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The New Look ADD / ADHD Gazette
The FREE online ezine all about ADD and ADHD.
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*** ISSUE #15 ***
August 14th 1999
Going out to over 2,100 subscribers

IN THIS ISSUE:
Our New Look
"The Adult ADD Reader"
UK School Inclusion
College & ADD
Advice For Parents Trying To Get Diagnosis For Their Child
American Specialist Coming To Britain
Resources

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Got a parenting problem? Put in on the Parents_Work_Bench
and let's get to work. New, expert support list on tough issues!
Mailto:parents_work_bench-subscribe@egroups.com

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Our New Look

Just a quick note about the survey. I have got back to as many
people as I could personally, but I got over 300 replies altogether,
so if you haven't had a letter from me as yet, please be aware
that I just cannot manage to reply to everyone. As you will
probably notice reading through this issue that there are some
changes. First and foremost, our contents are now right at the
top of the newsletter, therefore you will be able to see straight
away exactly what is inside each issue without scrolling down.

Also, the results told me that many of you find the Gazette a
bit long winded! So from now on I am only going to include
shorter articles and make the format more newsletter - y
(if you see what I mean.)

In addition, the list of resources I include be shorter and
each one included will have a short write up better enabling
you to decide whether you want to click on the site or article.

Last but not least, many readers would rather the Gazette
was monthly because of email volume. It turns out that
many subscribers don't actually get round to reading it.
Sometimes they still have the previous issue in their
mailboxes by the time the next one comes out.

But .... many others thought it was OK fortnightly. So, as
from this issue I am going to take the middle route and send
an issue out every 3 weeks (as I did at the start). This way I
think I can please most of the people, most of the time. Also,
it will ease my work load a little! ~ Gail

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Are you an adult with ADD who lives in the U.S. or Canada? If
so, you'll be happy to learn about the Adult ADD Reader-- a 150
page collection of short, easy-to-read articles written by the
national ADD authorities---Hallowell, Ratey, Amen, Phelan,
Nadeau, etc.-- and adults with ADD. This collection provides
essential information and practical advice on ADD. Many
have told us that buying our Reader for $15 was the best
money they have ever spent. To see the contents of the
Reader and order your copy, visit http://www.addult.org


-------------DID YOU KNOW ABOUT-----------------------------

autism-adviser.com (TM), a newsletter that provides information,
support, and resources to broaden understanding and improve
coping skills for ASD. Subscribe by emailing leeirwin@...

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If you are in the UK and have a child facing exclusion from
school check out http://www.include.org.uk It is the web site for a
charity "whose mission is to secure the inclusion of all children
and young people in mainstream education and training, to
enable them to participate as full members of their communities"
Thanks to SH for that snippet

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I received this letter from a subscriber and have permission to
pass it on to the rest of you.

Dear Gail,
As a school 504 Co - ordinator, I often use the information from
your newsletter with other parents. However, on a personal
note, it might be worthwhile to alert parents of high school ADD
students to begin assembling a volume of information for college.
My daughter will attend the University of V. S. of E. this fall. She
has had an active 504 Plan for five years. Using vague wording
in the IDEA and ADA regulations, UVa and many other colleges
DO NOT accept current ADD information from high school.

The colleges are requiring a whole battery of new tests (many
of which are unnecessary) before ANY accommodations will be
considered. To add insult to injury, the parent must pay the
costs of these tests, which can go up to $1200! It sounds
absurd, I know. I even worked with an Office of Civil Rights
attorney for two weeks. OCR agreed that the college was not
following the spirit of the law. However, the college is still
within the written requirements, which allow them to ask for
"additional information". Anyway, it caught me by surprise
and I work with IDEA daily. Other parents could use a heads-
up. We all need to push for some additional legislation to clear
up this clear case of discrimination. Hopes this helps. A.R.

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WRITERS AID - Do you write? Get a free critique of your work,
or ask questions on our message board or even chat with a self-
published author at http://booksbybyers.com/index.htm

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Advice For Parents Trying To Get Diagnosis For Their Child
by Gail Miller

Often parents may visit paediatricians, psychiatrists, clinical /
educational psychologists and general practitioners in
their attempts to get help for their difficult children.

Children who have displayed challenging behaviour from very
young could be suffering from ADHD. On the other hand they
might be better classed under a different diagnostic criterior;
Asperger Syndrome, Conduct Disorder or Dyslexia to name
but three. In any case, to get the most appropriate medical,
educational and managerial accommodations possible, a
diagnosis is needed.

Here though, highlights the issue of whether or not to
'label' children who suffer from this range of childhood
conditions. During my time manning the ADHD Support
Group telephone helpline, I repeatedly encountered the
frustration of parents whose children were left in diagnostic
limbo. Many was the time a parent would say to me that
their specialist didn't want to 'put a label' on their child (ren).

