Q. When did you first learn you had ADHD? How did you react? 

A. I first learned I had AD/HD when I was diagnosed spring of freshman year. I always (since probably 2nd grade) had known I had a learning disorder and I was happy to just say that my brain worked a little slower. In high school, though, to get extra time, I needed an "official" diagnosis (rather than some informal tests my first grade teacher had run on me).

I was incredibly surprised by the diagnosis because I thought of AD/HD as 100% hyperactive and impulsive (which is funny, because attention is right there in the name). I am the opposite of hyperactive and impulsive. I am cognitively slow (not stupid!!! there's a difference) and thoughtful. However, as I've learned more about innattentive type AD/HD, I've seen how it actually fits me quite accurately.



Q. How do you think that people without ADHD define it? 

A.  I think many people see it as I did before: "little boy syndrome". (Hyperactivity, impulsivity, immaturity). That perception I now know to be WRONG (and am so glad I no longer perceive it that way!) but it makes me sad to think that some people still think of it as a behavior problem that is the individuals or their parents' fault. (Just to be clear, I know many people with AD/HD who are quite mature--I am not saying that  hyperactivity or impulsivity are linked to maturity... I am saying that often people get lumped as immature because they are thought to have this disorder that "belongs to little boys". 



Q. Do you think that people without ADHD look at it as a negative or positive? 

A. Negative. Without a doubt. I think people (even the most well-meaning) mainly see the struggle rather then the advantages. 



Q. What are some of the positive characteristics ADHD gives you? 

A. Passion! Energy! Hyper-focus! Individuality and personality! Empathy!! Often, a better understanding of oneself! And, perhaps most importantly, many struggles (AD/HD being one) can give people enormous personality strengths such as empathy (had to say that one twice), determination, and perspective. 



Q. Has there every been a time where someone has misunderstood your learning difference? How so? 

A. YES! All the time. People always say "I don't believe you have AD/HD." One misperception of AD/HD is that it is linked to intelligence (which is also just wrong--certainly, it can impair learning, but it is not linked to intrinsic intelligence).



Q. What kind of accommodations do you use in class and how do they help you? 

A. I've asked other students (or teachers) for copies of notes (in case I miss something because of my slow auditory processing). I ask teachers to put power points online. I see teachers outside of class all of the time. I use 150% extra time. For me, being able to go over what happened in class again later is very important. So is extra time. I go "up" 30-40 percentile points if I get extra time.



Q. How do you advocate for your accommodations? 

A. The learning specialist at my school has been wonderful in guiding me through getting accomodations. I have met with teachers (individually and as a group) to discuss my learning. This year I wrote a 3 or 4 page letter to my teachers describing my learning strengths and weaknesses with specific information that is relevant to their subject.



Q. Have you ever taken medication for your ADHD? If no, why did your parents/you choose to not try them? 

A. No. AD/HD has not been that debilitating for me. I have an incredibly supportive environment that accommodates my needs well. I have also heard that meds don't work as well for inattentive AD/HD. 



Q. How does ADHD affect you in school? 

A. My mind sometimes wanders off, especially if lectures and not visually rich (slow auditory processing). Especially as a younger girl I was really a "dreamer" and I missed a lot of the curriculum because I was spaced out. I have trouble "transitioning" (cognitive rigidity, a little-known piece of the AD/HD puzzle), so sometimes I have trouble switching tasks and topics.



Q.Why should people be proud to have ADHD? 

A. Everyone I've met with AD/HD has had an incredible personality. They should be proud of who they are, whether or not they have AD/HD.



Q. If you had the ability to get rid of your ADHD would you? Why or why not? 

A. I'm not sure. I might like to try being myself without it and then choose. I worry that it might be too much a piece of who I am--I wouldn't want to get rid of it if I was getting rid of a piece (even a mixed and sometimes challenging piece) of myself.