speech at the DNC.
“Sorry this is embarrassing for both father and son, if the Walz’s represent today’s American man, the country is screwed…meet my son, Gus. He’s a blubbering {{expletive}} boy…his mother and I are very proud,” Weber said in the post.
Gus Walz has been diagnosed with anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and nonverbal learning disorder (NVLD).
Weber later took down the post, saying he did not know about his diagnosis. He also said he broke one of his own long-standing rules about commenting on the children of politicians.
Nonverbal learning disorder is a disability that children are born with, but it’s often not detected until later in childhood.
Nicole Damiano is a training specialist at Independence First. She said people with NVLD often have symptoms similar to people with autism or ADHD.
“But they also can have some barriers around some social cues and understanding the nuances of verbal language but also nonverbal communication,” Damiano said.
She said Gus Walz’s reaction to his father accepting the vice presidential nomination was simply his way of expressing himself.
“The way that he was processing and how it was coming out looked a little different than some of the folks around him or other folks that were experiencing the same thing,” she said.
Gerald Hay is the director of Independent Living Services at Independence First.
He said people with NVLD sometimes process the world around them at a different pace than others.
“A lot of times people with NVLD can speak but it might take them a little bit longer to form phrases it might take them a little bit longer to decode some of the language or some of the cuing that might be a little bit faster than folks that haven’t been diagnosed the disability,” Hay said.
Damiano said she uses tools like smart pens, large timers and step pads to help people with NVLD manage their time and pace themselves.
She said this disability affects people in different ways.
“But these people are capable of working independently, living independently, having relationships, with partners, friendships, family members,” Damiano said.