Discrimination Against ADHD
ByI am a big advocate for ADD and ADHD. I feel passionately that people with ADD and ADHD have hidden gifts and need extra help and support to bring these gifts forward.
One of the most important aspects from the medical side of ADHD is ongoing research which sheds light on it as a medical condition. This information is critical – so that people can make educated decisions about this condition based on the best facts that we know.
One major area of research in adult ADHD has been around the impact of ADD on driving. This is one important angle of research which helps to justify treatment for ADD/ADHD. There are growing data showing that when adult ADD is not well treated, there are increased risks behind the wheel – such as higher rates of speeding, accidents, etc. There are new medication studies showing that treatment with medication helps with safety behind the wheel.
These are important studies for the following reasons:
- They help to document one aspect of the significant impairment and danger associated with ADD/ADHD if it is not treated
- They help to show that treatment for adult ADD is not just an optional ‘lifestyle’ choice
- They help to improve (and save) lives by educating doctors, parents, adults with ADD, etc. about an important public health issue
- And there are others… (feel free to share your thoughts on this in the ‘comments’ below)
When I started learning about the driving studies with ADD/ADHD, one of the nurses that I worked with asked a very insightful question:
“What do the insurance companies say about this data?”
I realized what she asked was important, but I didn’t give it too much though beyond discussing the importance of this research.
TRUST ME – Now I am giving it a lot of thought.
I was troubled to see that in Sweden – the Road Authority is considering taking away the right of people with ADD/ADHD to even get a driver’s license because of the risks to road safety.
The head physician of the Swedish Road authority compares ADHD to conditions like epilepsy and alcoholism, and is concerned about drivers with ADD having licenses.
To me – this is a VERY CONCERNING development in twisting new data that is meant to help people with ADD/ADHD.
I strongly encourage any Swedish readers of this blog to file an appeal of this decision, or get involved locally and create some ‘noise’ about this.
I suggest that we all want the roads to be safe, and we want good treatment for ADD and ADHD – but this approach will lead to frank discrimination against the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD, and it will lead people to refuse to get it diagnosed or treated. In other words, it will push the diagnosis underground – and we all know that there are much more serious consequences to that.
I also encourage people connected to advocacy groups all over the world to be aware of this potential danger lurking on the sidelines for other countries.
We want to advocate for the proper recognition and support for ADHD – not frank discrimination which leads to ignorance, mistreatment and forces people with ADD to go into hiding for fear of real persecution.
Please share this post with others who need to know about it, and share your comments and thoughts below.
Dr. Kenny
p.s. a similar discrimination issue is going for pilots with ADD. You can read my post about it here: http://www.addadhdblog.com/adhd-pilots-medication-and-the-faa/, and you can read about the battle of a Doctor with ADD (who is bravely fighting the FAA) here: http://www.adhdpilots.org/
p.p.s. This issue has got me pretty concerned and ticked off. If you have other examples of ‘discrimination against ADD’, please enter your comments below. Maybe we can get more people aware of it and help to support you to overcome it.
Technorati Tags: ADHD, ADD, Driving, Discrimination, Pilots, ADHD Medication
28 Comments
March 20th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
What can be done about it? Insurance companies can ruin our lives if they want to.
Do we need to create and pass laws to protect people with ADHD?
March 20th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
It is simply not fair to single out ADD/ADHD people. People with Schizophrenia drive. Old people drive. Moms with young children and crying babies drive. They can’t tell me that they are better drivers. And they can’t say that by keeping my sons out from behind the steering wheel, the world will be safer.
My sons both have ADHD and ODD. If this is the way the world is going, they will be lucky to get a bus pass when they are teenagers.
If this ever gets mentioned here in Ontario, I will stand up and voice my concerns!
March 20th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Perhaps take a second look at the facts about this story. Someone at a Swedish radio station says that a “head” doctor (no name), says that ADHD is similar to epilepsy or alcoholism. If we’re going to be offended by anything, it should probably be that statement. Assuming it is true. All this really adds up to is media hearsay. It is difficult to respond to media hearsay without looking foolish, especially if it turns out the story isn’t true. Where is the document, the bill, the video transcript of the Swedish Road Commission’s intentions?
March 20th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
As Ms Candace Taylor stated, “Where is the document, the bill, the video transcript of the Swedish Road Commission’s intentions?”
