Center of Attention
Newsletter of CHADD of Northern California
Also at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
27 May 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: The IEP Season
This Week: Press Releases
Please Tell Us
Your Perspective
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 new step toward bringing the members closer together.

This is a work of volunteers and not professional experts. The
articles are strictly for information and not an endorsement or
recommendation from the editors. Any errors are totally unintentional.


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

The IEP Season

We have the cold season, the flu season and even the holiday season,
but no season strikes panic in the hearts of parents of children with
special needs like the IEP season. For those who don't know, IEP
season usually runs from late March through early June, but IEP's can
strike at any time.

An IEP is an "Individualized Education Plan" that is made for every
student, who qualifies for special Ed services, each year. These
insidious stacks of paper can pit teachers against principals,
parents against parents and turn grown men into towers of Jell-O.
There is no cure for IEP's, and no research is being done to
eradicate this dread affliction. The only thing we parents can do is
try to survive.

The following are symptoms of an upcoming IEP. These symptoms will
appear at the school level: Excessive testing, prying into your
family's personal life, and a complete breakdown of communication
with school officials. A parent will experience: a racing heart,
sweaty palms, excessive worry over little things, and a generally
sick feeling all over. Advanced symptoms include: extreme paranoia,
irrational thoughts of violence or the desire to listen to Yanni CDs
while weaving baskets.

As stated before, there is no cure for the IEP, but suggested
treatments include: extravagant preparation, including photo murals
of your child, charts, graphs, fresh baked goods and an interpretive
dance depicting the future you envision for your child. Character
references and a complete life history (typed, double spaced, in
triplicate) also help. In ordinary circumstances these are usually
sufficient. In the more difficult cases, these things are
recommended: heavy drinking, antidepressants, and subtle hints that
your sanity may be teetering on the very edge.

Yes, you too can make it through the horror of IEP season, if you
follow these simple steps: Document what your child needs and why,
prepare ideas on how these things can be implemented and if all else
fails, rant and rave like a lunatic. Hey, it doesn't hurt if they are
a little afraid of you! Hit men have also proven effective, but are
in no way encouraged or approved by this author. (Psst - my husband
is Sicilian!)

Before I close, let us pause to offer up a silent prayer for our
comrades who have fallen during previous IEP seasons:

"Dear Lord, Help us to remember the parents who have gone before us.
Those who have lost their patience, their tempers, and their minds
dealing with school bureaucrats who have no idea what we are dealing
with or what our children could accomplish given the right kind of
encouragement and opportunities. Help us to be better advocates to
our own children. Help us to negotiate well, to compromise only when
necessary, and to NEVER, EVER give up on what we know is right for
our children. Be with us during this IEP and future IEP's and help us
to keep our composure during this trying time. Amen.

Now, let's go kick some school butt!

(The author for this article is unknown).

======== This Week ==========

The editors are trying to add this new section in the newsletter. We
are striving to bring information/ minutes/experiences related to
meetings, seminars, books that you have read and would like to share
with the members. If you have something to contribute please feel
free to contact the editors using our e-mail
address.................It is important that the article you are
sharing has a known source and has the writers permission to publish.

To start with, today's newsletter includes abridged versions of two
press releases on the "Ritalin Lawsuit" involving CHADD, Novartis and
American Psychiatric Association (APA). For more details please see
our web site at www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter.

Friday May 18, 3:31 pm Eastern Time Press Release
SOURCE: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Today U. S. District Judge Hilda G. Tagle dismissed the class action
lawsuit against Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, manufacturers
of Ritalin(r)(methylphenidate), which claimed the company conspired
with the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and Children and
Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) to
promote the diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD). Judge Tagle found that the plaintiffs failed to state their
claims of fraud and conspiracy with sufficient particularity.
Additionally, she found that the plaintiffs' vague mentions of side
effects in their complaint failed to state a legal claim.

On April 23, a California judge also dismissed a similar class action
suit filed in that state under the California anti-SLAPP statute.
U.S. District Judge Rudi Brewster dismissed the suit stating that the
plaintiffs "failed to state a cause of action." In addition to
dismissing the suit, the court also ordered that the plaintiffs pay
the legal fees for Novartis, APA and CHADD.

Contrary to the position advanced in the lawsuits, ADHD is a real and
serious disorder. It is a well-established and valid diagnosis
recognized by the leading medical authorities in the U.S., including
the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association,
American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
and the U.S. Surgeon General.

Ritalin has been shown to be an effective and safe medication for
more than 45 years and has been scientifically evaluated in more than
200 studies involving over 6,000 school-aged children. Ritalin is a
mild central nervous system stimulant that helps to address the
neurochemical problems underlying attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD).

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation researches, develops,
manufactures and markets leading innovative prescription drugs used
to treat a number of diseases and conditions, including central
nervous system disorders, organ transplantation, cardiovascular
diseases, dermatological diseases, respiratory disorders, cancer and
arthritis. For further information please consult
http://www.novartis.com.

