‘A Talk for Everyone’: MAE Student Gives TEDx Talk on Neurodivergence

It took a serendipitous meeting with a TEDx Raleigh speaker coach to make Shaun Deardorff’s long-time dream of giving a TED talk come true.

“My whole talk is about neurodivergence, and specifically autism, since I am on the spectrum,” said Deardorf, a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State. “But I try to provide a space for communication to flourish, so the talk isn’t just about neurodivergence or autism. It’s a talk for everyone.”

Deardorff had his goal of giving this talk in the back of his mind when he met a Delta Airlines captain while filming at a career fair with his media production company. The captain happened to be a TEDx speaker coach, and he asked Deardorff to apply.

On Aug. 23, Deardorff was one of 12 speakers out of over 400 applicants and nominees speaking at TEDx Raleigh. He was also one of the youngest speakers, most of whom are professional public speakers and older professionals with doctorates in their fields.

He hopes his talk, which was published by TEDx on Oct. 2, will help inspire neurodivergent listeners — and others with relatable experience — and let them know they aren’t alone.

“I was just so grateful and humbled to be there,” he said. “I was really honored to give my talk because I know that so many people will benefit from hearing my story, and I hope to inspire others to build a more inclusive and accepting society for neurodivergent minds, especially for the autism community.”

Deardorff is on track to be a three-time alumnus of NC State. He earned his B.S. in aerospace engineering in 2024 and will finish his master’s of science in mechanical engineering in May, after which he will continue working toward his Ph.D.

Upon completion of his degrees, Deardorff wants to become an astronaut with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

In addition to being a full-time student, Deardorff is the CEO of Airmage Media Productions, a worldwide drone and media production company he founded in 2019 after earning his Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 remote pilot certificate. He recently co-founded a new startup, Chubby’s Chow, a sustainable dog food company, with co-founder and NC state alumnus Larry Spera ’82. 

He thinks there are more neurodivergent people in engineering than we know.

“I want to cultivate a more accepting community with like-minded thinkers, allies and support systems to help encourage others,” he said.

After the talk, one parent told Deardorff they were grateful for his courage to share his story, as it gave them hope for their neurodivergent child’s future. A woman also shared that his talk made her feel less alone after a recent ADHD diagnosis.

Deardorff shared that the lessons from his story can be applied outside of engineering as well. He noted that anyone who is going through a challenge, whether at work, at school or with personal relationships, can think outside the box.

“Being neurodivergent has taught me to see those challenges as opportunities to innovate,” he said. “To break things down and approach them in a new way.”

This post was originally published in College of Engineering News.