All Aboard ADHD

Could ADHD be your child’s superpower? 

Claire is joined by Soli Lazarus in the latest episode of All Aboard ADHD, to bust some myths around ADHD in children and share some of the incredible strengths our ADHD children possess. Soli is a former teacher with 30 years of experience, culminating her career as a SENCO in a large primary school in London. Her adult son has ADHD and she has a number one best-selling book ‘ADHD Is Our Superpower’, aimed at empowering young people to see themselves positively.

Claire and Soli discuss what we can do to better support and advocate for our children with ADHD to succeed in school and in life. They share how awareness of ADHD is gradually improving in society, but in many instances, we are still fighting the ‘naughty boy’ stigma. Soli believes that everyone from teachers to GPs, Judges to the police force, everyone needs training on what ADHD really is and that we should be 'loud and proud' about ADHD, to challenge the negative stereotypes and narratives.

Soli shares her own experience of her son being diagnosed in the 1990s at age 8, when no one was talking about ADHD and there was a distinct lack of awareness and education around ADHD. With a big shift in resources available to parents and children today, Claire and Soli discuss how we can help our children recognise their unique skills and strengths and empower them to advocate for themselves in different situations. Soli also advises parents to throw away the 'traditional parenting handbook’, sharing some important insight around positive reinforcement for ADHD children and the huge impact it can have on their self-esteem.

To find out more about Soli and her work busting stigmas and supporting parents and children, visit: https://soli-lazarus.com/tag/together-stronger/ hthttps://soli-lazarus.com/tag/together

Her book is available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1787757307?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_ZEFH33S8JYN5SMZ2AK9S

In this episode, Claire is joined by Leanne Maskell ​​to answer the all-important question: What is ADHD coaching? Leanne is an ADHD Coach, Author, and Activist, having presented to the World Health Organization on improving global access to support for ADHD. Previously working in mental health and disability law, Leanne set up ADHD Works to empower as many people as possible to learn about how to make ADHD work for them through courses, talks, and coaching. After being diagnosed with ADHD at age 25, Leanne published 4 books, including her latest book 'ADHD Works at Work' &‘ ADHD: an A to Z’, as featured on Sky News.

Leanne shares her own experience of diagnosis, after which she felt ‘diagnosed and dumped’, with no support available to help her understand what ADHD meant for her. Leanne eventually sought help from an ADHD coach who helped her 'work with her brain rather than against it’, ultimately inspiring Leanne to train as an ADHD coach herself with the ADDCA. Leanne shares some insight into her own style of coaching and now as a teacher of other coaches, especially the importance of kindness and being able to meet the client where they’re at.

Claire and Leanne discuss what makes ADHD coaching different and the benefits coaching can bring for ADHDers - not least having space to speak to someone who gets it and allows you to unmask and be yourself. Leanne shares some of her experiences starting out as an ADHD coach and coaching teenagers, which was rewarding but understandably challenging! Through this experience, Leanne learned the importance of letting people come to their own conclusions and find their own solutions through coaching. She also shares a heartfelt message for parents of ND children and her reasons for recommending parents to get ADHD coaching rather than or as well as their children, partly due to adults having more agency over their own lives but also to help them work through the shame and blame of parenting. If you are considering ADHD coaching for yourself or your child, Leanne shares some helpful tips to support you to find the right coach and to consider why you want coaching and what you want to get out of it.

This episode is a must-listen for parents of ADHD children wanting to understand how coaching could provide valuable support for themselves and their family.

Find out more about Leanne’s work training ADHD coaches through her organisation ADHD works here: https://www.adhdworks.info/ 

Check out her books ADHD: An A to Z and ADHD Works at Work here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ADHD-Works-Work-Leanne-Maskell/dp/B0CK9SY59C

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ADHD-Z-Figuring-Out-Step/dp/1839973854

Did you know that 97% of children excluded from Primary School have a special educational need? And for children who end up in the youth justice system it is 80%?

In this episode, Claire is joined by The Rt Hon Matt Hancock, who has represented West Suffolk as Member of Parliament since 2010, to talk about his campaign for the early identification for neurodiverse conditions in schools. This episode was recorded the same day the Neurodivergent Screening and Teacher Training Bill was read and passed in parliament - a huge step forward in better supporting our children in schools, improving job prospects for the next generation, and reducing populations in young offenders institutes and prisons.

