Education To Adults Living With ADHD And Professionals Working With Them

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Approximately 85 percent of the 8 million adults living with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) remain undiagnosed due to a lack of knowledge and the negative stigma surrounding this neurobiological disorder. Without proper medical and behavioral treatment these adults are likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and relationship problems.

In order to increase understanding of the disorder and provide hope to people with AD/HD, the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) is marking the fourth annual AD/HD Awareness Week (September 16-22) by providing education, resources and support to those affected by AD/HD and professionals working with them. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (WA) issued Senate Resolution 295 designating September 19, 2007 as "National Attention Deficit Disorder Awareness Day."

With the aim of increasing awareness of this disorder and empowering individuals through education, ADDA is dedicated to providing resources to adults with AD/HD, their friends and relatives, as well as professionals working with them all year long.

AD/HD symptoms can include:

-- Difficulty paying attention to tasks and completing projects

-- Failure to follow instructions carefully and completely

-- Losing or forgetting important things

-- Habitually fidgeting; squirming

-- Chronic boredom and restlessness

-- Talking excessively and frequently interrupting others

Fall Regional Meetings and Teleclasses Provide Education, Networking and Support

"Awareness Day is a great opportunity to educate members of your local community and help promote awareness," said ADDA President Linda Anderson. "There is so much misinformation out there and so many people still do not know the facts about AD/HD. It is our duty to educate them and increase the percentage of adults and children who are properly diagnosed and treated."

A series of four regional conferences kicking off September 29 in Providence, R.I. will offer educational and networking opportunities for adults with AD/HD, parents with AD/HD children, educators, medical and mental health professionals and the public.

ADDA will educate a much larger audience through a series of teleclasses - interactive courses offered by AD/HD experts over the telephone - focusing on Workplace Issues, Home/Family Life, Life Skills and AD/HD Treatment Advances. A special teleclass series will run during Awareness Week from September 17 to September 20, in addition to the regular Fall Teleclass Series running every Wednesday night September 17 through November 28. Teleclasses are free for members. For a complete schedule and information visit www.add.org.

In addition to encouraging individuals to learn more about AD/HD during Awareness Week through ADDA's teleclasses and upcoming regional meetings, ADDA also encourages promoting awareness locally.

Do Your Own Part to Promote Awareness

Individuals in your community will benefit from learning about AD/HD, so why not help them get educated? Think about where you live, work, shop, get your news and you'll find venues suitable for launching your awareness campaign.

Here are some ways to promote awareness in your area:

-- Host a Public Awareness Presentation, Display Table, or Information Night at your local library or bookstore. Provide a list of popular books that can be displayed and that you will reference during your presentation. ADDA's AD/HD Awareness Toolkit contains a Sample Letter to send to your local library.

-- Arrange a Book Signing Event with a local bookstore featuring an author of an AD/HD-related book. Look through the books that have been written about AD/HD, and contact the authors. See if they would be willing to sign books at a local bookstore. Don't forget the "lesser known" authors.

-- Organize and Host a Parent's Night Out for Parents of Children with AD/HD. Include a featured speaker, educational materials, and a drawing for prizes that have been donated by local providers.

-- Organize and host a Kitchen Table Lobbying Party. Kitchen table lobbying is systematic letter writing by individuals to public officials or editors of newspapers or magazines intended to influence government policies.