5 Ways To Make The Most Of ADHD Awareness Month 2022
5 Ways To Make The Most Of ADHD Awareness Month 2022
Now that ADHD Awareness Month is upon us, it's time to spread some awareness to educate and inform everyone about this commonly misunderstood disorder. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that can affect behaviour in a variety of ways, and there is no definite symptom checklist, as everyone can experience different symptom combinations.
People diagnosed with ADHD typically act restless and have trouble concentrating while acting on impulse, but many people simply think that their child is energetic or high-maintenance and aren’t aware that it could be a sign of ADHD. Despite the publicity and growing awareness around the condition, many parents still don't know the actual symptoms of ADHD, and the condition is only picked up once their child enters into education.
Currently, it is estimated that between 2-5% of all children in education have ADHD . Educational staff working with children must spread awareness around the disorder to educate everyone about the symptoms while also empowering ADHD students and reminding them that they are not alone.
Here are five ways Special Educational Needs (SEN) staff can generate awareness around ADHD:
Hold Awareness Days
Working in partnership with their school, SEN staff can raise awareness for ADHD by holding awareness days for parents and students to attend. An awareness day offers the perfect opportunity for teachers to meet parents or guardians and speak to them about the different symptoms and signs of ADHD. It can demystify the disorder and empower parents, leaving them feeling able to handle challenging behaviour and better support their child’s at-home learning. This results in a better quality of life for parents and children and improved parent-teacher communication.
Parenting a child with ADHD can be challenging. But if you provide the correct information and let them know help is available, parents and guardians can begin to provide their children with the support they need to thrive. An ADHD awareness day is simple to set up with the full backing of the school. Once organised, you could aim to hold multiple awareness days throughout the entire month.
Hand Out Flyers
Creating and distributing a flyer can provide helpful information to explain and destigmatise ADHD. As a result, the symptoms of ADHD will become more widely recognised and accepted to normalise the condition. By adding plenty of facts, statistics and contact details for helplines, you can ensure it adds plenty of value and really explains the disorder.
Not very good at design? If you work in a school, you could encourage your students to design their own flyers and award the best one with a prize. This can be a very effective way to encourage your pupils to learn more about ADHD without it becoming a chore or boring.
Do Sponsored School Events
Set up a school event to spread awareness of ADHD. The event could be a Matchbox Challenge, Read-a-Thon, Swim, Walk or Run , or any other type of school event you can implement. As a result, you can raise much-needed awareness for ADHD while also fundraising simultaneously! The main aim should be to spread awareness of ADHD, but raising some funds for an ADHD charity can be really rewarding too.
ADHD UK is a charity that helps to provide transparent information and warm-hearted support for those affected by ADHD and ADD. By promoting charities like this, you can help to reduce discrimination and make sure parents and guardians are more aware of ADHD and the support that is available. In addition, sponsored school events can help ensure that the school is much more informed about the condition too.
Use Social Media
Almost everyone is on social media nowadays, and it can be a powerful tool when used to educate others. You can become an advocate for ADHD awareness via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or any other public platform where you can spread the word. You can share content locally in groups or publicly through various hashtags. Parents at your school who may not think their child has ADHD may have them assessed and ultimately get the help they need after reading your content. You can share tips and advice and start conversations with others who are supporting children with ADHD. There is a truly incredible community on social media, and by tapping into it, you can help to spread awareness to your own following.
Encourage Diagnosis and Treatment
Another challenge facing parents or children with ADHD is re-educating them about the benefits of diagnosis and treatment. There is a terrible misconception that schools want to “categorise” children with conditions like ADHD, leaving permanent and damaging marks on their records. It is important to encourage parents to get their children diagnosed if they're experiencing symptoms of ADHD and help them to see that a diagnosis is not a hindrance but something that can bring their child closure and additional support. Parents should come to their teachers if they have concerns about their children , but often they are too nervous or afraid. This is where professionals with experience working in SEN can help by picking up on behaviour and having open conversations with parents.
ADHD symptoms can vary from child to child . However, there are treatments available that can help children to concentrate better, be less impulsive, feel calmer, and practise new skills. It's also essential to keep an open mind and be inclusive, as there are parents who may feel strongly about treatment options like medication. Be neutral and informative instead.
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