You Can’t Dunning-Kruger Away Disability:
You Can’t Dunning-Kruger Away Disability:
Today I experienced something that highlights a much wider problem within discussions about disability and neurodivergence.
A man entered an ADHD group, openly flaunting his Psychology PhD, and used that perceived authority to make sweeping, harmful claims about people with ADHD — framing the condition as an excuse to avoid accountability.
When those claims were challenged with evidence, lived experience, and respectful factual correction, he didn’t engage. Instead, he mocked, dismissed, and ultimately blocked me.
I did not hide behind a nickname. I spoke openly, calmly, and transparently as a woman and as a disabled advocate. That visibility made me a target — not because I was wrong, but because I refused to be silent or defer to ego over evidence.
This isn’t about “winning” an argument. It’s about what happens when people prioritise authority, credential flexing, and belittlement over meaningful discussion — and how that behaviour actively harms disabled communities.
He said:
"It's often the case that the people claiming to have ADHD are simply looking for a way to avoid accountability in general 🤷♂️ Taking responsibility for one's actions is no longer fashionable.
The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias where people with low ability in a specific area overestimate their competence, while highly skilled individuals may underestimate theirs, believing tasks are easier for others than they are. This happens because incompetence prevents individuals from recognizing their own mistakes, and the more knowledgeable people learn, the more they realize how much more there is to know, leading to greater humility or imposter syndrome."
I respectfully responded:
"Reducing ADHD to an “excuse to avoid accountability” is not only factually wrong, it’s an ableist trope that has been challenged by decades of clinical research and lived experience.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, not a moral failing, not a trend, and not a loophole. Accountability still exists - it simply looks different when someone’s brain processes attention, impulse control, executive function, and regulation differently. Understanding context is not the same as excusing harm, and pretending otherwise is either ignorance or deliberate misrepresentation.
You then referenced the Dunning-Kruger effect, which is a cognitive bias describing how people with low ability in a specific skill area may overestimate their competence, while highly skilled individuals often underestimate theirs because they understand the complexity involved. It does not apply to disability, diagnosis, or lived experience - and attempting to use it that way fundamentally misunderstands the concept.
Ironically, confidently misusing a psychological theory to dismiss disabled people, while ignoring established research and lived expertise, is far closer to what that bias actually describes.
People who genuinely understand neurodivergence tend to speak with nuance and caution, because they know how complex it is. Loud certainty without understanding isn’t accountability - it’s arrogance.
I will not engage with narratives that portray disabled people as dishonest, morally deficient, or intellectually inferior to prop up someone else’s sense of superiority.
If you want to discuss ADHD or neurodivergence, do the work first.
If you want to attack disabled people, do it elsewhere."
He then lashed out, laugh reacted everything.
He said:
"Sarah Wingfield 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😏🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 grow up and seek professional help."
I said:
"I think you're projecting - what's the matter, can't challenge facts when it's delivered by a woman? You brought up gender before, so that's definitely an issue, you can learn a lot about a person by what they reveal themselves. I'm in therapy - it helps me cope with emotionally unstable people like you. Everyone can benefit from therapy, it's not the insult you seem to think it is. 😝🎯💯😬"
...he blocked me.
How are we meant to have actual discussions and action positive change when people are more keen on ego flexing, judging and belittling than factually discussing ADHD and why harmful rhetoric harms us all?
Thoughts are more than welcomed.
This is a safe space for discussion as anyone immature, disrespectful or emotionally unstable will be deleted and blocked.
Facts always matter more than ego flexing.
Sarah Wingfield ❤️
Independent Disability Advocate
#disabilityinclusion #strongertogether #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilitysupport #disabilityrights
Alt text:
Split-screen illustration divided by a torn edge. On the left, a man sits at a desk facing a computer, surrounded by laughing emojis and speech bubbles reading “ADHD is just an excuse!” and “Dunning–Kruger Effect.” A Psychology PhD certificate is visible on the screen, alongside a large red “BLOCKED” button, symbolising dismissal and shutdown of discussion. The scene is cluttered with crumpled papers and harsh orange tones, representing ego, mockery, and intellectual posturing.
On the right, a calm, confident woman faces forward with folded arms, seated at a desk in a cooler blue-toned environment. Behind her are symbols of neurodiversity and evidence: a brain illustration, colourful puzzle pieces, books, and folders labelled “Evidence.” Speech bubbles read “ADHD is real!” and “Lived experience matters!” The contrast highlights evidence-based disability advocacy versus ableist dismissal. Branding for Kawaii Doll Decora and the website “www.KawaiiDollDecora.uk” appears on the image.