CHADD Jubilant Over Dismissal of California and Texas
Class-Action Lawsuits

Landover, MD -- CHADD, the nation's leading advocacy organization
serving children and adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder (AD/HD), today stands vindicated that United States District
Judge Hilda G. Tagla dismissed a lawsuit filed in Texas against
CHADD, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and Novartis,
manufacturer of Ritalin. The lawsuit claimed that the three
organizations conspired together to promote the use of Ritalin for
financial gain.

Judge Tagla announced her decision late Thursday, May 17, with
prejudice, claiming that the allegations were fully without merit.
Defendants failed to provide any concrete statements to document
their claims, which the Judge described as failure "to plead with
particularity."

Judge Tagla's decision came two months on the heels of a similar
dismissal in California where Senior U.S. District Judge Rudi
Brewster dismissed a complaint against CHADD confirming that the
plaintiffs had failed to provide any substantiation for their
allegations.

"That such absurd accusations even found their way into court despite
the extraordinary amount of science-based research clearly proving
the disorder's existence-is just one example of the kind of hostility
and skepticism that individuals with AD/HD face each day," said CHADD
President Beth Kaplanek. "The Texas and California decisions
demonstrate the validity and seriousness of AD/HD, the ridiculous
grounds of the complaints, and the important role that CHADD's
advocacy efforts play in serving those with AD/HD."

With over 22,000 members in 225 affiliates nationwide, CHADD works to
improve the lives of people affected by AD/HD through collaborative
leadership, advocacy, research, education and support: CHADD CARES.
For additional information about AD/HD or CHADD, please contact CHADD
National Call Center at 1-800-233-4050, or visit the CHADD website at
www.chadd.org.

Note to Reporters: To arrange an interview with a CHADD spokesperson,
please contact Peg Nichols at 301-306-7070, extension #102.

===== Please Tell Us! =====

We thank members for their responses to the Newsletter. In order to
give you the best newsletter, we need your feedback. Any comments,
suggestions, or criticisms will be greatly appreciated. Please tell
us what more would you like to see in the newsletter and how we can
improve it.

Please e-mail your comments to us at CHADD_Dimples@....
Simply replying to this e-mail will also send your message to the
right place.

Also, please indicate if we can include your name in the newsletter,
in response to your suggestions.

======== Your Perspective, Letters to the Editors ==========

Here's a letter we received from one of our readers in response to
the feature article in the May 12 newsletter.

Dear CHADD Friends,
Just a reply to the letter from the person in need. I have a ten year
old son with ADHD. The letter was very helpful to me because I
sometimes lose patience with him. It helps me as a parent to be more
patient when I read what it feels like to be on the other side and
have trouble keeping on task and "fitting in".

Robin Davidson

======== Calendar of Events ==========
6/6/2001, 7-9 pm - Walnut Creek Adult General Support Meeting,
Ongoing, confidential support groups for Adults with ADHD
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
============================
6/6/2001, Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm - Speaker to be announced, "ADD and Nutrition"
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Santa Clara Warmline: 650-949-5472
============================
6/11/2001, 7-9pm - Ask the Doctor: Bipolar Disorders vs. AD/HD - Dr.
Po Wang, MD, Psychiatrist. Conjoint meeting with NAMI, DMDA and TARA.
, Learn about similarities and differences between bipolar disorder,
AD/HD, major depression and other disorders. Dr. Wang is doing
research at the Stanford University Bipolar Disorders Clinic. New
location and date this time only, in the conference room at Marin
General Hospital.
Marin General Hospital, Greenbrae - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
6/13/2001, 7 - 9 pm - Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting,
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton - Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173
============================
6/16/2001, 7-9pm - Drop in Support Group, for Adults and Teens with
ADHD and Significant Others
Marin Community Mental Health, Greenbrae - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
6/18/2001, 7:30 - 9pm - San Francisco Adult Drop-In Support Group, If
you have questions about AD/HD, then this is where you should to
start.
CPMC California Campus, San Francisco - Contact: San Francisco
Warmline: 415-442-1944
============================
6/20/2001, 7-9 pm - Walnut Creek Adult General Support Meeting,
Ongoing, confidential support groups for Adults with ADHD - Note that
there will be no meetings in July.
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
============================
6/20/2001, 6-8:00 PM PST - Online - Steven Ledingham - ADHD and Relationships,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
6/20/2001, Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm - 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
============================
6/21/2001, 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm - Yolo County Meeting, Speaker: John
Capel -- Teens with ADHD.
Bring your teen! Great Presentation.
Woodland Library, Woodland - Contact: Yolo County CHADD: 530-750-3929
============================
6/27/2001, 7-9pm - ADD and Your Medication - Dr. Richard Goldwasser,
CPMC Pacific Campus, San Francisco - Contact: San Francisco Warmline:
415-442-1944
============================
6/27/2001, 9-10:30am - 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
============================
6/27/2001, 7:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Kitty Petty Institute Meeting,
Discussion of and sharing successful ADHD/LD strategies and coping
skills with other like adults
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Kitty Petty Institute: 650-329-9443
============================