=== Center of Attention ===
Newsletter of CHADD of Northern California
Also at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
May 1, 2006

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>> IN THIS ISSUE <<
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*Calendar of Events
*Announcements
*Membership Matters: A Testimonial
*Please Tell Us
*Subscription Information
*CHADD Information

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>> CALENDAR OF EVENTS <<
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This calendar does not list some CHADD groups which may be closer to
you and it does not list some non-CHADD events. Events more than a
month in the future may also be omitted. For a thorough calendar
(including directions) look at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/schedule
and also http://www.chaddnorcal.org/schedule/otherevent.htm.

The Calendar is organized by County.

============================
=== ALAMEDA ================
============================
- 5/10/2006, Wed. 7 - 8:45 pm
Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting -- Network with other parents as
we share experiences and listen to speakers on topics related to
parenting ADHD children.
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton
Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173

- 5/11/2006, Thu. 7 - 9 pm
Albany Adult Support Group -- Topic: Health
Albany Senior Center, Albany
Contact: April Ancel: 510-525-5238

- 5/20/2006, Sat. 10 am - 4 pm
There are No IEPs in College: Preparing a Student with Disabilities
to Transition from High School to College -- Presented by Paul
Grossman, JD. High School Students are encouraged to attend!
Includes Open House and Luncheon.
Sponsored by East Bay Learning Disabilities Association and Chabot
College's DSPS
Chabot College; 25555 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward
Contact: Shoshana Souza: 510-433-7034 or shoshana@...

- 5/24/2006, Wed. 7 - 9 pm
South East Bay Parent Support Group
Forest Park Elementary School, Fremont
Contact: Shari: 510-386-7642

============================
=== CONTRA COSTA ===========
============================
- 5/3/2006, Wed. 7 - 9 pm
Walnut Creek Adult General Support Meeting -- Discuss issues
relating to having lived an undiagnosed life with ADHD and how to
make the "here and now" awesome!
710 South Broadway, Walnut Creek
Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324

- 5/16/2006, Tues. 645 - 8:15 pm
Antioch Parent Support Group
Antioch - Kaiser - Deer Valley, Antioch
Contact: Alicia Solano: 925-753-0955 or robertsolano@...

- 5/17/2006, Wed. 7 - 9 pm
Walnut Creek Adult General Support Meeting -- Discuss issues
relating to having lived an undiagnosed life with ADHD and how to
make the "here and now" awesome!
710 South Broadway, Walnut Creek
Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324

============================
=== MARIN ==================
============================
- 5/2/2006, Tues. 7-9 pm
Adult Support Group, with SueZee Poinsett, Professional coach and
organizer.
Free, drop-in peer-support group, the first Tuesday of each month.
Talk with others who really understand. Share and develop life
skills.
Marin Community Mental Health, Greenbrae
Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464

- 5/18/2006, Thu. 7-9 pm
Speakers Meeting -- Topic to be announced
Town Center Corte Madera Community Room, Corte Madera
Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464

- 5/29/2006, Mon. 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Parents Share Group -- Call for directions in Mill Valley.
Mill Valley Home, Mill Valley
Contact: Victoria Vogel & Holly Seerley: 415-383-6048 or 415-924-6656

============================
=== SACRAMENTO ============
============================
- 5/2/2006, Tues. 6:45 p.m.; 7-9 pm
Theresa Davis, Therapist, MFT presenting "AD/HD and Self Esteem".
Teens welcome to this presentation! Followed by support breakout
groups.
Sutter Center for Psychiatry, Sacramento
Contact: Greater Sacramento CHADD: 888-759-9758 or send e-mail to
chaddsac@...

===========================
===SAN FRANCISCO ==========
===========================
- 5/1/2006, Mon. 7-9 pm
Women's Support Group -- The CHADD women's support group is open to
all women who are seeking a place to share their experiences and
find ways to live productively with their ADD/ADHD.
CPMC Davies Campus, San Francisco
Contact: Kali Grosberg: (510) 534-3797 or send e-mail to:
kali.g@...

