When it comes to nurturing a productive, motivated and happy workplace, a one-size-fits-all management style isn’t always the best route to take. For those with ADHD, a more thoughtful and customized approach might be required to help them thrive at your company. Here are a few ways you can accommodate your employee with ADHD and set them up for success.
Adjust the workplace environment
For those with ADHD, a suitable working environment can make a huge difference. An open-concept office space might work for a neurotypical employee, but someone with ADHD might require a quiet space with minimal distraction. Allowing the use of headphones, white or brown noise machines or sunglasses would also be helpful ways to help manage distractions. However, it’s important to note that what might help one person with ADHD won’t work for another. Just as each human being is unique, ADHD is unique in both symptoms and severity for each person.
Assign tasks based on their strengths
Acknowledging and supporting an employee with ADHD’s strengths will be very validating for them! Allowing them to focus on tasks that emphasize their strengths or interests will let them know they are considered a valuable contributor to your workplace, and have a positive effect on productivity and morale. Work with their symptoms, rather than against them.
Offer a flexible schedule
Time management and problems with sleep are common struggles for those with ADHD, so following a typical 9 to 5 schedule could be very difficult. Some employees might be more productive starting later in the afternoon and working late, whereas others might require frequent, structured breaks throughout the day. Offering flexible work hours to your employees with ADHD can help to regulate their energy levels, reduce the risk of work-related burnout and encourage productivity.
Put instructions and task details in writing
Those with ADHD struggle with executive dysfunction, meaning they can have a hard time with staying organized, time management, processing information, or remembering details of a project or conversation. Allowing them to take notes in meetings and providing thorough instructions in an email or to-do list will make sure important details won’t slip through the cracks. Be sure to include important due dates, timelines or step-by-step instructions for more laborious tasks.
Ask them directly!
Perhaps it goes without saying, but the best thing you can do is ask your employee with ADHD for their input before you make any changes to your workplace and management style. Spend some time getting to know them and take note of any behaviors or habits they struggle with in the workplace. Try not to minimize or brush off the symptoms the employee tells you – work together to brainstorm any possible solutions. After all, they know themselves better than anyone else and will know what accommodations would be most helpful!
Takeaways
As with all employees, over time you’ll begin to understand how each individual works and slowly identify their unique skills and talents. For an employee with ADHD, a bit more attention may be required to yield drastically better results. Taking the time to collaborate and find strategies that help them navigate any trouble spots they’re having in the workplace will make a lasting impact.
Click here for a list of ADHD Symptoms, Impairments and Accommodations in the Work Environment.
“What would you do differently?” This is a question I am so frequently asked that I have decided to respond to it in this blog about how my children have helped me become a better person. My acupuncturist most recently asked me this question this week when discussing their own child’s teenage adventures. Over the years I have shared in the stories people related to their young ones; and have learned in the end, it is all about relationships. I am a mother and a teacher with ADHD. I also have children who have ADHD. I am an ordinary person who finds joy in everyday things. I believe we can do small things with greatness or great things can be done in small amounts. That helps me when I feel overwhelmed, which can happen with my ADHD. For example, when writing this blog or preparing a meal. As a teacher, I hope to help promote, inspire, or support greatness in small amounts every day. As parents, it would be difficult to inspire greatness in everything we did but rather, our children are remarkably great and so are we.
Even an octopus does not multitask. Do one thing at a time. Mindfully being present in my activities has helped ease my anxiety about having to retain information from conversations while simultaneously completing non-related activities. The art of conversation is hard to find at present with the busyness of modern society and technological devices. Spending time and purposefully being present with my children during their conversations is one of my favorite pastimes. Simply listening, without judgment or correction, has allowed them to develop their thoughts and feelings. Learning to listen, without trying to guide or interject, has taken time. As a parent with ADHD and children with ADHD, there are always so many thoughts that want or need to be shared. However, learning when it is appropriate is another matter. I have learned that sometimes it is necessary to listen first and wait to respond later. Feelings can be big and need space. Our children can have the last word and most of the time, they need our presence more than our voice.
Perfection is not required. However, as a parent I desperately tried to achieve this with every lunch and snack I packed for the children. Each was a non-repeating, 45-minute process, of allergy-conscious, selective-eating, healthy options, budget-limited selections. Every item was carefully chosen for its maximum health potential, likelihood to be eaten, and economic affordability. I wanted the children to find healthy food options in their lunches that supported their neurodevelopment. Ensuring the children had an abundance of food for school and the perfect lunches was a way I tried to protect them from possible negative adult perceptions. In this way, the children’s behavior couldn’t be blamed on poor food choices, lack of nutrition, or neglect. As the children aged, they began to take part in sponsored lunch programs, buying cafeteria food, trading lunches, and even asking to meet up with me for lunch. As I became more comfortable and adapted to advocating for my children, I focused less on what was in their lunches and more on what was in their classroom. It is a process.
