This qualitative study examines the experiences and concerns of neurodivergent people regarding AI chatbots. Based on 23 semi-structured interviews, we found that our neurodivergent participants used AI chatbots for a diverse range of applications, including therapy, communication, education, work, and planning. Participants’ chatbot use was mainly driven by motivations specific to their condition, such as supporting working memory, regulating emotions, and sustaining self-motivation. In addition to these benefits, participants noted tensions around AI’s role in promoting masking (which involves deliberate concealment of outwardly visible neurodivergent traits), privacy concerns, and its influence on social relations. We present implications grounded in neurodivergent users’ experiences with AI chatbots and raise critical questions about authenticity, privacy, and the broader impact on their social relationships.

Emotional dysregulation is a core, yet often overlooked condition experienced by adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).While prior research has linked emotional dysregulation to various negative outcomes, self-report measures used to assess this condition may not effectively capture the emotional experiences of ADHD adults.Drawing on a critical disability studies perspective, we reviewed 27 self-report emotional dysregulation measures.We observed the use of normative language that could marginalize adults with ADHD.We also found that the measures do not assess the effectiveness of respondents' regulation strategies.We discuss how these limitations impact the development of socio-technical interventions in assistive technology and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). CCS Concepts• Social and professional topics → People with disabilities; • Human-centered computing → Accessibility theory, concepts and paradigms.