- 5/3/2006, Wed. 6 - 7:50 pm
"Developing Minds" Video: Thinking with Numbers -- A success
oriented approach to understanding and demystifying students'
learning profiles, that focuses on strengthening strengths and
developing strategies that work for children, adolescents, parents
and teachers.
San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco
Contact: Marilyn Dong, Librarian: Resource Collection for Learning
Differences – 415-557-4540

- 5/15/2006, Mon. 7 - 9 pm
Adult Success Group -- Share skills and strategies for success at
home, in the workplace, in relationships, etc.
Kaiser - French Campus, San Francisco
Contact: Rick Webster: 925 765-2890
============================
=== SANTA CLARA ============
============================
- 5/3/2006, Wed. 7:15 - 9:30 pm
Speaker: Psychiatrist Sharadha Raghavan, MD -- Dr. Raghaven has
graciously agreed to join us to discuss the treatment of ADHD and
its co-existing conditions (depression, anxiety, bi-polar, etc.)
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto
Contact: Silicon Valley Warmline: 888-759-9758

- 5/9/2006, Tues. 7:15 - 9:30 pm
Support Group for Partners! (Note: This is not a couples group; it
is solely for those who have a partner with ADHD.)
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto
Contact: Gina Pera: Send e-mail to partnersupport@... or call
888-759-9758

- 5/17/2006, Wed. 7:15 - 9:30 pm
Silicon Valley Adult and Parent Support Groups -- Support for Adults
and Parents, with Coach Michael Hinckley and Peggy Goodman.
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto
Contact: Silicon Valley Warmline: 888-759-9758

- 6/1/2006, Thu. 7:15 - 9:30 pm
Kitty Petty Institute Group
Discussion and Sharing Of Successful ADD/LD Strategies and Coping
Skills
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto
Contact: Kitty Petty ADD/LD Institute: 650-855-9925 or visit
http://www.kpinst.org

============================
=== SONOMA =================
============================
- 5/9/2006, Tues. 7 - 9 pm
Drop-in Peer Support Group for Adults with ADHD
Elim Lutheran Church, Petaluma
Contact: Molly Bloom: 707- 769-1835

- 5/31/2006, Wed. 7-9 pm
Adult Support Group -- Free, drop-in. Learn tools, get support and
training in learning to live with AD/HD. Each week will focus on
specific topic.
Quaker Meetinghouse, Santa Rosa
Contact: Pauline Laurent: 707-578-4226

========================
===STANISLAUS===========
========================
No activities at this time

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>> ANNOUNCEMENTS <<
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CONFERENCE: ADOLESCENTS & ADHD: APPROACHES FOR 2006
- 5/06/2006 Sat. 8:30am-2:30pm
Milton Marks Conference Center (lower level)
Hiram W. Johnson State Office Building
350 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA
Register online at: http://www.ahwg.net/events/ADHD.htm
Audience: Primary Care Providers, Mental Health Care Providers,
School Health Providers, School Counselors, Parents, and Youth
Objectives: To increase participants' awareness of adolescents and
ADHD: the latest clinical research, practice guidelines, treatment
options, psycho-educational/behavioral and advocacy strategies
Cost: Registration and meals are FREE thanks to generous sponsors

CHADD NATIONAL SEEKS INPUT FROM RETIREES WITH AD/HD
The folks at CHADD headquarters are a working with a national
publication on the topic of AD/HD in retirement. They're looking for
retired people willing to share their personal stories about
struggling with their AD/HD symptoms because they no longer have the
workplace structure they're accustomed to. If you'd like to take
part in this story, please contact Bryan Goodman at
bryan_goodman@....

VISIT THE CHADD ONLINE STORE TODAY!
at http://www.chadd.org/webpage.cfm?cat_id=12 for books, posters,
tapes from CHADD conferences … and more! You'll be delighted at what
you'll find here. Whether you're shopping for yourself or a family
member, you're bound to discover something educational, something
fun -- something just right.