Before I make any judgement on this issue, I will rather see documented proof of the Swedish Road Commission’s findings. If this is true, then then we must definitely pass the word on! But before creating chaos, we must have justified means to “spread the word”. It will seem almost hypocritical to panic when there is nothing to panic about.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
That’s proposterous (sp?) If you wanna make the roads safer…
take away the licenses of people who DRINK!!!!
March 20th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Dear Dr. kenny,
I know that you take such things at heart but I live ADHD discrimination every day. ADHD sufferers don’t benefit from free medication here, we have to pay for Ritalin (short action), Concerta and Strattera beacuse that’s all we have here.Concerta and Stratera are so expensive that almost no one can afford.
The Government prefare to pay social workers to help people with their substance abuse than help people with the right medication. He prefares give us the statistics how criminality is increasing in our country than give us the right medication.
We already thought of traffic accidents and insurances infact we never mention it. If people are diagnosed and taking their medication, traffic accidents will reduce but they will come out with the issue of traffic accidents so people won’t say they have ADHD and they will safe money on medication to give the sufferers.
ADHD is so common that sufferers are increasing so they get excuse so they safe money, and they think that they will sort out the problem like this, The Swedish Government will increase the country problems with substance abuse as they will start self medicating themselves, anti social behaviuor, they will have more criminality. I don’t think they will solve their problem like this, they will make it worse.
I hate discrimination no cares of our hidden condition!!!
If we are on a wheelchair get everything on a silver plate but as our condition no one can see it, no one cares….
Happy Easter to all subscribers, keep up your good work Dr. Kenny.
It’s a relief to know that there is someone who belief in our condition(ADHD)
March 20th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I had to evoke my 17 year old adhd son’s drivers license myself because he was not adhering to speed laws and in Calif there is a provisional on a person’s license if under the age of 18.( It is illegal to have anyone in the car with a minor under the age of 20 for the first year of driving)
In my sons case, he was not only carrying a 16 year old in the car with him but he decided to make sure he was not late to work and drive 103 miles an hour. He was caught and he not got 2 points on his license, (3 pts means a suspended license) but now when he gets a new job (he has lost his old job), he has to pay much higher insurance rates because he can no longer be on our insrance with his record.
Since then he has told me nightmare stories of his short lived driving experiences. One was on a mountain road when he did not see a sign that said “curve 45 miles per hour” and he was going 65 only able to slow downto 45. He said he went into a tailspin and ended up in the other lane going the wrong way at an angle heading for a cliff that dropped a 1/4 mile down. Luckilyhe stopped just beofre he went over the edge. Again there was another minor n the car. He ran his car out of oil and could have burned p the motor, smoked pot whiile driving (never drank and drove however as he is very scared of that), but broke so many spped laws and traffic rules . He told me these things because he said he had to earn the hard way but now he is a much better driver. (yeah, a ploy to get his license back)…He turns 18 in dec 08 and is bound and determined to get his license back soon. His anger management problem is not totallyncheck and he is stillin counseling. Ihope this works. He is not on meds as strattera cause rage and I am desperate to get him on track by the time he turns 18. Yes,driving can be a hazard for adhd teens and I guess adhd adults if not in check as a teen. I am struggling with what to do to get him to that point….
March 20th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
I applaud Linda for having the courage to share her story. ADHD people have rights, but also realities. The reality is that the adolescent brain is different than than the adult brain, and the adolescent ADHD brain even more so. My background and training have shown me that frankly neither is very well equipped to handle a vehicle on today’s roads. As an adult woman it would be of no value to anyone to have my license revoked because I have ADD, but watch the teens tearing out of the local high school parking lot and you just know in your heart that we’d all be a lot safer, them included, if if they weren’t legally allowed to drive until older.
March 21st, 2008 at 12:15 am
Where does it end? In the summer I have seen men driving erratically because they were gawking at a scantly clothed woman. Should they be allowed to drive? This is nuts! I was appalled when I read about the airline pilot fighting to be able to fly, and now this! It makes me very mad to think that this could happen. People with ADHD aren’t stupid, they are very intelligent in fact. There are kids who will speed that don’t have ADHD it is all a part of growing up. My son has ADHD and he keeps my driving in check, he is forever saying “mom the limit is…and your going…” So I don’t believe that ADHD causes people to be worse or careless drivers. Some people just like the adrenaline rush of doing something that is pushing the limits of the law. Being a careful driver is something that is instilled into you by observing the way your parents drive. At least that is how I learned to be a considerate, safe driver, and yes I do go over the limit sometimes but not excessively. I don’t know maybe they should pull my licence too!
