| Knowledge is power. This is especially true when | | | | your area, you can call them and they can provide you |
| you're dealing with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity | | | | with some support or help to connect you with other |
| Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). | | | | people. You want to look for local agencies and |
| The more you know about what you're dealing with, | | | | resources that can be helpful. Sometimes a children's |
| the better able you are to deal with it and make | | | | mental health agency can actually teach you a lot and |
| effective decisions. The amount you know about ADD | | | | point you in the direction of support groups and other |
| or ADHD can have a dramatic impact on many | | | | areas. |
| aspects of your (or your loved one's) life. What's the | | | | ADHD Education Source #3: Books - has a listing of |
| solution? Educate yourself. Here are the top Four | | | | the books that I recommend about ADHD. But you |
| ways to learn about ADD/ADHD: | | | | can certainly go to your public library, your local |
| ADHD Education Source #1: Your local ADHD | | | | bookstore, and there you'll also find great titles on ADD |
| community. Talk to other people in your community. | | | | and ADHD. |
| You may be surprised to find out you have | | | | ADHD Education Source #4: Seminars, courses, and |
| tremendous resources right across the street. People | | | | conferences can be very helpful. Look to your local |
| that you may find great ADD/ADHD information from | | | | mental health agencies, as well as parent support |
| include: a teacher, a guidance counselor, a principal; | | | | groups to seminars, conferences and courses which |
| another parent at school, or soccer, or church; | | | | may be helpful to you. Additionally, home study |
| community agencies (such as activity programs, | | | | courses can be very helpful to you. |
| camps, etc.), church groups. A note of caution with this | | | | ADHD Education Source #5: Online ADHD |
| - be careful of horror stories. You want to talk to | | | | communities: The internet is a great source of |
| knowledgeable people, and remember that just | | | | information, (but also it can contain misinformation). |
| because someone had a bad experience, doesn't | | | | Here are some wonderful and reliable sources of |
| mean that you will. | | | | ADHD information. |
| ADHD Education Source #2: Support groups - you | | | | Educating yourself about ADHD gives you tremendous |
| can visit online They are a very large organization that | | | | power in dealing with the condition. There is a lot of |
| has number of parent support groups throughout North | | | | misinformation out there so take care to listen to the |
| America. They also have an outstanding Web site with | | | | facts and find reliable sources of information. The |
| a lot of information there. For my fellow Canadians, | | | | resources and websites I've presented are an |
| there is and that has a listing of different parent | | | | excellent place to begin. |
| support groups in Canada. If you don't have one in | | | | |