Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey Ep 1282 | Autism Isn’t a Superpower — or a Death Sentence: A Story of Tough Love | Leland Vittert
Dec 29, 2025
Leland Vittert, an accomplished journalist and author of "Born Lucky," shares his journey of growing up with autism and the tough love that shaped him. He discusses how his parents instilled resilience by preparing him to face adversity rather than providing shelter. Leland highlights the challenges of bullying in school and the importance of excellent teachers. He reveals pivotal moments from his journalism career in the Middle East, emphasizing that autism is not a superpower but rather the character and work ethic that emerge from overcoming hardship.
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Secret Diagnosis And Purpose
- Leland Vittert kept his autism diagnosis secret until age 43 and calls his story "Born Lucky."- He shares it to give hope to families facing diverse childhood struggles.
Born Literally Lucky
- Leland was nicknamed "Lucky" after a complicated birth where the umbilical cord was knotted around his neck.- His parents called him Lucky and he introduced himself as Lucky until age 18.
Staggering Test Results And Dad's Choice
- Testing showed a 70-point IQ split, from genius-level to severe deficit in different areas.- The evaluator said "meet your son where he's at," but Leland's father refused and chose to adapt him to the world.