Center of Attention
Newsletter of CHADD of Northern California
Also at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
28 October 2001

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

===== In This Issue =====

About the Newsletter
Feature Article: A Process or a Place
This Week
Please Tell Us
Calendar of Events

===== About the Newsletter =====

The Center of Attention is CHADD of Northern California's bi-weekly
newsletter. The newsletter is designed to keep you up to date with
CHADD of Northern California's activities and updates in the field.
It's a step toward bringing the members closer together.

===== Feature Article ======

Source: Barbara Day, Special Education Guide
From: SpecialEd.Guide@...
A Process or A Place?
What does it mean to be in Special Education?

At one time, the label "Special Education" was a brand of dishonor.
"Those kids" were warehoused in "that room" and kept away from the
rest of the students, hidden away like some kind of secret failure
that the school didn't want to admit was happening. The stigma and
embarrassment of "Special Ed" kept many students from getting the
help they could have used.

Like most stereotypes, the public image of Special Education is
neither fair nor accurate.

A Wide Category of Diverse Students Special Education covers a wide
variety of students, ranging from those who are developmentally
delayed to the profoundly gifted. Some special education students
have normal or above average intelligence, but have a learning
disability. Students with physical, emotional or behavioral
disabilities are also included, making the population even more
diverse. Altogether, there are twelve categories of disabilities.
However, more than half (51 percent, over 2.5 million students) of
all Special Education students served under IDEA in 1996-97 were
classified as having some type of learning disability.

The idea of a blind genius, a sighted student with dyslexia and a
retarded student sharing the same classroom seems ludicrous. But that
is exactly what was happening in Special Education classrooms across
the United States until fairly recently. In fact, it is still the
policy in some schools. These classrooms often include students with
emotional or behavioral problems, along with autistic children and
those with physical disabilities. But, they all share the "Special
Education" label; consequently, they are all lumped together in the
Special Education classroom.

Not a Place, But a Process The goal of Special Education is to see
that each student has access to Free and Appropriate Public Education
(FAPE). While lumping students with various disabilities together in
a public school may be free, it is rarely appropriate.

According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),
determining what is appropriate is the job of a team of people,
including the parents, classroom teachers, special education teachers
and other education professionals. Working together, this team writes
an Individualized Education Program (IEP)for the student.

IDEA requires that all special education students must be educated in
The Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). If the needs of the child
can be met in the regular classroom, then that is where the child
should attend class. Any required accommodations should be included
in the student's IEP and must be adhered to by the classroom teacher.

The National Learning Disabilities Association recommends that you
find out how the special education services are being delivered to
your child. They suggest asking these specific questions:

How much time on a daily basis does the special education teacher
spend in the general education classroom? How much time does the
special education teacher spend with your child giving direct
instruction? Does the teacher work one on one with your child or
with small groups of students? How many children are in the group?
Is the special education teacher certified in the area of learning
disabilities? Is the instruction and curriculum designed with your
child's educational needs in mind? Are learning strategies and
organizational skills part of the daily instruction? How does this
compare with the special education your child received last year?

The goal is to treat the student as an individual and not as part of
a particular subset of the student body.

A Person, not a Pathology It's easy for teachers - and parents - to
forget that the child with special needs is also a child with the
same needs as any other child, including the need for acceptance,
respect and love.

LD Online offers several tips to help build self-esteem in students
with learning disabilities. They suggest that parents avoid comments
that are judgmental and, instead, frame them in more positive terms.
Providing choices for children and giving the child an opportunity to
help around the house encourages responsibility and makes him or her
feel as if they are an important part of the family.

Labels are convenient. In some cases, they may even be necessary, if
the child is going to receive the appropriate services. But a label
should never replace the person.

======== This Week ==========
www.addhelpguide.com

"Only A Mother Could Love Him"

When I was seventeen I was first asked to write this book on my
personal experiences of suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder
(ADD). I did not give the idea a second thought. The answer was a
plain and simple, 'No!' I did not want to talk about it. I didn't
even want to think about my personal experiences of ADD.

Why I did not want to write the book was that I was sick and tired of
always being looked upon as that 'crazy little child' who seemed to
be a burden on everyone. My school life was hell, not just for me,
but for my parents as well. Not to mention the teachers who I
challenged every day in the classroom. I hated the fact that I was
different and at times even hated myself for who I was and what I was
doing.

