Seven Canadian teens and adults had decided to communicate their anxieties and struggles with ADHD on a series of YouTube videos in early March. “Opening yourself up to more judgement and unsolicited advice from the uninformed takes courage. Being an adolescent only makes it that much harder, but that’s exactly what we asked these seven teens to do”, answered Heidi Bernhardt, the President of the Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada (CADDAC).
The videos were designed to present four girls and three boys ranging from the ages of 13-22, who were ready to talk with Canadians about their ADHD. These open discussions would include their daily struggles with a multiplicity of symptoms and impairments caused by ADHD. The teens and young adults also planned to share tactics and provisions they used in home and school settings to accommodate their disability.
What exactly is ADHD? ADHD is one of many learning disabilities affecting adults and children. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition where an individual has difficulties with focusing on tasks. People with ADHD often act spontaneously without reflecting on the consequences. They have trouble sitting still, paying attention or following instructions. In deciding to share their difficulties with ADHD, these young people also revealed their inner strengths for wanting to confront their disabilities. Their willingness to show others how they managed their ADHD was both inspirational and proactive.
Many people have turned their ADHD into a success by finding ways to manage and diffuse the problem hidden inside. For example, Spanish surrealist painter, Salvador Dali, used his ADHD to depict bizarre, mind-warping paintings, which are simultaneously challenging and striking. Other well-known people have incorporated their ADHD into other creative avenues, including the actors Whoopi Goldberg and Channing Tantum.
Dyslexia is another learning disability where children, teens and adults have problems with reading, writing, spelling and math. The International Dyslexia Association of Ontario defines dyslexia as a neurologically-based condition affecting word-level reading accuracy and reading fluency. Dyslexics mispronounce words, sometimes can’t always understand the logic of idioms and have troubles with memorization. On the other hand, dyslexics and individuals with similar learning disabilities are problem solvers with the gift of thinking outside of the box. Despite issues with reading and math, dyslexics are often creative, individualistic and nonconformist in their approach. Famous dyslexics in history include Leonardo da Vinci, Walt Disney and Tom Cruise.
Autism spectrum disorder is connected to brain development. Autism controls how a person is able to sense and intermingle with others. Individuals with autism typically display limited and repetitive patterns of behaviour.
People with autism exist on a scale vacillating from low-functioning to high-functioning. Some children with autism spectrum could have severe difficulties with learning, yet other children with the disorder might have normal to high intelligence. But although the children on one end of the scare are fast learners, they still have problems communicating and applying their knowledge in everyday scenarios. Moreover, autistics in general experience inner-strife whenever they adjust to social situations. Autistics prefer to live inside their own realms.
Children and adults with autism employ reduced eye contact with others. Autistic children dislike cuddling – they hate being hugged. They prefer to play alone and have troubles with starting and retaining conversations.
However, as with other disabilities, there are pluses with autism. Autistics often learn to read at an early age. Autistics are capable of learning and memorising information at a faster rate than their peers. Their ability to think logically is heightened, their memory capabilities are often exceptional and they are great problem solvers. Renowned autistics throughout history have encompassed a surprising collection of thinkers, artists and writers on the spectrum such as James Joyce, Charles Darwin, Steve Jobs, Andy Warhol and Daryl Hannah.
Learning disabilities don’t necessarily have to represent mental and physical roadblocks towards successful lives. Rather, the disability can be used to an individual’s advantage, by directing the person to focus and build upon their inner strengths, but they also must be encouraged to search for methods to assist with their vulnerabilities.
