The LD Advantage
Q. When did you first learn you had ADHD? If you remember, how did you react to finding out about your ADHD?
A. In 7th grade I was surprised.
Q. How do you personally define ADHD?
A. A disorder that impairs ones attention.
Q. Are you proud to have ADHD?
A. Yes
Q. How do you think people without ADHD define it?
A. A disorder that makes someone less smart and able to do things whether academically or in other areas.
Q. Do you think that people without ADHD look at it as a negative or positive?
A. Negative for sure. So much stigma!
Q. What are some of the positive characteristics ADHD give you?
A. It motivates me so much. I would not be striving to get straight A's if I did not have ADHD. It also makes me more outgoing and relatable
Q. Has there ever been a time where someone has misunderstood your learning difference? and how so?
A. Very much so. People have said things along the lines of "you are so lucky you get extra time" which....speaks for itself.
Q. What kind of accommodations do you use in class?
A. - Extra time on tests
- A calculator
- A ruler
- colored markers
- highlighters
- having the ability to get up and walk/stretch
Q. How do your accommodations help you?
A. They allow me to be on the same level with everyone else
Q. Have the majority of your teachers been good at making sure you get your accommodations?
A. Yes
Q. How do you advocate for your accommodations?
A. I make sure I directly address the issue with my teachers. It is all about communication.
Q. How does ADHD affect you in school?
A. It makes things harder, takes more time to complete things, I do not absorb as much information in class as other kids, and makes it difficult to pay attention.
Q. How does ADHD affect you socially?
A. It makes me far more self conscious.
Q. What are some of the strategies you use to stay focused in school, on homework, in social settings?
A. - I often will do my homework in a very quiet setting to minimize distractions.
- I will get up and walk if I am feeling fidgety.
- I will eat while I am working.
- I will take breaks in between to clear my head.
Q. What advice do you have for people who have just found out they have ADHD?
A. Yeah-it sucks when you find out but the truth is, everyone has something. Ours just has a name for it. It has its ups and its downs, but for me, it has made me grow in wonderful ways. You are officially a member of a population of quirky, wonderful people who have a label to their learning style!
Q. Why should people be proud to have ADHD?
A. Because it truly is no different from other people's ways of learning except for the fact that it has a name; therefore no shame should ever be involved!
Q. If you had the ability to get rid of your ADHD would you? Why or why not?
A. Yes, because overall it makes things harder. But that is not to say that I have not learned a lot from it.
Meet Hallie :)
-17