When gathering my research material from the many schools where I was
a student I was embarrassed by a lot of the terrible things I had
done. But at the time I did not know what I was doing. I was often
confused, not understanding what I was doing. This caused a lot of
depression in my early school days. As I got older it became a lot
easier to deal with my problem. I overcome it in a number of ways
including medication and self-taught techniques that I discuss in my
book.

Looking back on my short life at the age of nineteen now, it all
seems like a far away story when I recall these things in my life. I
still have no idea why I did these things that normal society sees as
abnormal. If you or your child has ADD you will understand what I
mean when I say abnormal behavior - those fits of anger and impulsive
behavior that are unleashed on family members seem to have no reason
or specific purpose. This must be very hard for parents to deal with
and understand why their child is behaving in this abnormal manner. I
hope my book will help people understand why your child acts in this
uncontrolled way.

It always seems to surprise people when I tell them things about my
life at school and home. They often look at me with amazement and
even confusion. I believe this is because now I do not act like a
freak as my sister called me. However, I can understand where this
confusion comes from. If you said to my parents when I was ten, 'Your
son will pass Year twelve and pass it well', they would probably have
bet their house that this would not have happen. Or that their child
would go on to university and write a book - they would have probably
bet their life on that not happening. Well, it did and my book will
tell you about this remarkable turnaround in my life and I hope it
will help your child achieve the best results possible.

The strategies that I developed to help me, I believe, are invaluable
in my remarkable turnaround from very possibly ending up in a child
detention center. To finally finishing school after attending six
different ones to making it to university. I will discuss a number of
issues in this book, including picking the right school for your
child and the teacher if possible. This is of great concern to me
because I went to six schools and I know what works and what doesn't.
I will talk about other areas: parenting techniques including anger
management; homework, which can be basically impossible for some
parents; discipline and what works and what will never work. I know
my parents tried everything: medication, which is always a hot topic
in the ADD network; relationships between parents and siblings and
the child with ADD. These are just a handful of issues that I will
discuss. I hope that you will find this book useful in the management
of your child and I believe you will. I wish you and your child the
greatest success in overcoming this problem.

Best Wishes

Benjamin Polis

HOW TO PURCHASE A COPY OF: 'Only A Mother Could Love Him'

Cost: A$29.95 + A$10 Postage and Handling, Australian Dollars

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ORDER A COPY YOU CAN DO SO BY:

Email: ben@...
Website: http://www.addhelpguide.com/interest.htm
Phone: 61 03 97726561
Write to: P.O. Box 334 Chelsea Victoria Australia 3196

===== 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 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 CHADD_Dimples@....
Simply replying to this e-mail will also send your message to the
right place.

