Interview by Judy Brenis, ADHD coach, AAC Fifteen years ago, Duane Gordon was about to lose yet another job. His marriage was on the rocks and he admits, “I was a lousy husband and father.” Flash forward to today and Gordon, who was officially diagnosed with ADHD in 1998, can now boast, not only of keeping his job, but of rising rapidly through the ranks and landing on his feet through four mergers and acquisitions at the same company in Montreal for 15 years. It was his wife who suggested he tell his story for ADHD Heroes, he has a…
By Judy Brenis, ADHD coach, AAC Jay Carter’s resume reads like a Who’s Who in Business, but it wasn’t always like that. His psychologist once said, “Jay Carter has taken a rather circuitous route to his present success.” “That couldn’t be truer, says Carter, who has ADHD and has worked at a Fortune 100 company for the past 14 years. Labeled a troublemaker as a child, Carter could never quite figure out how he ended up in the principal’s office or how he’d gotten into a particular fight. “I never set out to get myself in those kinds of situations,”…
ADDA recently participated in Mediaplanet’s Mental Health Awareness campaign where we united with likeminded industry leaders to raise awareness for mental health issues and advocate to make mental health care a priority. The campaign was distributed through USA TODAY on May 18th, 2017 and is published online. You can read our contribution here. Please spread the news and help raise awareness!
By Jay Carter Technology is an essential tool in today’s society. In fact, advances in technology have paid off big time for adults with ADHD who benefit from the wealth of new programs and applications offering help with planning, time management, reminders, note-taking, and the like. But the sparkle of technology can be a double-edged sword – navigating this complex world of new technology can be confusing. Some adults with ADHD are drawn to technology and have a strong affinity for it - technology works well with the way their brains are built and provides mental stimulation and enjoyment. Others…
By Linda Walker According to recent studies, adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) are almost eight times more likely to report occupational impairment than non-ADHDers. In his book, ADHD in Adults: What the Science Says, Russell Barkley says: "Adults who grew up with ADHD are likely to have a lower socioeconomic status than their brothers or control subjects in these studies and to move and change jobs more often". Adults with ADHD are almost five times more likely to be fired and eighteen times more likely to be disciplined than non-ADHDers. They struggle to stay focused in an increasingly challenging…
By Judy Brenis At the age of 32, Michael Camoin was fired from his job as a school social worker, and then diagnosed with ADHD and depression. It was a tough year. Eighteen years later, he is a leader in independent film production in northeastern New York and co-founder of Upstate Independents, Inc., a network for the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers and home to over 200 media artists. “My passion is pursuing independent motion pictures – and I rarely ever look at the clock other than to see how much time is left in the day,” said Camoin,…