Advocacy And Activism For ADHD
Topic: Building Your Community Of Support: Advocacy And Activism For ADHD. Covers: examples of other groups, strategies, self awareness and education, allies, foes, invisible minority, coming out of the ADHD closet or stay in, group advocacy and activism. See the other Adult ADHD Issues.
Speaker: Paul Dayson
Thanks for Christopher Stanbury for taking notes.
February 4th 2014 Meeting Notes for the Vancouver Adult ADD Support Group
Warm up question: What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of having ADHD as an activist?
1. Advantages, Can Go Either Way, And Disadvantages of Having ADHD As An Activist
Advantages
Either Way
Disadvantages
hyperfocus
Boredom
Time Management
energy
No Filter
Distracted
Passion
Impulsive
Zealous
Creative
Not Experts
Difficulty Debating
Love To Talk
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Lack of follow through
Not a follower
OK in mayhem
OK in conflict
Flexibility / Adaptable
2. What are Examples of Advocacy and Activist Struggles?
Visible/Non-Minority
Could Be Invisible
Invisible Groups
Environmental (global warming)
Disability
LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transsexual)
Occupy
Complex
ADHD
Civil rights / Race
Tobacco
Mental Health Issues
Animal rights
Agriculture/ Food / GMO
Homeless
Invisible Minorities
Local
Sex
Bullying
The experience is Different for Invisible Minorities
Target for jokes
No understanding
You’re weird
Professionals often not trained
Strategies
Every advocacy and activist movement/group has developed strategies and tactics.
There are things you can borrow from the strategies developed by each of the groups above.
You do not have to reinvent the wheel.
3. Marginalization/The Power of Invisibility
If you feel alone – why – why do you not feel part of the group?
What is normal? Do you know anyone who is normal? Everybody has got something.
‘Us’ and ‘them’ does not make any sense. It is the creation of otherness to create power and powerlessness.
4. Being an Invisible Minority.
Perks
Costs
Passing: Nobody needs to know. This means choosing your opportunities.
Passing mean hearing discrimination against you such as jokes
You can appear ‘normal’ – when you want to. (If you are different colour than the majority of the population you do not have that choice)
People need to understand
What is a trigger?
When you internalize you are beating yourself up
We need to say ‘stop’ and make people aware.
Keep in mind that when, where and why is within your power.
5. Self-awareness & Education
Self-awareness
Discrimination
Education
To educate others
Where can you get an advantage by disclosing?
Critical mass
Comfortable with self
Tactical
What is / is not due to ADHD
Net contribution
Scientifically illiterate
Socially acceptable
ADHD thought of as only affecting elementary school boys
Less grief for others
Disclosure defines you
“Normalized”
Acceptance
Exposing the elephant
Better quality of life
Needs respected
6. What Is An Ally? Institutionally And Individually, Who Are Likely Allies?
Formed into small groups to discuss before coming together as large group.
Institutional
Either way
Individuals
High Achievers
Celebrities
Family
Medical community
Authors / experts
Doctors – 90% of Adults with ADHD are undiagnosed
Libraries / librarians
Media spokespeople
Very close friends
Supporting parents who have children with ADHD gives parents confidence to support child
Myths
People with other mental health conditions or those who have with family with them and are not judgmental
Suicides. Higher rates of suicide in teens and adults with ADHD
Media often ignorant or hostile or both – if presenter has gone public with having ADHD, then can be positive
Disability offices at colleges and universities
Parents of ADHD children
Local Community Centers
People who are empathetic – they know you and still support you
Parent teacher Groups, ADHD Support Groups
ADHD Service Providers. For example, ADHD coaches, also doctors therapists, psychiatrists & psychologists who know ADHD
‘People with ADD hang out with other ADDers – We are easily bored by boring people.’
Foes
Some in the Media – especially the web
Celebrities (who are out of favour)
ADDers in denial/minimization of their ADHD and are projecting their internal shame on ADHD and ADHD medications in the hopes that no one will notice they seem to have ADHD. Often the worst stigmatizers.
Scientologists, and Scientology front groups i.e., CCHR Citizens Commission on Human Rights, Narcanon, Applied Scholastics, and many others, etc.
Some Employees / employers
Medical community (that deny/minimize/stigmatize ADHD)
Some Govt. / politicians
Some Natural Health supporters (many activists) Many demonize meds & big pharma because they view them as competitors to big supplements that they make money off. Some try to demonize their competition so people will look less closely at the evidence or lack thereof of what they are making money off of.
Some Govt. decision makers re which meds supported
Pharmacare for not covering enough ADHD medications
Allies
Celebrities who have gone public with ADHD
Friends
Family
ADHD drug companies
ADHD service providers, ADHD coaches, ADHD therapists, ADHD doctors/psychiatrists/psychologists
Others with other mental health conditions who understand ADHD
7. Coming Out Of The ADHD Closet. Who – Where – When – Why
You can pass as ‘normal’, but it gets tougher.
It is a process, not an event. When you “come out’, that is not the end of the matter. For example you come out at the office but then change jobs and you are back a square one.
It is about achieving critical mass.
Who do you need to tell?
Family
Who do you want to tell?
Family
Friends
People I can help. ‘I got through it. I want to help others’.
8. Who, Why, Costs, Benefits
Who
Family
Friends
Similar
Employer
Why
Understanding
Support
Help / not alone
Keep job
Costs
Acceptance?
Could lose friend
Get harassed and stigmatized at work by family/friends/doctor etc
Lose job
Out on a limb
Social work
Taxing
Way too high
‘Your problem’
Benefits
Know if real friend
Leveraging > CM
Not re-inventing the wheel
Practice
Put to work where you excel
Same page
Sharing
Work better
9. Group Advocacy and Activism: Realize you are not alone
8-10% of Kids and 5% of adults have ADHD. They, like you, are invisible. It’s also important to remember it’s not a monolithic group but crosses gender, race, class, etc.
Everybody knows somebody with ADHD. That means parents, spouses, grandparents, friends, etc. It means it is not just your issue – it is everybody’s issue. It is larger than just you.
Individual steps create group steps.
Need to achieve critical mass of awareness. There is power in numbers.
10. Open Discussion. Who, Why, Cost, Benefit
Family: understanding, acceptance, on the same page
Friends: support, could lose friend. Know who is your real friend
Employer: Help, keep job, Lose job, Work where you excel
Insurance Company: Keep Insurance Way to high
Similar people: Help / not alone. Sharing
Out on a limb: work better
‘Your problem’ Practice
Taxing Leveraging CM
Social work: Do not re-invent the wheel
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