======== Calendar of Events ==========
11/6/2001, Tues. 6:45 p.m. - Sacramento
AD/HD Update, The Most Current Research and Information - Dr. John
Capel PhD, Sacramento area Psychologist and CHADD Board member. ,
Tonight will also have highlights of the CHADD conference.
Sutter Center for Psychiatry, Sacramento - Contact: Greater
Sacramento CHADD: 916-863-1390
============================
11/7/2001, Wed. Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm - Santa Clara
Palo Alto Educational Meeting - Coaching and Organizing: Questions
and Answers. Karen Grossman, Professional Organizer and Coach. , An
informal, very brief talk, with plenty of time for questions.
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Santa Clara Warmline: 650-949-5472
============================
11/7/2001, Wed. 7-9 pm - Contra Costa
Walnut Creek Adult Topical Meeting - Getting Organized, Ongoing,
confidential support groups for Adults with ADHD
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
============================
11/7/2001, Wed. 7:30pm - San Francisco
Women's ADD Support Group, Please Call Lynn to confirm times and
locations before attending.
CPMC Davies Campus, San Francisco - Contact: Lynn: 415-621-1078
============================
11/13/2001, Tues. 7-9pm - Marin
Procrastination - Deborah Lancaster, Come learn practical, useful
solutions and techniques to use in overcoming our natural tendencies
toward procrastination and disorganization. Deborah's expertise is in
helping people overcome the various obstacles commonly associated
with ADHD which prevent us from accomplishing our goals. Deborah is
an ADDult who was invited to host the first ADD support group on
America Online. She then developed the Procrastinator's Workshop,
which helped hundreds of people learn to work with and begin to
overcome their natural tendencies toward procrastination.
Town Center Corte Madera Community Room, Corte Madera - Contact:
Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
11/14/2001, Wed. 7 - 9 pm - Sonoma
The Successful ADD Adult and What Parents Need to Know NOW, Ron
Welch, MD, Kaiser Dept. of Psychiatry
Kaiser Hospital Building, Santa Rosa - Contact: Thora Lares: 707-765-4863
============================
11/14/2001, Wed. 7 - 9 pm - Alameda
Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting,
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton - Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173
============================
11/15/2001, Thu. 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm - Yolo
County Meeting, TBA
Woodland Library, Woodland - Contact: Yolo County CHADD: 530-750-3929
============================
11/15/2001, Wed. Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm - Santa Clara
Palo Alto Adult, Parent and Spouse Support Groups, Separate
peer-facilitated groups let you share struggles and strategies with
each other. Includes video.
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Santa Clara Warmline: 650-949-5472
============================
11/20/2001, Tues. 7-9pm - Marin
Drop in Support Group, for Adults and Teens with ADHD and Significant Others
Marin Community Mental Health, Greenbrae - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
11/28/2001, Wed. 9-10:30am - Marin
Support Group for Parents of Children / Teens with ADHD, Share your
concerns with a parent who really understands.
10 Glen Drive, Mill Valley - Contact: Mary Jo Sorensen: 415-388-8817
============================
11/28/2001, Wed. 7:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Santa Clara
Kitty Petty ADD/LD Institute Meeting, ADHD and BiPolar Spectrum
Disorders - Matthew Stubblefield, MD
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Kitty Petty ADD/LD
Institute: 650-329-9443
============================
11/29/2001, Thu. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
Pete and Pam Wright - Advocating for Your Child,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
12/1/2001, Sat. 9:00a.m.-12:00p.m - Santa Clara
Dr. Robert Sapolsky - "Stress: Memory, Learned Helplessness, Anxiety
in Learning and Dyslexia", Sponsored by the International Dyslexia
Association & the Schwab Foundation for Learning
Stanford SLAC, Palo Alto - Contact: International Dyslexia
Association: 650-328-7667 or visit www.interdys.org
============================
12/4/2001, Tues. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
Ross Greene - Explosive Children,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
12/5/2001, Wed. 7-9 pm - Contra Costa
Walnut Creek Adult Topical Meeting - Coping with Stress, Ongoing,
confidential support groups for Adults with ADHD
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
============================
12/5/2001, Wed. 7:30pm - San Francisco
Women's ADD Support Group, Please Call Lynn to confirm times and
locations before attending.
CPMC Davies Campus, San Francisco - Contact: Lynn: 415-621-1078
============================
12/11/2001, Tues. 7-9pm - Marin
Making the Holidays More to Your Liking!! - Michael Vurek, LCSW,
Learn some ways for making the holidays good for you rather than
being hijacked by strong emotions. Also enjoy holiday treats at our
annual party!!! Bring something to share, if you wish. Michael has a
private practice in Kentfield and specializes in groups and
cognitive-behavioral therapy. A new 10 week group is forming.
415-451-7455.
Town Center Corte Madera Community Room, Corte Madera - Contact:
Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
12/12/2001, Wed. 7 - 9 pm - Alameda
Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting,
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton - Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173
============================
12/13/2001, Thu. 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm - Yolo
County Meeting, TBA
Woodland Library, Woodland - Contact: Yolo County CHADD: 530-750-3929
============================
12/18/2001, Tues. 7-9pm - Marin
Drop in Support Group, for Adults and Teens with ADHD and Significant Others
Marin Community Mental Health, Greenbrae - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
12/26/2001, Wed. 7:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Santa Clara
Kitty Petty ADD/LD Institute Meeting, Discussion of and sharing
successful ADHD/LD strategies and coping skills with other like
ADDults. Plus holiday refreshments.
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Kitty Petty ADD/LD