But if a child does not has a 'label'

a; A parent cannot go through the necessary grieving
process enabling them to come to terms and move on.

b; They may not get the educational, medical and social
accommodations that they are entitled to.

c; They simply do not have their educational or medical
assistance tailored exactly to their needs.

d; A parent has no *reason* for their child's difficulties.
In simple terms, once a diagnosis has been made the parent
can then educate him or herself all about the condition in
question and how best to deal with it.

So, what should a parent do if they are having difficulty
getting a firm diagnosis? Well here are a few suggestions
which might just help when they next see a specialist.

1: Go along and make it quite clear that you feel your child
is suffering from ADD or ADHD. Try to get documentary
evidence from school, in the form of report cards,
behaviour tick charts or letters etc. If you have school
reports outlining the particular difficulties, all the better.

2; If possible try to fill in a diagnostic criteria before you
attend the appointment, otherwise you are wasting time.
(Time your child hasn't got to waste). If you have any
books or information leaflets referring to the behaviours
of your child, highlight them with a felt pen. Be insistent.

3: Make sure your specialist knows about these kind of
disorders. You need to be seeing a paediatrician or possibly
a psychiatrist for initial diagnosis. It is no good if you have
to wait months for your appointment if your child is going
to be assessed by a drama therapists or practice nurse!
(It does happen!) Before you agree to an appointment with
this person find our what experience they have in ADD or
ADHD. Ask which diagnostic tools they will be using.

4: If the secretary, or even the practitioner hasn't a clue
what you are talking about, ask to be referred to someone
who does. Be insistent. Also ask whether they are prepared
to prescribe appropriate stimulant (or other appropriate)
medication. Again, if not, ask to be referred to an
experienced paediatrician who will. If they do not know of
anyone to refer you to, ring your local Support Group
who will tell you the name of your nearest ADHD specialist.

5: Then, tell who you would have been seeing that you will be
writing a letter to the health trust voicing your concern about
their lack of knowledge of ADD.

6: If you do get to see someone who does know a bit about
ADD and ADHD, but who is still reluctant to diagnose either
way, ask IN WRITING why they think your child DOES NOT
fulfil the criteria for ADD / ADHD.


----------HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT-----------------------------

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delivers your inbox with a brief review of the very best email
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to: mailto:join-listaday@... or http://List-A-Day.com/

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American Specialist Coming To Britain

Dr. Ron Weinstein who is rapidly becoming one of the foremost
leaders in the field of attention deficit, behavioural and impulse
disorders will be coming to the UK in November. He was invited
to be the Keynote Speaker at the ADDISS conference on ADHD
to be held in Leeds. His keynote address will be entitled
"Rethinking Thinking Differently". He will also be conducting
workshops at the conference on a variety of topics pertaining
to children and adults.

His unique academic, clinical and research background spans
over 25 years and combines neurobiology and behaviour, child
growth and development and nutrition. He is currently the Clinical
Director of The A.D.D. & Family Conflict Centre of New England
(Avon, CT, USA) and has previously held positions at Cornell
University, University of Toronto and Emory University School
of Medicine. In addition to his clinical practice, he is a consultant
to school systems, and public, private, state and federal agencies.
A vibrant and engaging speaker, Dr. Weinstein was diagnosed
with ADHD in 1990. He's already received some requests to hold
workshops and do consults while he is in the UK. More
information will be forthcoming. He can be contacted at
DrRon@... or at his website http://www.addcenter.net

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Resources

Coaching and ADD by Norma J. Heller
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/heller1.html
an article looking at how an ADD coach can assist you in
reaching your goals and developing systems to get your
life running smoothly. Including 10 Reasons to Hire a Coach

Studies Look At The Harmful Effects Of Pent-Up Anger
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH?c=236222&t=8014&p=~br,IHC|~st,333|~r,EMI
HC000|~b,*|
Article about recent studies which prove that staying in charge
of emotions may be just as important as eating a well-balanced
diet. Unchecked, over-emotion can cause sickness even death.

The Autism Research Unit http://osiris.sunderland.ac.uk/autism/
has an excellent website for those in the UK looking for thorough
information about autism. Also conferences, research, latest
news, support groups and schools for autistic children

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*<:O) 2 MÖMMIE§ FÜN LINK§ (O:>*
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helpful materials and samples! The editors of this weekly E-zine are
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Join now by sending a email to fun-links-subscribe@egroups.com

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to-date statistics on computer and Internet usage, computer training
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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
Items herein are published for education/information purposes
only. Any therapy, product, service, or featured web site mentioned
does NOT imply endorsement by The Gazette. Accuracy and
content of any web sites featured cannot be guaranteed. Views
and statements written by contributors are not necessarily the
views of The ADD / ADHD Gazette.

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LINKS
If you have a website and are looking for links. I am happy to add
a reciprocal link to The ADHD (UK) Website. Take a look at my
site at http://www.gailmiller.clara.net and email me to swap links

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SEE YA NEXT TIME ~ Gail Miller 1999
theadhdgazette@...