March 21st, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Cynthia: I hear what you are saying about other types of drivers being unsafe as well as adhd drivers. I know that eating while driving or putting make up on or smoking have caused many accidents as well as your crying and misbehaving small children in the car while a mom is driving.
In many cases however, adhd teens are much more prone to have accidents and break the traffic laws because they not only have the “adhd” problems but also the normal peer pressure and attitudes that they are invincible. Many other character invasions such as anger management issues etc atttached to the already problematic adhd symtoms such as impulsiveness and short attention span also add to the “red light “concerns.
I do believe that there are some instances where an adhd person may be good at avoiding an accident because of their ability to multi task. Still ,however, I think that waiting until later to drive is best for adhd teens overall. It may depend on how severe the adhd, and if they posess severe secondary issues such as anger management, or side effects from meds that are taken to help them concentrate. I do not however believe that they should be banned from driving all together and forever. That is violating their rights.
Most adhd people do learn over time what their limitations are and most that have lost priviledges from mistakes surely don’t want to lose them again. Some lessons are so hard for these kids. Breaks my heart.
March 22nd, 2008 at 6:24 am
hi,
i am an adult, school teacher (phys ed) with adhd. i have driven now for 5 years and have not yet had any points on my license, speeding tickets or accidents. if i was not able to drive i would not be able to earn a living. firstly i would not be able to get to work (very easily) and i would not be able to take my sports teams to otehr schools. i have struggled with adhd for many years (still do) but to take away my right to drive would be very devastating.
the label of adhd should not in itself mean that you shouldnt be able to drive, ‘just incase you are dangerous’. some people are not dangerous and to stop them driving would indeed be discriminating. the whole purpose of traffic laws is to stop people who are bad at driving from driving.
i really hope people appeal if such laws look like they are going to come in. i understand that people with adhd are more suceptable to accidents and dangerous behaviour, but we are not all the same.
March 23rd, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Hi ,
I am a teacher in Malaysia and I still have a lot to learn about ADHD. Many ADHD children in Malaysia needs a lot of help as there arent many qualified teachers who can help these children. I am sad to hear that there are considering to ban adult ADHD from driving. I think banning of driving for ADHD cases should be based on case to case so as to avoid discrimination.
March 23rd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Hi,
I am the mother of an 8yr old boy who has combined ADHD, ODD and learning difficulties. Recently I have been told he also has dyslexic tendancies, autistic tendancies and PTSD.
I know i am off topic here but i would like to take to court for discriminating against:-
His previous school
Social Services
Police
Neighbours
Instead of ME being threatened by these people to put my son on the protection register, to take him some where he will be safer, for threatening to take away the little support he has if i dont go on a parenting course of their choice, to be blamed daily for my sons behaviour, refusing me a carers assessment, prioritising parenting for me over my sons therapy……………..the list is endless.
The law in the uk is so out of date, it scares me.
Thank you for listening to me.
xxx
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:10 pm
cheekipixi I cried when I read your post because I have struggled with the “outside negative influences” over the years myself. We are bound by law to keep our kids in school and make sure they are doing what they are supposed to but it is quite unfair that they will build a runway and have rules for handicapped children in wheelchairs but will not HIRE a teacher that can effectively teach and handle our adhd children? Oh they are out there, but the school districts just dont want to spend the money.
My consenses goes like this: With my experience, I have found that most administrators do NOT want to deal with adhd children because theyare afraid of our children. They do NOT have the education or time or desire to learn about how to best teach and direct our adhd children. It is just easier to find a way to get them out, blame the parents for bad parenting and poor choices of discipline etc.
My son ,while in the 9th grade got in trouble. for being easily distracted in class and figity which caused other kids to be diastracted. The teacher prescribed detention. My son forgot to go to detention so they gave him Saturday school whioch he has to sit in a class for 4 hours on a Saturday and do nothing but sit there and read. Several times he figited and got up to get drink too many times becase he could not sit still as long as thery required (duh)…the rule is that if you do anything the teacher does not like that she or he can give you another Saturday school. 15 minutes before the Sat class was over, the teacher told my son that he had to do it again the next Saturday.
I went to the principle and explained to him again why my son could not sit still (he already knew about the adhd). I asked him not to give my son Saturday school but make him pick up trash around the school yard as punishment instead of having to try and sit still for so long. Afterall isn’t this why he go in trouble in the first place? He finally agreed but it took 2 trips down there and meetings with 3 people, (his principle vice, principle and counselor.)
