Stand Up!

Be a parent who advocates for their child with ADHD

Being a parent of a child with ADHD can be difficult. Not only are there new things to learn and do for your child, you have to deal with how you will interact with the rest of the world and how the rest of the world will interact with you and your child.

Unfortunately, many people do not take an ADHD diagnosis seriously. For this reason, you will have to become your child’s biggest advocate to ensure your child will receive the accommodations and understanding they deserve.

At Home

• Becoming your child’s biggest advocate begins with you!

  •  Begin to educate yourself about ADHD and how ADHD directly affects your child. 

• Take what you learn and share it! 

  • Teach friends and family about your child and their ADHD.

• Praise often!

  • “It is estimated that those with ADHD receive 20,000 more negative messages by age 12 than those without the condition” according to Dr. William Dodson. For this reason, it is important to praise your child for the positive things they do to bolster their self-esteem as they are navigating this diagnosis along with you.

At School

• Be positive! 

  • The school staff is there to work with you and your child. While you should stand firm in what your child needs, it is easier to achieve your goals with a positive attitude instead of fighting against the system.

• Educate your child’s teacher! 

  • While teachers may know something about ADHD, they don’t know your child with ADHD. Explain to the teacher what your child’s strengths and weaknesses are and what works best for your child.

Most importantly, as your child continues to grow and learn, be sure to teach your child how to advocate for themselves. Eventually you won’t be around and your child will have to learn to stand up for themselves. The work you do as a parent today will set up your child for success in the future.

Thank you for your time and attention.

-Nikki