Worrying has never stopped anything from happening, including worrying. I worried then and I worry now. For both my children and me, our journey with ADHD occurs with Anxiety. The substance of my anxiety has changed regarding my children as they have aged and have taken on more of their responsibilities. Gone are the days of having to remember tests, assignments, birthday parties, and extra pairs of shoes. The floors have walked bare and the chairs rocked for hours, waiting for phone calls or for children to come home. Children leave when emotions get too big when words fail, friends call, days are long, or adventures await. My worry turned every scenario into the worst possible situation for my children. Every time they were late or chose a friend I did not approve of, I let their diagnosis of ADHD overshadow their creativity, independence, and interpretational skills. When things go astray, ADHD can create a big “WHAT IF” monster in my head. Children do choose their friends and do stay out late. They will get bruises and get hurt. Worry has never stopped my children from any of things. Being there for them has helped them heal when it has.
Even though I feel like motherhood has given me “the pink slip” now, my children still tell me I am needed. Even as an older mom, I still learn new things about motherhood as a mom with ADHD and with older kids with ADHD. Nothing is ever complete, like laundry or the dishes. They stay piled forever. If people want to see a perfect house, they can watch television or watch a magazine. My family is not perfect, and I am not raising a house. Your home can be clean without causing you anxiety or worry. Since several members of our home have ADHD how we try to accomplish things in the home is completely different. This used to cause communication issues, and emotional tension, and consequently, not a lot was accomplished. Through counseling and learning better communication skills and spending more time listening, I learned that sometimes getting things done gets in the way of relationships. My children helped to teach me a different type of organization system where things can be visualized. They also taught me how to delegate tasks and break down jobs into smaller ones. As a single mother, I was used to doing everything myself, and being able to hyperfocus, I was able to complete tasks without issue. However, the children taught me work will always be there but sunny days or freshly fallen snow are to be enjoyed. Take the time to make memories, they will keep you company when the children are grown.
If I were diagnosed earlier, my life would have been much different.
I would not have had to put up with the abuse I endured growing up and after I left home. I was called lazy, stupid, and crazy and told that those with ADHD have lower intelligence than those with out it.
Nancy, diagnosed at age 55
I’m having a virtual parent-teacher interview and am scribbling random, almost illegible notes on a post-it about ways in which I can support my daughter- who is learning across the board a grade to two below her age -it's completely daunting. Internally, I am going back and berating myself for not forcing letters and numbers on her earlier, and making more diligent routines and schedules. She never cared for sitting down or would heavily protest or shut down when I would impose some of my own “fun learning ideas” into her dramatic play. At times I’d even make up different voices for each letter because that seemed to catch her attention, but it never fully evolved into wanting to learn more. She loved being read to and only ever sat still for books so I just pushed my worry to the side and said, “she’ll learn it all in kindergarten”. Just give her autonomy and freedom and pick your battles, there are enough struggles to choose from here.
Perhaps like me your child was a high needs baby, then a high needs toddler? Never leaving your side, having huge emotional experiences beyond what appeared typical and basically running you ragged with their energetic output that was boundless, no matter how little they slept! And they were oblivious to how little sleep you got. Other mothers would be sitting gabbing joyfully, enjoying each other company on a patio with babies contentedly sleeping in strollers while I made my third lap down the shaded street carrying my baby, because she wouldn’t do a stroller and only napped, albeit briefly, after being walked for hours or rocked almost violently. I loathed them.
Now in grade two things have evolved slightly. I would still call her a relentless force but fortunately, at school, she is seen as happy and most adaptable. She is working really hard to keep up and does quite well at emotional regulation in her day. But learning is a huge, huge challenge for her like it is for about 30-50% of ADHD kids who also have dyslexia, dyscalculia, or other learning differences on top of ADHD. “It’s like numbers are mysterious to Esme”, says her teacher. Even when counting 5 on her fingers, to know what “5” actually means would be like going to the moon on a pogo stick. I end our third teacher conference completely triggered, fighting back tears, feeling like an utter failure in life, and wanting to crumple up into a lint ball and be buried under the couch with some chocolate. My partner has a different experience. She is feeling somewhat optimistic! She reflects on some of the more positive comments while I seem to be dwelling in the areas where she is so far behind and then projecting that into her future life as if nothing could change. Like
how will she ever “succeed" in life? How will she budget time, money, resources? How will she figure out x, y, z?! I am spiraling into the future black hole of worry that gets you deep dark real fast.
Luckily, I have some tools and time for self-reflection and pause for a moment to understand how much I am also entwined in this conversation from the place of my inner child. Though I didn’t have the same learning challenges of dyslexia and dyscalculia on top of ADHD like my daughter, I did have trouble at school with executive functioning issues. Like so many women, my ADHD went undiagnosed, until my daughter was assessed. So therefore in school I was just the extremely verbal girl who could take over the room with her energy and ideas and complained (loudly) when we were learning things that did not interest me or seemed completely irrelevant. And like many girls my presentation became more inattentive over time which translates to ignored in the school system. I was withdrawn in class at times, forgetful, with scattered notes everywhere or staring out the window dreaming up other places I would rather be. I was the girl who was told I was so bright but never lived up to my potential because I didn’t apply myself. Those “helpful” comments always made me fume. Please, if your teenage daughter comes home with comments like this on a report card investigate an ADHD diagnosis!
When dealing with my daughter I asses that my investment in her wellbeing and education comes from a deeper place than her loving, concerned parent- it comes from the internal place of me desperately wanting to re-parent myself and be recognized for some of the challenges I had. I want to go back in time and be seen and understood so that I could slough off some of this residual shame and self-criticism; feelings of doubt and not-enoughness I’ve been carrying. I didn’t want her to wonder in silence, what is going on with me? Why don’t I just “get it” like the others seem to? Much of this journey is about some of our parallel experiences as girls, now as women and mothers with recognition of our own ADHD, parenting little versions of ourselves. The key is I am her parent, aware of who she is and her struggles early on. She has me and her other mother advocating for her, researching and investigating all the ways in which we can support her from a place of knowledge, self-empowerment, and strength. We see her and know the challenges that will come up for her in a school environment. We know that ADHD is something she will be dealing with in many facets of her life for the rest of her life. We can intercept uninformed comments about her potential and her abilities from a united and informed front. This early acknowledgement is a key ingredient I never had that will inevitably shift my daughters' self-concept and experiences navigating systems.
I trust that osmosis it will also transform me and bring healing through the lines of time, with compassion, reweaving my past self through this lens of ADHD awareness. For now, I laugh myself up from my crumpled heap and go outside into nature to allow my wild child the space to run free, I invite my daughter along as well.
Note from Heidi Bernhardt, CADDAC President
I am sharing this incident with you because the CADDAC board and I personally continue to be concerned about how information on ADHD is sometimes presented in the media. Unfortunately, poor, even if well-meaning, studies and their questionable findings are being reported, using by-lines meant to be eye catching and memorable. I understand that a reporter may feel that they are only regurgitating what a researcher puts out there, but when they report on an ADHD study that they are not qualified to evaluate and do not reach out to those who are, misinformation on ADHD just keeps increasing. And using headlines and personal stories to sensationalize and misinform just makes it worse. This harms families who are already stigmatized by all the misunderstanding and myths that continue to abound about ADHD. CADDAC and CADDRA are sometimes contacted by journalists seeking out ADHD experts to evaluate and comment on a new study prior to reporting on it. This is how it should be done.
I would be very interested in hearing your comments on this topic. You can send your comments to me at resources@caddac.ca
Huffington Post Article
On December the 7th the Huffington Post published an article titled, Mom's Postpartum Depression Linked To ADHD In Kids, Australian Study Finds ‘Parenting hostility' is connected to a child's eventual diagnosis or symptoms”. This was first brought to my attention on December the 8th when I was copied on a letter sent to the Huffington Post by a psychologist and contacted by a second psychologist concerned about the messages in this article.
In her complaint to the Huffington Post the psychologist stated that the by-line was,
“incredibly damaging to parents who are parenting children with “invisible disabilities,” especially ADHD, which has already been so heavily stigmatized in the media.”
She went on to add that the byline
“… makes the results appear causal, when they are not, but it is also entirely misleading. Only several paragraphs in do you finally get to the critical point made by the researchers: “We suspect that children's challenging behaviour early in life may be connected to mother's postnatal mental health." Why not lead with that critical information? Why not avoid contributing to the vast amount of misinformation and misunderstanding that is already making it so painful for families of children with this neurodevelopmental disability?”
Although the article was edited and the title and by-line changed to “Study On Postpartum Depression And ADHD Stresses Need For Maternal Health Support, Moms shouldn't blame themselves, researchers say” by the Huffington Post within hours after receiving the complaint, I and others remain concerned about this article. The article you now see on the Huffington post if not the original article.