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>> MEMBERSHIP MATTERS: A TESTIMONIAL <<
***************************************
We recently received the following letter from Cathy Dolan. Her
story is inspirational and reminds us how life-changing the support
of the CHADD community can be. Read on:

To all of the Good Folks @ CHADD:

Three years ago I wrote the following letter to you and all of the
people who helped us through some very difficult times. Needless to
say, I was hesitant to mail it out, but now [our son] Pat is 25 and
he continues to work out his problems in a positive way. Not only
that, but he recognizes his strengths and weaknesses and knows where
there is work to be done. He still needs guidance, and fortunately
he feels comfortable coming to us. We don't judge him, we just try
to do what you taught us to, and that is to accept who he is and to
celebrate his wonderful qualities. Thank you again for all of your
support. -- Cathy Dolan

Here is the letter Cathy and her husband sent us in April 2003:

At what point in the life of an ADHD child is it safe to write a
success story? Putting good news into print is risky, and I may be
somewhat premature since Pat has just this past year turned 21,
still I feel compelled to do so. This letter is to every person who
helped us through the very difficult years; I want you to know
the "Rest of the Story".

Pat began his struggles at the age of one and a half. With the help
of his kindergarten teacher at Little Folks University, we were able
to diagnose ADHD, and we would soon find that teachers who
understood the ADHD child were rare gems. So began our long
journey. We attended community parenting classes for "at risk"
kids, joined support groups such as CHADD and Tough Love, put Pat
into therapy, put ourselves into therapy, sought out the best
medical doctors and psychiatrists, made frequent visits to the
Police Dept, sent Pat to an Outward Bound program for teens at risk,
and had daily contact with teachers and school staff.

Then, right around the time when Pat turned 18 we moved. He ended up
sharing an apartment, got a job, a car, and a girlfriend, and lost
it all within a matter of months. We encouraged him to join the
California Conservation Corps -- and he did -- but after only five
days, they handed him a bus ticket home. We gave him a week to
either find full time work or move out. He spent a few nights out
on the streets, and then called the CCC himself to ask for a 2nd
chance. We told him that if he stayed in the C's for one year, we
would give him our car. He did and we did. While in the C's, Pat
finished his GED, took self-improvement classes, did volunteer
community work, quit smoking, and became drug-free. Pat was working
for the State Parks Dept, but the work was seasonal, so he recently
accepted a position with a Water Treatment Plant as the District
Security Supervisor.

We are proud of Pat and his accomplishments, and he is happy to have
a job where he can learn and advance, and hopefully make a career
for himself.

So, to all of you who helped to keep that spark in him alive, who
had faith and could see his potential, and kept steering him to the
other side of the road, we thank you from the depths of our very
souls. We know that the road will always have potholes, but we can
honestly say that if it weren't for all of you, he would not be
where he is today. And you can honestly say that you did make a
difference for at least one person.

Thank you,

Cathy & Tim Dolan

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>> PLEASE TELL US <<
**************************

We thank members for their responses to the newsletter. Any
comments, suggestions, or criticisms will be greatly appreciated.
Please continue to help us make this newsletter and CHADD of
Northern California more beneficial to you all.

We also invite readers to share their experiences with us and other
members. Please feel free to write to us about anything that you
would like to see published.

You can e-mail your comments to us at Lew@... or
Kristin@... . Simply replying to this e-mail will also
send your message to the editor.

Kristin Stanberry, Editor
Lew Mills, Editorial Consultant

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*****************************
>> CHADD INFORMATION <<
*****************************
Visit our webpage at http://www.chaddnorcal.org if you wish to:
* See the up-to-date schedule
* Read this newsletter and the archives
* Join CHADD of Northern California or renew your membership

About the Newsletter:

The Center of Attention is CHADD of Northern California's tri-weekly
newsletter. The newsletter is designed to keep you up to date with
CHADD of Northern California's activities and updates in the field.

* CHADD Works to Improve the Lives of People with Attention-
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder through Education, Advocacy, and
Support *