Matt shares his own story with dyslexia - struggling to articulate himself through the written word throughout school but only receiving a diagnosis at university, where he was fortunate enough to get support and ‘re-learn’ to read and write to support his natural ability to ‘think in pictures’. He also describes a ‘tragic and comic’ mistake early in his career due to a very unfortunate typo! Matt spent the first 20 years of his career hiding his dyslexia and feeling a huge sense of shame, but after explaining some of his coping strategies to a new member of staff, he talks about the moment that prompted him to open up about being dyslexic. With a ‘phenomenal’ response to his decision to go public (including a surprise message from a former member of the House of Lords!), Matt was spurred on to further the neurodiversity agenda, setting up the Accessible Learning Foundation and then taking The Dyslexia Screening bill to parliament. 

Whilst some progress has been made and Neurodiversity Condition training is now included in teacher training, Matt doesn’t believe this goes far enough and rejects the notion that labels are negative for children or provide an excuse for poor teaching and poor educational outcomes. Matt argues that better data on children’s differences will help them access teaching that works better for them, supported by screening that can take just 30 minutes and provide an indication of a potential condition. Following lots of positive, constructive feedback from people advocating for ADHD, Autism, and Dyscalculia, Matt has now widened out the original Dyslexia Screening bill to include all Neurodiverse conditions. Matt talks about how simple this screening can be to put in place, with major developments in screeners for all conditions and AI potentially being a huge driver of development. With this data, schools will be able to respond to the needs of each child. Many schools are successfully doing this work already.

Matt and Claire discuss the importance of campaigning to ensure this bill stays on the government agenda and the impact that early identification will have on children in schools but also the knock-on effect on improving job prospects and reducing populations in young offender institutes and prisons. Matt also shares a message of hope for parents who may currently be navigating the SEN system and how screening can be hugely helpful in providing support through that process. He also shares some key actions you can take to support this bill and the wider initiative. 

To find out more about ALF: https://www.accessiblelearningfoundation.org/ 

To donate to Matt’s Justgiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Matt-ALF

Download a template to write to your local MP here: https://www.allaboardadhd.com/blog/neurodivergent-conditions-bill-template-mp-letter

In this episode, Claire welcomes Hannah Hampton - mum to 3 daughters, 2 of whom have been diagnosed with ADHD. Hannah introduces us to two very different presentations of ADHD in her eldest and middle girls and some of their unique strengths, character traits and preferences. 

Hannah shares some of the early signs of ADHD she noticed in her eldest daughter, even as far back as baby and toddler classes, including her early love of ‘art’ (such as car seat graffiti!). As a highly active toddler and small child she had lots of energy she needed to externalise and as Hannah explains, this could sometimes prove challenging in a busy family environment. Once she entered the school system it became clear she was experiencing challenges around attention and focus. Hannah talks about the lightbulb moment that led her to realise her daughter's behaviour was markedly different from her peers and what action she took initially to confirm her suspicions and seek diagnoses - which came in the form of both Dyslexia and ADHD.

In stark contrast, Hannah’s middle daughter didn’t show any of the classic ADHD signs of impulsiveness and hyperactivity, nor was she struggling academically. Her main challenges were around emotional regulation and frequent outbursts. Whilst Hannah knew something was up, she was so different from her eldest, she just wasn’t sure it was ADHD.

Hannah shares the book she read that completely changed her view and helped her understand just how different ADHD profiles can be. She also talks through the journey of diagnosis for both of her daughters, what she and her family put in place, and what really made a difference to her daughters' daily experience, including school accommodations, medication, counseling and experts such as educational psychologists.

With some incredible advice on what action to take if you suspect your child has ADHD, how to deal with the emotions that arise as a parent of a child who has been diagnosed and a fantastic insight into the range of ways you can support your child, this episode is a must-listen, whoever you are on your ADHD journey with your child.

To find out more about Hannah and her work, head to: 

https://www.instagram.com/HemptonHouse

https://www.instagram.com/ottosam_design

How do attachment styles in babies and children affect their brains if they have ADHD? Even before diagnosis, early childhood experiences will shape their response to real or perceived threats. With the right understanding of what drives their children’s emotional responses, parents can give them the support they need to better tune into and regulate their emotions.