I hate to say this but until the school districts wake up to the fact that our children need trained specialists that really care about our children and their learning and environmental and emotional health, we are alone. Our children and other adhd people are NOT stupid. Just different in the way they learn and respond to life situations.
Parents are a scape goat for any problem the school is not equipped to handle. SO GET EQUIPPED!! If we are lawfully expected to make sure our kids are in school, then the school should be lawfully expected and required to provide the teacher and the atmosphere in which my adhd child can learn and flourish.
Good luck to you and I hope in time yur child will find peace in this world. I hope all our children will.
March 24th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Hi,
I just read the notice from the Swedish authorities. It’s a new release of the generel requirements to obtain a drivers license. The main focus for the changes are to improve traffic safety, but I must admit it’s shooting birds with cannons.
They are lowering the bar for Type-2 diabetes and epilepsy.
They are setting it higher for alcoholics and persones with severe ADHD deficites in combination with a medicine, drug or alcohol abuse.
Traffic stats for Sweden is ca. 400 killed pr yr. out of 8 mill.
For Denmark it’s also ca. 400 pr. yr out of 5,4 mill.
The official stats claim between 25 – 30 % of the accidents are alcohol related in the Nordics, so maybe they should target that first off.
So the new rules will be of only limited impact in respect to traffic safety.
Thanks for the info. The discussion has not started here, but it usually does soon after the Swedes make a move.
March 24th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Hi all
it is very controversial, this topic. The official medical opinion is to take meds always, everyday, and this way it will be no problem for ADHD driver and for others on the road. But as a father of ADHD child, I am scared to med him everyday. Visit my site to see us doing some less known alternative treatment – crawling exercises. This method can even cure ADHD or at least improve the situation.
Arieh
CrawlingClub.org
March 25th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Dr. Hanleman, Thought you and your readers might be interested in this blog post that getting attention on Digg:
http://digg.com/design/All_SEOs_Are_Living_With_Adult_ADD
Do you think that ADD would make it more likely for someone to be drawn to a certain profession?
best,
Kevin
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 pm
The head of the college of education went to the head of the college of vocation and ministry and told him not to admit me because I had “AHDH”.
Names removed for safety reasons.
Sigh.
August 15th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
well, ADHD just doesnt work that way for me:
driving is like a computer game (in terms of how my attention works towards it). With a computer game, because its movment and control, I am 100% transfixed! I obsesively check my blind spots and give each situation a great deal of thought! I never ever find myself distracted from the road.
ADHD really just affects the paper work and long lecturers at university! It doesnt affect ability to do anythng either physical or where there is a lot of movment!
We need a world wide loby for ADHD! If someone is not fit to drive because one aspect of their ADHD is so bad. Then the reason should be that one charactoristic of their personality, not ADHD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 16th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
way i look at it:
you pass your driving test and the instructor says your safe to drive, end of story. If they want to make it tougher – then make it quicker!
dont discriminate. If All ADHD sufferers were unsafe, then they would all fail their test – no?
March 26th, 2009 at 2:41 am
People with ADD shouldn’t be allowed to drive with meds, and how can you know they are always on them? Answer: don’t let them drive period. Luckily 90% of people who think they have ADD actually do not.
March 27th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
I have a son with ADHD and my biggest concerns is how he is being treated by his school, teachers, and coaches. If I don’t stay on top of these school administrators my son gets mistreated and not allowed extra time or extra help. There is NO accountability with our school teachers/coaches/administrators, where can parents turn to for support for their children?? Because school administrators only help with so much as they don’t want to be burden with my son, as they already think he is a problem child. I filed an official complaint with my sons school and school district as i felt that his high school coach discriminated against him directly for having ADHD, but the school district’s attorney told me since the coach gave a ‘reasonably answer’ they were not going to pursue it. Forget the fact that we have many witnesses and my son was never questioned that tells you that people truly need to be educated regarding kids that have ADD/ADHD. If it wasn’t for me fighting with my son’s school i would hate to think to see where he would be at without me fighting for his rights. Thanks for listening.
May 8th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
My son was recently diagnosed with Graves disease and taken off his ADHD meds to regulate his thyroid. We were hoping the thyroid was the only trouble, because it has the exact same symptoms of ADHD. If your child has ADHD please have his thyroid level tested.
