Voices From Fatherhood: Fathers Sons & ADHD

Cutting edge scientific research has shown that exposure to the right kind of environment during the first years of life actually affects the physical structure of a child’s brain, vastly increasing the number of neuron branches—the “magic trees of the mind”—that help us to learn, think, and remember.

What is it like to live with disabilities no one can see? Readers will find out in this honest and gripping narrative of one woman’s life with hidden disabilities — including learning disabilities, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. Yet this is more than just her story of battling adversity and coming out a winner. In each chapter, renowned psychiatrist Larry Silver, M.D., shares his insight into how Veronica’s experiences — both positive and negative — influenced her academically and emotionally and how early diagnosis and intervention might have benefited her. These two compelling accounts give readers an appreciation for the difficulties and triumphs living with hidden disabilites can bring and an awareness of what can be done to help.

When Josh’s friends call him “Slosh,” it’s particularly painful. Although he’s smart when it comes to computers and math, Josh also has ADHD — Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder. After talking to his teacher, Josh’s parents decide to take him to a doctor, and things start looking up. Best of all, over time, Josh’s classmates come to appreciate him as just another one of the guys.

Some of us learn things in a different way from those around us — do you too? One frog might need a bit of help with counting; another might not know how to behave around other frogs. Other young frogs in this book are easily distracted and get themselves into trouble. But help is at hand: if we think differently about things that we find difficult, we can find our own ways to get better at doing them.

If you are a parent of a child with special needs, perhaps you have also felt lost and wished you knew someone in a similar situation you could turn to for support. If so, you’re not alone. Across the country, parents are providing emotional and informational support to other parents through a national network of Parent to Parent programs. In this comprehensive book, the authors share with you the ins and outs of developing and maintaining a strong, local Parent to Parent program that individually matches “veteran” supporting parents with those who are new to the challenges of caring for a child with a disability. Drawing on research about Parent to Parent groups and best practices in program development and training, you’ll get the basics of setting up your own program, including guidelines for finding, preparing, and matching supporting parents with newly referred parents, ideas for organizing and incorporating your program, and evaluating its effectiveness, tips on accessing funding and promoting your program througho0ut the community, and useful forms and extensive lists of contacts and resources to get you started.

A treasured resource, this book empowers parents by arming them with the knowledge, expert guidance, and confidence they need to ensure that their child with ADHD receives the best care possible. Dr. Barkley explains what the latest research reveals about the nature of ADHD, its causes, and the most effective treatment strategies.