In this episode, Claire explores the link between ADHD and Attachment with expert guest Dr Deba Choudhury-Peters - Chartered Consultant Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of clinical experience and the founder of DCP Therapy: an independent psychological therapy practice in London, offering a tailor-made holistic approach, with particular focus on the body-mind connection. Dr Deba works with a wide range of psychological problems and specialises in therapy for trauma and attachment styles in relationships.

Dr Deba explains the basics behind attachment theory - covering the main types and how they manifest in ADHD children. She also talks about what this might mean as your child grows and interacts with other adults and children around them, for example at school. We learn some powerful ways that taking a holistic approach, engaging both the mind and the body, can help empower both children and parents to celebrate their differences. 

If you’d like to learn more about Attachment and Dr Deba’s work, then please check out Deba’s services at DCP Therapy here: https://dcptherapy.com

How can we better support ADHD kids in schools? How do so many ADHD teens and young adults end up in prison? Why does one diagnosis seem to be the point at which things stop, when the co-occurring nature of neurodivergent differences is so high? All these questions and lots more are answered in this episode, Claire is joined by Sarah Templeton - ADHD author, accredited counsellor, coach and founder of Headstuff ADHD Therapy - the biggest ADHD counselling and coaching company in the UK. 

Sarah herself was not diagnosed with ADHD until her early 50’s, which came as a huge shock. Since that diagnosis in 2015, she has dedicated her life to helping ADHD children and adults. She is especially passionate about raising awareness and understanding of ADHD in schools and in the criminal justice system.

Sarah talks about how ADHD might affect a child's experience at school and their ability to learn in a classroom, with some fascinating insights as to how teachers might play to their ADHD pupils' strengths and engage them in their own learning process. She also shares some surprising stats around ADHD and the range of co-occurring conditions, particularly Dyslexia, and the additional challenges this can present for children, teachers and parents. We learn just how easy the path from undiagnosed or unsupported ADHD in children can lead to a criminal record but crucially, through awareness and the right practical strategies, how easy it can be to avoid.

If you are a parent of an ADHD child looking for an inspiring listen with practical advice to help you advocate for your child at school or college and help them play to their strengths, this episode is for you. 

To find out more about Sarah and her work, head to: https://www.sarahtempleton.org.uk/

Sarah has also written multiple books:

What does ‘a very modern family’ look like from the inside? In this episode, I am joined by BAFTA award-winning Carrie Grant for a raw, honest and thoroughly inspiring introduction to her wonderfully diverse “multi-hyphenate” ND family. Carrie shares the highs and lows of parenting four children across their experiences of ADHD, PDA (pathological demand avoidance), DMDD (disruptive mood dysregulation disorder), Autism and Dyscalculia, but also the additional challenges they face, coming from mixed-race heritage and discovering diversity in terms of sexuality and gender too. 

Carrie shares examples of early behaviours that pointed to the potential of ADHD in her children. With over 60% of black and mixed race children sent down a SEMH pathway (social, emotional and mental health) than a SEND pathway (special educational needs and disabilities) Carrie also points towards the dangers of cultural stereotypes and also how early signs may not be as obvious in AFAB children (assigned female at birth) or indeed how behaviour at school vs at home can wildly differ. With diagnoses therefore arriving at different ages and stages for her children, Carrie shares the reality of the grief that can come with late diagnosis and what we must do better, particularly in schools, to support our neurodivergent children.

Carrie goes on to share some honest reflections about the impact of late diagnosis on how she views her own parenting and how developing a deep understanding of her children’s needs has helped her to advocate for them - and ultimately for them to learn to advocate for themselves. Going on to share how things looked for herself and her children post-diagnosis, Carrie introduces us to the world of getting “reasonable adjustments” in place, faced with various reactions and levels of commitment from the school system. She also shares a great tip for the one person to look out for on your journey to help your child get the support they need - and it’s not the person you might expect!

She also shares a hopeful message about the strengths and incredible creative abilities of her children. This episode is a must-listen for parents not just of children with ADHD, but also those of “multi-hyphenate” children who don’t fit into society’s boxes.

Carrie and her husband David run a support group for over 200 families and have a book out on Little Brown called: A Very Modern Family.

What is the ADHD Children’s Evaluation and what can it give parents who suspect their child has ADHD? In this episode, Claire is joined by Professor Susan Young to discuss the ACE assessment. Susan shares the real reason that it was developed and how it has quickly been adopted as a tool not just across the UK, but globally, and has also been expanded to include young people and adults.

