I just came across a news report which is frankly shocking to me.

It’s a combination of ‘Survivor’ and systematized bullying in a kindergarten class.

In Morningside, FLA, a 5 year old boy who is in the process of being diagnosed with Autism, was ‘voted out’ of class by his classmates.
How a Kindergarten teacher could allow this to happen (and actually facilitate this) is mind boggling.

According to a news report (click here to see the original news story), kindergarten classmates of Alex where given a chance to say what they didn’t like about Alex. After expressing their dislikes (apparently to Alex directly…), the teacher put Alex to a vote.

Unfortunately, Alex’s classmates voted 14-2 to kick him out of the class.

Alex’s mother picked him up - and won’t send him back to the school. She is reportedly considering legal action, and the school board is reportedly starting an investigation.

Although this story is about Autism/Asperger’s - I’ve written about it here on my ADD/ADHD blog for four reasons:

1. Some of my readers are concerned about Autism Spectrum Disorders
2. Often kids with ADD/ADHD are teased, bullied and isolated socially - so the same issues apply
3. I am an advocate for all of child’s (and adult’s) mental health - so if I can help to bring awareness and stop ignorance in any way - I will use this blog to do so…
4. If I don’t stand up against discrimination when it arises, then I feel that I am condoning it. There is no way I can do that with this one…

I just find this outrageous.
For all of the advocacy work that many of us do - for something like this to happen in 2008 (or any time!) is completely unacceptable.

I want to think that this is an anomaly.
I want to believe that there aren’t other teachers who are using the model developed by reality TV (i.e. vote a student ‘off the island’ like on Survivor) to allow their students to humiliate and bully the most vulnerable in their classes.

Beyond this, I’m finding myself at a loss for words…

What do you think?
Is this an isolated incident?
What can we do to prevent anything like this happening again?

Please enter your thoughts and comments in the space below.

Dr. Kenny

Technorati Tags: Autism, Aspergers, ADD, ADHD, School, bully, bullying, Reality TV

ADDENDUM:
I’ve just found this video from CNN about this issue.
Here it is:

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Eli Lilly - the makers of Strattera, are sponsoring a scholarship for Adults with ADD, called: “Focus on Your Possibilities”.

According to their website - the criteria for the scholarship include:

To apply for the Focus on Your Possibilities Scholarship, you must be:

* An adult age 25+ who has been diagnosed with and is currently undergoing any treatment for adult ADHD
* Currently attending or planning to attend an accredited public or private undergraduate or graduate school in the United States or would like to obtain your GED
* Going to enroll or already enrolled in a college, institute, university, or GED program on a full-time basis
* Willing to share your story with the media/public if selected as a Focus on Your Possibilities winner

If you are interested, please visit their site, and follow the steps to apply.

Dr. Kenny

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The link between food additives (i.e. preservatives and food coloring) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD or ADHD) has been speculated for a very long time. There has been research for decades on this. The Feingold Diet has been in existence for many years, and postulates that when you eliminate food additives, ADD or ADHD will improve.

The issue has been that mainstream medical treatment for ADD/ ADHD has generally discounted the role of food additives and diet in the role of treating ADHD.

The interesting fact is that estimates are that up to two thirds of people try some form of alternative treatments for ADD/ADHD - with diet modification as one of the main treatments.

In September 2007, The Lancet published an article about food additives causing hyperactivity. This was a very well designed study, which documented that food additives increased hyperactivity in children who did not have ADD/ADHD. This was irrefutable evidence regarding the connection between food additives and symptoms of ADD and ADHD.

In February 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics published an article which reviewed the issue and recommends that “a trial of preservative free, food coloring free diet is a reasonable intervention”. You can read more details of this here.

This week, an editorial was published in the British Medical Journal by Dr. Kemp, which suggests that removal of food additives from the diet should be a standard first approach when treating children with ADD/ADHD. This is based on his review of the research.

It seems that the pendulum is starting to swing.

Eliminating food additives and food coloring is on the brink of becoming a mainstream recommendation for the initial treatment of ADD and ADHD.

What Do I Suggest?

I suggest that you review all treatment options with your doctor.
In so far as diet modification, I am all for it as part of the treatment plan for ADD and ADHD. As far as treatments go - there is almost no risk or side effects to this treatment (apart from more time and possibly money to find food alternatives which are preservative free).
I suggest learning more about it - and giving it a try.

The one caution that I have is that elimination diets can be part of the treatment plan, but they may not be the whole answer. Research shows us that in general, treatment of ADD/ADHD needs a comprehensive, multimodal approach (i.e. including behavioral strategies, academic/occupational strategies, medication, therapy etc.). So while I encourage trying elimination diets, I don’t suggest that you then disregard all of the other treatment options which may be helpful.

Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

Dr. Kenny

Technorati Tags: ADD, ADHD, Food Additives, Elimination Diets, Feingold Diet, BMJ

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The New York Times put out a fantastic multimedia webpage this week - sharing people’s experiences with ADD/ADHD.
It’s called: Patient Voices: A.D.H.D.
There is a lot of great information there -
* to help parents to further understand their kids/teens
* For adults with ADD/ADHD to understand it better
* To further understand the role of medicine and other treatments

I suggest that you grab your favorite beverage, turn this on and listen for a while. You’ll learn a lot.

All the best,
Dr. Kenny

p.s. it is great to see such a high quality piece on ADHD in the mainstream media…

Technorati Tags: ADD, ADHD, Adult ADD, Adult ADHD, New York Times

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A friend of mine, Michel Fortin, shared this video on his blog. It is very powerful, and has a significant implication for those with ADD or ADHD.

This video demonstrates the awful aspects of bullying, how many students it affects, and how difficult it can be emotionally.

The fascinating thing is that this video also shows a healing process which is going on for the students taking part in this exercise.

I encourage you to watch this video - and to share it with kids and teens who have experienced teasing and bullying. They will learn a lot.

Technorati Tags: ADHD, bullying, parenting, high school

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I am posting a message that ADD Coach Beverley Rohman forwarded to me to make sure that you know about the upcoming conference being put on by ADDA.
They want to encourage you to sign up right now - so they are giving you a discount if you register by May 16th. Here is the important information:

I’m writing today to tell you about the 2008 Adult Attention Deficit Disorder (ADDA) Conference this July 10-13 in Minneapolis

“Adult AD/HD: People, Purpose & Passion –
Pathways for Success”

This year’s conference features some of the most renown authorities in the world of AD/HD, including keynote presentations by:

* Sari Solden, MS, LMFT, on “A ‘Whole’ New View of Success – Aiming for Wholeness Instead of Perfection”
* Ned Hallowell, MD, on “Unwrapping the Gifts of the Mind”
* John Ratey, MD, on “The Spark for Success”

Other topics addressed in the many breakouts include:

• Family and Relationship Issues
• College Challenges and Success
• Workplace and Career Issues
• Medical Management and Treatment
• Science and Research
• Life Skills
• Non-AD/HD Spouses
• Time Management and Organization
• Women’s and Men’s Issues
• Coaching ………and much, much more!

Check it out on www.add.org

There is a Mother’s Day special going on now.
FAX your registration in before May 16th and get the early bird rate of $299 for members/ $199 for students.
Write ‘Mother’s Day special’ on the FAX form. Or Register on line. All registrations up to May 16th will get the reduced rates.
[end of the ADDA notice]

I have heard rave reviews of this event, and I encourage you to come if you are interested.
I intend to be at the event - and I hope that if you come, you’ll come up and say hi.
And of course, if you are considering coming - act now to save some money on the discount that they’re offering.

All the best,
Dr. Kenny

Technorati Tags: ADD, ADHD, Adult ADD, Adult ADHD, ADDA

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People are becoming more aware of the fact that adults often have ADD/ADHD as well as kids. A recent US based study found that 4.4% of American adults have ADD/ADHD, and many aren’t aware of it.

Shire, the company which produces Adderall and Vyvanse, has developed an awareness campaign which will help adults to ’self screen’ for the disorder. They have called it the ‘RoADHD Trip’, as they will be traveling to different US cities.

This initiative is including volunteers from the Attention Deficit Disorder Association, who will help to answer questions for the estimated 20,000 adults who will complete a screening questionnaire during this campaign - to try to figure out if they have adult ADD/ADHD.

The news release which describes the program states that they will be going to the following cities:

The events will take in Atlanta, GA; Alpharetta, GA; Raleigh, NC;
Simpsonville, SC; Albany, NY; Nashville, TN; York, PA; Boston, MA; Chicago,
IL; Milwaukee, WI; Taylor, MI; Ionia, MI; and Columbus, OH.

I wanted to let you know that I strongly support this initiative. There are so many adults with ADD or ADHD who don’t know they have it, or they suspect that they do and can’t get the resources or help that they need.

As I write this, I am in a hotel room in San Francisco just before a conference begins. When I was clearing US customs (i.e. entering the US from Canada), the customs officer asked me where I was going. When I mentioned a conference, and ADHD, he actually asked me how he could learn more about it - because he thinks he has adult ADHD and he doesn’t know where to find answers. I took a few minutes to talk to him about it (though not too long - people were waiting to clear customs!).

This is one small example - but there are many more out there. I support this initiative - as we need to help to educate and advocate for people out there who have ADD and ADHD. And as people self screen for the disorder, the volunteers from ADDA will help to educate everyone about this disorder.

To find out more about this, you can visit Shire’s site: ADHD Support. And to see the schedule of their program, click here. To find out more about ADHD in adults, visit ADDA.

What if you can’t get to one of the tour’s sites?

If you suspect that you have adult ADD or ADHD, and you want to screen yourself for it, I suggest that you print this adult ADD screening questionnaire.

I suggest that you don’t read the questionnaire instructions, but rather go right to the questions and fill them out as best you can. (there are only 18 questions)

Then, go back and read the instructions on how to score it.

Whether you score highly or not (or even if you don’t even fill out this questionnaire), if you are concerned about adult ADD or ADHD, I strongly encourage you to talk to your primary care doctor about it and see if he or she can give you some help in finding the right local resources.

Please share your thoughts or comments below.

Dr. Kenny

Technorati Tags: ADHD, ADD, Vyvanse, Adderall, Adult ADD, Adult ADHD

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