CADDAC is thrilled to announce that the province of British Columbia has signed a proclamation declaring that the October 2014 shall be known as “ADHD Awareness Month”.
Signed by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice as well as the Lieutenant Governor, the proclamation acknowledges a number of significant facts about ADHD, including that ADHD is the most common childhood mental health condition, that treatment options are limited throughout Canada, and that there is a need for further education and awareness about the disorder.
This is a momentous acknowledgement for the BC government to make, and makes it the perfect setting for our upcoming ADHD Conference this November.
Keep your eyes out for our article in upcoming issues of Metro! CADDAC had the chance to speak with Metro news about October`s ADHD Awareness Month, and the article will be featured in issues across Vancouver BC, Calgary AB, Toronto ON, and Halifax NS. The article features an interview with comedian, actor, and ADHD advocate Rick Green, as he speaks candidly about his experiences and how ADHD has impacted his career. The article will be posted on Thursday October 15th, 2014 – feel free to share widely!
Don't forget to register for CADDAC's upcoming workshop on Adult ADHD, less than two weeks away!
Date: Saturday October 4th, 2014.
Location: Centennial College Culinary Arts Centre, 940 Progress Avenue, Toronto Ontario M1G 3T5.
Time: Registration and Breakfast from 8:00AM to 9:00AM. Presentations from 9:00AM to 3:30PM, followed by a Q & A Discussion session.
CADDAC is hosting a full day workshop on Understanding Adult ADHD. Presentations will be geared to adults and their families dealing with adult ADHD. This workshop will also be of interest to health professionals who wish to gain an understanding of adult ADHD and potential treatments.
The morning sessions will cover the medical science of adult ADHD, how it presents itself, how it differs from childhood ADHD, medication and psychosocial treatment options. These sessions will be followed by a unique presentation by adults with ADHD speaking about their own experiences and insights.
The afternoon will include a presentation on emotional dysregulation in adult ADHD and a presentation on ADHD in the workplace, discussing potential strategies and accommodations. An open question and answer and discussion period will follow where attendees can ask questions and share their insights.
For further details and to register please visit www.caddac.ca and select Events followed by Full Day Workshop on ADHD in Adults.
Featured presenters include:
Dr. Flood, is a graduate of McGill University and the University of Manitoba. She is a family physician with a focused practice in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Shoniker Clinic. She has considerable experience working in the field of ADHD, Learning Disorders and Autism. She is a member of CADDRA and on the Advisory Board of CADDAC.
Dr. David Teplin, is an adult clinical psychologist in private practice in Richmond Hill, Ontario. His primary focus is diagnostic assessment, clinical consultation, adult ADHD, and substance use disorders. Dr. Teplin is adjunct faculty in the Doctor of Clinical Psychology program at Medaille College in Buffalo, New York, and is on the editorial review boards of several clinical journals. He is also on the Advisory Board of CADDAC.
Heidi Bernhardt RN, is the mother of three young men with ADHD. She has a background in psychiatric nursing, was the Executive Director of the (CADDRA), a national not-for-profit organization of the leading clinicians and researchers in ADHD in Canada, and a founder of CADDAC and the ADRN. Heidi is presently the President and Executive Director of the Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada (CADDAC).
CADDAC is pleased to announce our 6th annual ADHD Conference, hosted in affiliation with BC Children’s Hospital ADHD Clinic. The conference will be taking place at BC Children's Hospital Chan Centre for Family Health Education, located in Vancouver, British Columbia. This years conference will be geared to parents, educators, adults with ADHD and their families, and medical professionals.
We are fortunate enough to have booked a roster of incredible speakers, including world renowned researcher, author and educator, Dr. Russell Barkley. Other featured speakers include: Gina Pera, author of “Is It You, Me or Adult A.D.D.?”, Dr. Adele Diamond, the Canada Research Chair Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience in Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Shimi Kang, Medical Director for Child and Youth Mental Health for Vancouver community, Dr. Donald Duncan, Clinical Director of the BC Interior ADHD Clinic, Dr. Jake Locke, Child Psychiatrist and associate professor at UBC, and Heidi Bernhardt, Founder and President of CADDAC.
Topics that will be covered include:
Please come and join us for this phenomenal ADHD educational event.
