A brave mother like me, who has a child on the spectrum, would definitely join seminars like the 2017 ADHD Summit. I was just so happy when I learned from a cousin who studies at UVU (Utah Valley University) that their College of Humanities and Social Sciences has created this event, featuring a Pulitzer Prize winner as a keynote speaker to talk about ADHD. And to top it all off, the speaker who is an award-winning writer is managing ADHD herself.
Knowing that Katherine Ellison, the esteemed writer and also a consultant specialist, has dealt with her ADHD and became successful amidst the disorder, it gave me hope about my son. That my son can also become a “Katherine Ellison,” a career person who has overcome her disorder and is leading a life on her own.
For those who are unfamiliar, ADHD means Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It means that your son or daughter is in the ASD Spectrum (Autism Spectrum Disorder), meaning he or she has development delays, which result in abnormal behavior. THEY ARE NOT CRAZY. The kids who have this disorder are just DIFFERENT.
Until now, experts cannot pinpoint a specific reason as to why children acquire this disorder. It is not an illness of the mind. It is not a disease. Some scientists believe that having this disorder resulted from a genetic make-up between the parents combined with the type of environment the mother was in during her pregnancy and her medical history. Nonetheless, with or without the disorder, we love our children without conditions.
I listened to the Summit, and at times, I would cry because I know that what they are saying is true. Listening to Ms. Ellison’s speech was uplifting. At least, as a parent of someone with ADHD, I know what to do. I know now how to respond and when not to react. It has been challenging for both of us, and I am adjusting. Right now, I am just thankful that I have found summits like this, and I will surely join more events in the future.
If you have a child with ADHD, be aggressive. Read and research about the condition so that you will know how to assist your child. He or she has a future, amidst the condition, and it is partly in your hands.