| ADHD is actually not a learning disability. Did you know | | | | students, and people use them as categories to |
| that? Despite popular belief, ADHD alone does not | | | | discriminate against others. This last point is the final |
| qualify or guarantee that a child would receive special | | | | straw for me, because if we didn't have ADHD, we |
| accommodations in school. In fact, there is no | | | | would have another label to separate these "different" |
| guarantee that an individual who is diagnosed with | | | | people out. |
| ADHD will even qualify for services under the | | | | Have we gone overboard? |
| Americans with Disabilities Act. | | | | The more and more I learn about conditions like ADHD, |
| Here's the problem: | | | | the more I wonder if anyone truly understands the |
| Labels like ADHD and learning disability have become | | | | condition. Most people believe that ADHD describes a |
| such staples in our culture that I don't think we truly | | | | child who is a behavioral problem. There is also the |
| understand what they mean or represent anymore. | | | | belief that there are no positive qualities associated |
| Searching the literature on ADHD, there are different | | | | with ADHD. |
| views (by both professionals and the public) on what | | | | What do you believe? |
| ADHD is and who has it. While professionals and | | | | After all, your beliefs guide how you see other people. |
| organizations set the standards, public perception | | | | For me? I don't care much for labels. I want to look at |
| quickly becomes reality. | | | | the differences of how someone learns, |
| Initially, diagnostic names like ADHD were intended as | | | | communicates, and takes in the world. Living in a world |
| a means for professionals to communicate with one | | | | where many people are free, there is no right or |
| another about a shared group of behaviors or | | | | wrong. There are only differences, and I hope you will |
| symptoms. But today, insurance companies use them | | | | embrace those differences and stand up against |
| to dictate who qualifies for treatment services and for | | | | anyone who wants to use them as a way to hold |
| how long. Schools use these labels to sort their | | | | children back. |