As with all of our events, CADDAC members receive a 10% discount on all of our educational events.
For further details and to register please visit www.caddac.ca and select Events followed by 2014 ADHD Conference.
Anyone working in the field of ADHD, or who has ADHD, is very aware of the continued misinformation and stigma surrounding the disorder. The public seems to have limited awareness of childhood ADHD, typically assuming those affected are the stereotypical hyperactive little boy, and often discounting adult ADHD altogether. Adult ADHD impacts almost all aspects of a person’s life: the home, workplace, and relationships. One of the crucial first steps is the attainment of education about the disorder in adults.
To facilitate this, CADDAC is hosting a full day workshop on Understanding Adult ADHD. Presentations will be geared to adults and their families dealing with adult ADHD. This workshop will also of interest to health professionals who wish to gain an understanding of adult ADHD and potential treatments.
The morning sessions will cover the medical science of adult ADHD, how it presents itself, how it differs from childhood ADHD, medication and psychosocial treatment options. These sessions will be followed by a unique presentation by adults with ADHD speaking about their own experiences and insights.
The afternoon will include a presentation on emotional dysregulation in adult ADHD and a presentation on ADHD in the workplace, discussing potential strategies and accommodations. An open question and answer and discussion period will follow where attendees can ask questions and share their insights.
Date: Saturday October 4th, 2014.
Location: Centennial College Culinary Arts Centre, 940 Progress Avenue, Toronto Ontario M1G 3T5.
Time: Registration and Breakfast from 8:00AM to 9:00AM. Presentations from 9:00AM to 3:30PM, followed by a Q & A Discussion session.
For further details and to register please visit www.caddac.ca and select Events followed by Full Day Workshop on ADHD in Adults.
Featured presenters include:
Dr. Flood, is a graduate of McGill University and the University of Manitoba. She is a family physician with a focused practice in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Shoniker Clinic. She has considerable experience working in the field of ADHD, Learning Disorders and Autism. She is a member of CADDRA and on the Advisory Board of CADDAC.
Dr. David Teplin, is an adult clinical psychologist in private practice in Richmond Hill, Ontario. His primary focus is diagnostic assessment, clinical consultation, adult ADHD, and substance use disorders. Dr. Teplin is adjunct faculty in the Doctor of Clinical Psychology program at Medaille College in Buffalo, New York, and is on the editorial review boards of several clinical journals. He is also on the Advisory Board of CADDAC.
Heidi Bernhardt RN, is the mother of three young men with ADHD. She has a background in psychiatric nursing, was the Executive Director of the (CADDRA), a national not-for-profit organization of the leading clinicians and researchers in ADHD in Canada, and a founder of CADDAC and the ADRN. Heidi is presently the President and Executive Director of the Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada (CADDAC).
I received a call today regarding our post entitled “Vancouver’s Battle Against Adult ADHD Stigma” alerting me that clarification on CADDAC’s position is required.
I sincerely thank the caller for taking the time to speak to me about their concerns.
Our comment was in no way intended to be political or favour one councillor over another.
Our intention was to highlight the message that could be taken from statements made. If an employee requests assistance for their disability, especially adult ADHD, they are seen as not being capable of the job, or playing the “poor me I have a disability card”.
I hope that this is not Ms. DeGenova's position; unfortunately it could be interpreted (or misinterpreted) in that way. As stated in the blog, questioning the expense, or any expense, is not the issue. Our concern was that additional statements made could send the wrong message.
At this time many employees are fearful of disclosing their ADHD. They are reluctant to ask for simple accommodations in the workplace that would make them a more productive employee. They fear the stigma and being viewed as incompetent or making excuses. They worry that coworkers may resent them for receiving special treatment.
A recent Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) report, “Minds that matter: Report on the consultation on human rights, mental health and addictions”, http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/minds-matter-report-consultation-human-rights-mental-health-and-addictions
helped to clarify the duty of employer to accommodate individuals with mental health conditions. It is however also important to note that the commission states, “The accommodation process usually begins when someone identifies they need accommodation due to a disability-related need.”, http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/minds-matter-report-consultation-human-rights-mental-health-and-addictions/10-duty-accommodate, and that it is the responsibility of the person with the disability is to ”inform their employers of their needs”, http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/disability-workplace-roles-and-responsibilities-fact-sheet.
