ADHD is one of many conditions which can make it harder to learn in a traditional classroom and exam environment. With the right adjustments many children with ADHD will thrive, but first we need to be able to recognise a child’s needs and how to support them to do their best.
In this new film from ‘‘Nip in the Bud‘ , you’ll hear directly from Debbie about her experience having undiagnosed ADHD in school, and the impact this had on her.
“From as young as I can remember, I’ve always thought there was something wrong with me…If I’d had my diagnosis at school, everything would have been different.”
As a young black girl, Debbie didn’t fit the stereotype of a child with ADHD. As a result, her learning differences weren’t recognised and she would get into trouble at school. Because ADHD typically presents differently in girls, the signs can be overlooked, and it is thought girls may also be better at ‘masking’ their difficulties to fit in.
“It’s well known that women with ADHD are really good at hiding things.”
As Debbie got older she was able to find some coping strategies which work for her. However, her story shows how it can be life-changing to receive a diagnosis from a younger age, and highlights the importance of challenging our assumptions about a child’s behaviour and experiences.
* Debbie volunteers for ADHD Babes, a community group for Black Women and Non-Binary people of African-Caribbean descent with ADHD.
“We’re just wired differently… someone getting there in a different way can also open up something new that people didn’t know, and that can be really amazing.”
Barry Carpenter Education 