Here is a comment by a parent that was sent to the Huffington Post that I was copied on.
“I see that there are some areas of the article which state that mothers should not be made to feel blamed for their child's ADHD, and that a child's ADHD may contribute to depression in the parent. However, the title of the article, certain statements within it, and the direct quotes from Melissa Doody, paint an entirely different picture. These imply that depression in the mother CAN indeed cause ADHD in a child. Anyone who skims through your headlines or through this article will come away with that message…I feel sorry for Melissa Doody, since she clearly believes that she is responsible for her child's ADHD, when she is absolutely not. Spreading her self-deprecating statements around is not helpful, and is simply irresponsible.”
When I personally contacted the author of the article it was suggested to me that there was no problem with the reporting but that rather I and the psychologist who complained simply did not like the information the study highlighted. To test this theory I reached out to some other medical professionals to get their impression of this article. Several pointed out that they had significant concerns about this article and the messages it was sending. One physician stated that articles like this made her blood boil. Several mentioned the fact that fathers had been completely left out of the equation and that this was another case of blaming the mother for the child’s problems.
“I consider this another version of the ‘Blame the mother syndromes’ that were taught to me in med school. I could argue quite passionately that the dysregulated infant who will later in childhood be diagnosed with ADHD is in fact the cause of the mother's postnatal depression.”
And
“However, this also brings me to my other major concern with both the article and the study itself: it is hideously gendered, and contributes to further mother-blaming in the world of mental health. There is no mention of fathers at all, and yet "parenting" is the term used, where what they're really looking at is ‘mothering.’"
Upon examining the actual study professionals commented that,
“…critical confounding variables are unaccounted for (i.e. most notably, the genetic links between ADHD, anxiety, and mood disorders), are all weak, at best.”
And
“Also important is to note that they did not control for cigarette or alcohol use during pregnancy or pre or perinatal birth complications when exploring the association between maternal post natal mental health and offspring symptoms of ADHD.”
A few other issues with the study were noted; children were not necessarily diagnosed with ADHD but rather reported to have ADHD by their parents; depression was not evaluated as to whether it was an on-going depression or a postpartum depression; mothers were not screened for ADHD.
I received other comments questioning the validity of this study’s finding and expect to receive more in the future, but since I am still receiving correspondence on this article from concerned parents and professionals I felt that it was important to comment on it sooner rather than later.
If necessary, I will write a follow-up on the actual study itself once it has been further analyzed.
Again, please feel free to let me know what you feel about this issue at resources@caddac.ca
Heidi Bernhardt
About 75 people attended the live show featuring Patrick McKenna on Saturday night and if the laughter and tears was any indication everyone had a great time. Interestingly about two thirds of the audience were not conference attendees, which was unexpected but great bonus because it meant that we were reaching even more people in nova Scotia. The improve group was a blast. People were in stitches. I laughed so hard tears were running down my face. Patrick’s featured presentation “Is it me or the ADHD?” was inspirational and obviously hit home for many of the attendees. There was much nodding and also some tears in the audience. A young man pulled us aside at the end saying he wished he could stay and chat with Patrick but had to head out. He shared that he and his Dad attended with his Mom's insistence, so he was not too happy about attending. But, after hearing Patrick speak, so much had resonated with him that he now knew that he needed to think long and hard about getting an assessment making some serious changes. I guess we can’t ask for more of an impact than that!
Heidi Bernhardt
Patrick McKenna is on a mission to get the word out about ADHD: “People question the validity of ADHD because they can’t see the problem. If only those with ADHD could wear a bandage on their head 24/7 maybe people would not be so dismissive of ADHD symptoms which can cause a great deal of pain.” Rick Green, of TotallyADD, addresses it on a more personal level, “When I received my diagnosis at the age of 47 it explained so much. I finally understood why some things were so easy for me to accomplish and others were impossible to complete, no matter how much effort I put into it. It changed my life and the way I look at myself.”
In addition to taking the lead in reaching out to other comedians for this campaign, Patrick McKenna will be starring in “Is it Me or the ADHD?” along with the Improv group "Two Men & a Lady, during CADDAC’s Live show, “Living With ADHD, A Funny Yet Serious Look At Having ADHD” occurring on the Saturday night of CADDAC’s 10th Annual ADHD Conference, taking place this October 27th and 28th in Halifax, NS. The conference is geared to parents of children with ADHD, adults with ADHD and their families, educators, and the medical community.