Hopefully this report is a first step in helping to clarify everyone’s role in assisting those with a disability in the workplace, but we still have a long way to go. If comments, unfortunate or misinterpreted as they may be are left unchallenged it furthers the stigma or the disorder.
Heidi Bernhardt,
President
I was notified about an incident that occurred during a Vancouver City Park Board meeting which highlighted the continued misunderstanding and stigma which still remains about adult ADHD. Vancouver Park Board Commissioner Melissa DeGenova shamed and stigmatized Vancouver Park Board Commissioner Sarah Blyth, who is the first politician in Canada to go public with ADHD.
Asking a question about Vancouver paying for the cost of business coaching is of course acceptable, making someone with a medical condition feel ashamed for asking for assistance is not.
About a year ago Sarah Blyth asked park board staff for help as she would be chairing some upcoming contentious meetings. She was offered business coaching. At this park board meeting questions were asked with regard to expenses surrounding the ADHD coaching she received. Commissioner Jasper asked staff to bring to the board any related information; and added that chairing the park board is at times a difficult job, and that if a commissioner needed help that he thought the request was reasonable. He also stated that Sarah Blyth was open about being diagnosed with ADHD.
Following this discussion, Melissa DeGenova asked why the governing party would not elect someone capable of doing the job, and further stated that she had disabilities, too. Melissa has two diagnosed Learning Disabilities: dyslexia and written output disorder, and is on the City of Vancouver Disability Advisory Committee. Ms. Blyth and others reported that, as she was leaving the meeting, Commissioner DeGenova proceeded to follow her out the door asking why she was playing the, "Poor me, I have a disability card."
To access Sarah Blyth’s description of the stigma she felt, please click on the following link or copy and paste it into your browser: https://www.facebook.com/notes/sarah-blyth/stigma/10152386409495210
To access Jamie Lee Hamilton’s account of the incident and request for an apology, please click on the following link or copy and paste it into your browser: https://www.facebook.com/jamie.hamilton.9480/posts/461977273945834
Lisa Ling, an American journalist best known for her role as the host of “Our America with Lisa Ling” on OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network), recently decided to pursue an ADHD assessment after covering a segment on ADHD for her show. Check out her journey here and let us know what you think!
CADDAC was thrilled to be the community sponsor of Doc Institute’s screening, “A Mind Like Mine - An Intimate Portrait of Life with Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder”. A film by Karen O’Donnell.
This free documentary screening and public discussion series is focused on community engagement and activism. These screenings of local docs link Torontonians to important social issues of our time.
This compelling documentary chronicles a year in the life of two adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This deeply personal film features the filmmaker's son, Kail and another young man Daniel.
Seven years after documenting their lives as children with ADD/ADHD for her film, O'Donnell turns the lens back to document their growth into young adults. Along the way however, the filmmaker is taken by surprise as she begins to suspect that she too may be living with ADD!
After the screening audience members were invited to participate in a one hour Q & A session with leading ADHD figures from a variety of fields. ADHD personality, Zoe Kessler, acted as moderator making for an always entertaining evening.
Audience members enjoyed sharing questions about the film and ADHD issues to such a distinguished group. Topics ranged from:
One woman at the event became emotional describing her challenges receiving an ADHD diagnosis. Her doctor was dismissive, leaving her quietly suffering. This raw moment demonstrated the importance of community events. Everyone should have a right to understand ADHD without the stigma.
CADDAC applauds all those involved in a fantastic evening and providing valuable information to the public. We hope to see more in the future.
If you missed the screening, you can still catch the documentary by following the link below:
http://tvo.org/video/168406/mind-mine
Event Review by Hilary Shea
In 2012, CADDAC conducted a survey of parents with ADHD children. Participants were asked to define the stress levels experienced during the school year.
More than half of the Canadian parents surveyed were not satisfied with the help their child is received at school, nor the knowledge that teachers and principals are perceived to have about ADHD.
Long wait times for comprehensive assessments and treatments, as well as difficulty accessing information about the disorder, were also flagged to be of significant concern. The full survey can be viewed here:
Dr. Kenny Handleman talks exclusively with CADDAC about turning stress into a comprehensive action plan. With school almost out for summer, there is plenty of time to make sure the next year is a smooth one!