Institute: 650-329-9443
============================
1/8/2002, Tues. 7-9pm - Marin
Speaker TBA,
Town Center Corte Madera Community Room, Corte Madera - Contact:
Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
1/9/2002, Wed. 7 - 9 pm - Alameda
Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting,
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton - Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173
============================
1/15/2002, Tues. 7-9pm - Marin
Drop in Support Group, for Adults and Teens with ADHD and Significant Others
Marin Community Mental Health, Greenbrae - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
1/23/2002, Wed. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
Clare Jones, PhD - The Ins and Outs of Educating the ADHD Student,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
1/23/2002, Wed. 7:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Santa Clara
Kitty Petty ADD/LD Institute Meeting, The Differences between ADHD,
Depression and Anxiety - Emily Harris, PhD
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Kitty Petty ADD/LD
Institute: 650-329-9443
============================
2/13/2002, Wed. 7 - 9 pm - Alameda
Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting,
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton - Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173
============================
2/21/2002, Thu. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
Sandra Rief, MA - Success at School,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
2/27/2002, Wed. 7:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Santa Clara
Kitty Petty ADD/LD Institute Meeting, Discussion of and sharing
successful ADHD/LD strategies and coping skills with other like
ADDults
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Kitty Petty ADD/LD
Institute: 650-329-9443
============================
3/13/2002, Wed. 7 - 9 pm - Alameda
Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting,
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton - Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173
============================
3/16/2002, Sat. 9:00a.m.-12:30p.m - San Mateo
Dr. Martha Denckla - "Reading and ADHD: The Reciprocal Inter-Active
Effects Uncovered", Sponsored by the International Dyslexia
Association
South San Francisco Conference Center, South San Francisco - Contact:
International Dyslexia Association: 650-328-7667 or visit
www.interdys.org
============================
3/19/2002, Tues. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
Peggy Ramundo and Kate Kelly - Succeeding in the Workplace: Smoothing
the Rough Edges of On-The-Job Relationships,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
3/27/2002, Wed. 7:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Santa Clara
Kitty Petty ADD/LD Institute Meeting, Build a Career to Fit Who You
Are - Carol McClelland, PhD
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Kitty Petty ADD/LD
Institute: 650-329-9443
============================
4/10/2002, Wed. 7 - 9 pm - Alameda
Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting,
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton - Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173
============================
4/24/2002, Wed. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
Dr. Andrew Adesman - Working with Your Pediatrician,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
4/24/2002, Wed. 7:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Santa Clara
Kitty Petty ADD/LD Institute Meeting, Discussion of and sharing
successful ADHD/LD strategies and coping skills with other like
ADDults
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Kitty Petty ADD/LD
Institute: 650-329-9443
============================
5/8/2002, Wed. 7 - 9 pm - Alameda
Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting,
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton - Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173
============================
5/15/2002, Wed. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
Ned Hallowell, MD - A Walk in the Rain with a Brain: Explaining ADHD
to Children,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
5/22/2002, Wed. 7:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Santa Clara
Kitty Petty ADD/LD Institute Meeting, Traumatic Brain Injuries and
Eligibility for Benefits - Nancy K. McCombs, PhD, JD
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Kitty Petty ADD/LD
Institute: 650-329-9443
============================
6/12/2002, Wed. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
Russell Barkley, PhD - Recent Advances in Understanding and Managing ADHD,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
6/12/2002, Wed. 7 - 9 pm - Alameda
Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting,
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton - Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173
============================
7/25/2002, Thu. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
Thomas Pelan, PhD - Dealing with AD/HD in Foster, Adopted, and Step-Children,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
8/28/2002, Wed. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
Patricia Quinn, MD - Girls, Women, Hormones and AD/HD,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
9/14/2002, Sat. 9:00a.m.-12:30p.m - San Francisco
Dr. Ruth Serepca - "Executive Function", Sponsored by the
International Dyslexia Association
UCSF Conference Center, Laurel Heights, San Francisco - Contact:
International Dyslexia Association: 650-328-7667 or visit
www.interdys.org
============================
9/18/2002, Wed. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
Ned Hallowell, MD - The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
10/23/2002, Wed. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
Wendy Richardson - Eating Disorders, Addiction, and ADHD,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
11/25/2002, Mon. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
Dr. Robert "Bob" Brooks - Fostering Resilience and Hope in Children
with ADD/ADHD,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
12/19/2002, Thu. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
John and Nancy Ratey - Managing Life & Marriage with AD/HD,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================