I want to take ADHD to the world. Too often ADHD is met with a lack of understanding and a great deal of critical disbelief. Even those who care and have taken the time to become educated in this area often don't seem to fully understand.
We as a group need to get past the idea that "different" is bad. We have such great strengths and much of our recent historical progress could be attributed to those who think differently. We need to be one voice; proud of whom we are instead of always apologetic for not fitting in to "normal" expectations.
I would rather be part of the rare few than be just another sheep in the pasture. It is my personal mission to develop opportunities for excellence, on our own terms, for those with ADHD. Imagine a system of wide-spread support, education, public information, networking and empowerment.
What kind of success could we achieve for ourselves and for our society, if there were open-minded educational opportunities for the ADHD'rs of the world? What if 10% of our schools thought like the approximately 10% of the individuals did? If we had schools that focused their efforts on developing the creative strengths of the ADHD'rs while spending time training them to organize, plan and delegate efficiently, the possibilities would be limitless. Instead, our children are trained in an environment where the educators are trying to be "accommodating" to our "difficulties". What if schools were structured in a way that encouraged targeted thinking without the limits of a textbook or classroom plan that at times may be incorrect or, at best, stifling for the imagination? If properly established, the results could be so staggering, as to the member of society that it produces, that people would be clamoring to get their children labeled as ADHD, so they could participate in the "gifted" schools.
Our minds have their greatest capacity for learning in our earliest years. So why do we create the most indelible imprint on a child's understanding that they are anything less than the brightest sparks that they are? We are taking some of our greatest, brightest resources and crushing them before they have had a chance to truly share their gifts.
We have taken a backseat to the needs of those within the bell curve. Is this possibly efficient rather than effective? How often is popular opinion or popular choice downright wrong? Using the 80/20 Principle/Pareto's Principle, we could suggest that 10% (to 20% - work with me here) of our students will be producing 80% of society's results in the future. Are our schools sure they have picked the right 20% to design our schools around? What if they are wrong?
I believe that the world of ADHD needs new educational and supporting opportunities now and that a few can make the difference for many.
Stay tuned my friends. I am not even close to finished.
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