10th Annual ADHD Conference
October 27 & 28, Saint Mary’s University, 923 Robie Street Halifax NS B3H 3C3
https://caddac.ca/adhd/events/3531/1540630800/1540742400/
Speaker Biographies: https://caddac.ca/adhd/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Bios-final.pdf
Living With ADHD, A Funny Yet Serious Look At Having ADHD
This is a show for all ages, with couple and family discounted ticket rates
Is it Me or the ADHD? Starring Patrick McKenna and the Improv Group - "Two Men & a Lady
McNally Theatre, Saint Mary’s University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 3C3
Oct 27th, 2018, 7:30pm
https://caddac.ca/adhd/events/living-with-adhd/
Patrick McKenna and Other Canadian Celebrities Speak out About ADHD and Invite the Public to Join the Conversation #ADHD Speaks
On October 2nd 2018 CADDAC, the Center for ADHD Awareness Canada, launched “ADHD Speaks” a multiyear national campaign to get people talking and break the silence on ADHD. People all across the country are invited to submit selfie videos and use the campaign hashtag, #ADHDspeaks, to join the conversation.
CADDAC’s hope is that the creation of the ADHD Speaks movement will finally provide a platform for those living with ADHD to have their voices heard. Canadians impacted by ADHD are still afraid to open up about this condition. CADDAC believes that there is still so much misinformation and judgment out there about ADHD that just continues to fuel the existing stigma. This has caused individuals and families to feel shame and remain fearful about sharing their struggles and experiences. This lack of discussion about ADHD has led our politicians and decision makers to conclude that their constituents and stakeholders don’t care about ADHD; that they don’t care about the lack of resources and serious consequences that occur when ADHD is not recognized and treated. That just can’t be the case when nearly two million Canadians are affected by this disorder. We need to hear the voices of those impacted by ADHD.
Check out How a Few Minutes of Your Time can Effect Change!
CADDAC is inviting everyone living with ADHD, their friends and families, medical professionals, educators and celebrities, to share their experiences and revelations about ADHD by submitting a brief selfie video recorded using their smartphone. They can also send an audio message or written story if they prefer. People are also encouraged to share their stories on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, using the #ADHDspeaks hashtag. Participants can obtain more information and tips for recording and submitting their thoughts and stories on CADDAC’s website: www.caddac.ca.
Check out
A personal ask from Heidi Bernhardt, the President of CADDAC
A personal ask from Patrick McKenna, actor, director and comedian
View Celebrity ADHD videos rolled out during October, ADHD Awareness Month
Reading the title of this article, ADHD can be your super power immediately caused me a great deal of concern and I am sure angered many of the millions of Canadians impaired by ADHD. While this article is attempting to be uplifting, and the message that those with ADHD can find fulfilling careers is a good one, many adults with ADHD will find this article very disheartening and frustrating. It makes it seem that those with ADHD just need a diagnosis, some coaching and a good assistant to handle all the paperwork and they’ll be good to go. ADHD is on a spectrum from mild to severe and most often comes with coexisting mental health disorders. Finding a medical professional who is trained in ADHD and not charging a hefty fee over OHIP to assess for and diagnose ADHD is an extreme challenge. Proven treatments such as CBT therapy and coaching are not covered by provincial health care and are extremely expensive. The good news is that while research substantiates that ADHD can significantly impair learning these children can succeed in school when supported. But, how can we expect adults with ADHD to find fulfilling careers when many of our school boards and the Ontario Ministry of Education do not recognize ADHD as a disability allowing these students to access special education resources. So, let’s please also discuss the many barriers that still exist for those with ADHD.
This comment has also been sent to the Toronto Star.
A Follow-up in our recent post "Changes to Stimulant Medication Treatment in BC - Why Should You be Concerned?"
A revised draft of the Safe Prescribing Guidelines was released by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC) on April the 26th 2018. In the previous Guidelines or “Practice Standard”, the College required annual urine drug screens or pill counts for all adults on stimulant medication. They also prohibited the prescription of sedatives or opiates in any adult being treated with a stimulant.
The new proposed Practice Standard – Safe Prescribing of Opioids and Sedatives – has removed stimulants from the previous document altogether and the proposed Standard applies only to prescribing of opioids and sedatives.
CADDAC, along with the Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance (CADDRA) advocacy committee members, actively campaigned against the previous document since its launch in 2016. Both organizations are very pleased that the College has responded to these efforts and removed stimulant medication from these guidelines.
CADDAC would like to thank those of you who responded to our call to action and contacted the College and your MLAs about this issue.
Access CADDRA response HERE
Access the new draft document (focusing exclusively on opiates and sedatives) HERE