Anyways, His teacher failed him for a project that I had specifcly e mailed her for help and instructions on what exactly was required of the project. We did it together, (he is 10 and we do ALL his homework together for hours, I know you ALL know what I mean) and he was so proud of his project. The teacher gave him an F. When I confronted her about the grade she stated that their was “oral” instructions given to him during class that she felt he should have remembered on his own which counted for 75% of the grade. I made her repeat that by saying, you mean to tell me, that after I put in writing to you asking for clarification, and you wrote the steps of the project down then you purposly with held the in class oral instructions from me, claiming it’s his responsiblity to remember them? She said, YES. And I said, but you KNOW the medical conditions we are dealing with and you still sit there and tell me that you are doing everything you can do and going completely out of your way to help my son? OMG
Then his reading teacher proceeded to tell me that Nick is anxious and restless in class, that he won’t concentrate and that he is “BOTHERING” the other children BECAUSE she has to constantly interupt her lesson to tap on my son’s desk and say “write this down Nick” write this down Nick pay attention Nick..etc etc and she and the other students are tired of it. PLUS they told me that an IEP meant that he was handicapped and that he would be jerked out of his regular classes and put in with the special ed kids and that it would go on his Diploma PLUS they denied him a 504 plan trying to say he didn’t qualify now they say they are going to do the MFE testing and oh, then they can re- evaluate him if he doesn’t qaulify for IEP But the principal told me over and over NO 504 they don’t get money for that but they do for IEP…to top this all off…NOW that I have gotten some help and taken the PROPER steps that were taught to me by a rep from the coaliton of education…they are picking on him. Thursday I recieved a letter from the teacher and the envelope was suppose to be signed by me and returned the next day. The letter asked my son questions like why he thought he was failing and what he was not doing and what he could do differently. My son answered the questions and the teacher corrected them by putting a line through his answers and writing in her own. I was livid. So I didn’t return the envelope till Monday. …..He was issued a detention for me not sending it back the next day. I wrote back and said he is not serving it.
So they issued him another one for missing detention. He did not serve that one either So they gave him in school detention which I did NOT know about because the principal didn’t mail the notifaction to me until the second day of his in school suspension after it was over. DATED on the envelope for proof. NOW he has TWO MORE detentions by two different teachers after sitting a closet for a HALF day two days in ROW
He has graves AND adhd…THEY HAVE HIS MEDICAL RECORDS and his Graves dr. is the assistant pediatrition to the pediatrition dept. at OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. SHE wrote the school a letter and I just got a letter today from the principal with a snide comment asking me to re fill out a referal request for someone else because she does not suspect the my son has a disability. I know this grammer is bad but I needed to get this out, now I can copy, paste, organize and put together with all the paper proof I have to go along with all of this because I am tired of fighting. I stepped down from my managment position at my job due to fighting against the teachers who are mentaly abusing my son and keeping him from the education he deserves. BTW before the graves, his 1st secnond and third year of school he was suspected of ADHD, but recieved ALL a’s and B’s….HE IS EXTREMEMLY INTELLIGENT! KNOWN TO ALL WHO KNOW HIM AS THE SMARTEST LITTLE BOY THEY EVER KNEW. I have GOT to get legal help! AND I HAVE to keep my sanity, calm my anger and stay on top of everything.
May 20th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Dear Cheekipixi I have spent the last 4 hours crying because once again by notice of my daughter CPS has been to her school and will be paying a visit to the house, this is the 4th time in 2 years. My daughter has severe ADHD with comorbid OC and anxiety disorders. I am so tired. I lost a good paying job with insurance because of this we’ve had to pay attorneys and now extra medical bills because of this continual nightmare. I don’t know what to do anymore and it is destroying my family.
June 27th, 2009 at 3:31 am
[...] Discrimination Against ADHD [...]
June 27th, 2009 at 3:51 am
[...] Discrimination Against ADHD [...]
December 10th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Personally, I don’t think that they should be alowd to fly a plane. So many people could get hurt. I’m not discriminating, i’m just saying I wouldn’t feel safe. Its like letting a blind person fly a plane….
January 23rd, 2010 at 11:56 pm
My son has ADHD and was training in a medical residency.He had good evaluations from all his attending Doctors.The program director discaharged him from the training program because he had bad grades in the intraining exam.He was on a very busy rotation and did not have enough time to study.No accomodations were given during the exam.He had severe depression for months and even now has not fully recovered though he finally found a program which accepted him inspite of his prigram directors bad comments.