Professor Susan explains what makes the ACE tool so different from other ‘tick box’ assessment tools and how its design ensures the identification of symptoms that may already be ‘masked’ by changes in behaviour or existing accommodations to minimise impact at school at home. Professor Susan goes on to share other key differences in the ACE tool, including providing space for signs or “pings” of known or unknown co-existing conditions such as autism, allowing for the reality that ”most children will have ADHD plus something else”. She also stresses the Importance of the assessment being carried out by a qualified Healthcare Clinician. so they can truly answer the question: Is this ADHD or something else? 

Do you have a boisterous boy or a dreamy giggly girl? Professor Susan shares more about the difference in ADHD presentation between boys and girls and the inherent bias in the ADHD criteria that the ACE tool seeks to counter. Whilst the disruption caused by a typical ADHD boy's behaviour means their ADHD is more likely to be picked up earlier on, with girls their symptoms can be less obvious, for example daydreaming and struggling to maintain friendships. Such is this difference that a recent Study in Sweden uncovered a huge difference in time to diagnosis - although Professor Susan believes the real number could be even larger due to girls' ability to camouflage - even in an assessment interview.

Claire and Professor Susan go on to discuss the importance of early intervention and the wide range of different options parents have to make accommodations and support their child - not just medication. They also discuss the importance of taking it one step at a time and exploring what you can do to support your child whilst you’re waiting for an assessment. 

To find out more about Professor Susan’s work, head to her website where you will also find psychoeducational resources and strategies to support children, young people and adults with ADHD, and their parents and carers: http://www.psychology-services.uk.com/service-users

Her books are:

Cognitive-behavioural Therapy for ADHD in Adolescents and Adults: A Psychological Guide to Practice 2nd Edition. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd (Susan Young and Jessica

Bramham): https://www.amazon.com/Cognitive-Behavioural-Therapy-ADHD-Adolescents- Adults/dp/1119960738/ref=sr_1_1?crid=26ZIWZJ623DSK&keywords=young+bramham+adhd+cognitive+therapy&qid=1671205802&sprefi x=young+bramham+adhd+cognitive+therapy%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-1

Helping Children with ADHD: A CBT Guide for Practitioners, Parents and Teachers’ (written by Susan Young and Jade Smith): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Helping-Children-ADHD-Practitioners- Teachers/dp/1118903188/ref=sr_1_1?crid=12PCVLA5KF9X&keywords=young+smith+CBT+adhd&qid=1671205933&sprefix=young+smith+ cbt+adhd%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-1

For support with your ADHD child, discover her ‘‘Spot it and Sort it’ videos here: https://professor-susan-young-psychology-services.teachable.com

In this episode, Claire and Professor Edmund dive into the all-important question: what is ADHD? Professor Edmund -  Professor of Developmental Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Kings College London -  sheds light on just how tricky that question can be to answer, due to the rapidly evolving research and narrative around the condition. He breaks down the medical definition, but clarifies also the emerging ‘neurodiversity' view of ADHD and crucially, how these two differ in their perspective.

They discuss the potential ADHD impact on daily life, for children and their parents, encouraging us to look at the positives as well as the negatives! Professor Edmund shares some key insight into the impact of environmental factors on how ADHD can manifest - for example the difference between school and home. They also discuss some of the key differences between how ADHD looks in boys and girls, delving into just why ADHD is so often overlooked in girls in particular and how this is now changing, with the advent of more research into ADHD in females.

Professor Edmund introduces us to the idea of a ‘wonky self-concept’ that can develop in ADHD children as a result of negative feedback from friends and teachers, but also sheds light on many ADHD strengths that have gone unnoticed historically, including the mischievous magpie mind!

Professor Edmund busts some of the current myths around ADHD and the danger of taking a polarised view. Whilst some might say ADHD kids are ‘just naughty’, others might say ‘they can’t be naughty, they just have ADHD’. In Professor Edmund’s view, the answer lies elsewhere and he explains more about the danger of pointing to any one thing as the ‘cause’ of ADHD.

This episode is a must for any parent starting out on their ADHD journey to get a clear view of what ADHD is (and isn’t!). If you’d like to find out more about Professor Edmund and his work, head here: