I spend my life and built a business around supporting adults who have ADHD.
I ahve a child with ADHD.
So why wouldn’t I be happy about a month dedicated to ADHD awareness?
Let’s dive in.
I don’t want you to just ‘be aware of me.’ It’s not enough.
I’m also joyfully aware of the positive trats that people with ADHD have the benefit of. They are extremely creative, brilliant problem solvers, fierce friends… and an absolute privilege to know.
The thing is, despite increased awareness, I don’t feel that attitudes have improved.
It is not enough to be aware of me. It is not enough to have done a 30 minute e-learning about Neurodiversity in the Workplace, when you work closely with me.
I’m not saying every single human should go out and do a PhD in ADHD or anything like that. But I think as human beings we have a responsibility to one another to attempt to understand human experiences outside of our own, especially when we spend time with people who fit this description.
But it is about more than awareness.
First Acceptance, then Appreciation, then Celebration.
First, we move towards Acceptance.
By accepting the differences and challenges of individuals with ADHD, we open ourselves up towards moving away from stigmatised and antiquated stances on neurodivergence, moving away from the focus on impairment and disability, and instead reframing things as ‘tweaks and adjustments’. When someone has cold hands, we don’t care if they wear gloves, as long as they are still able to do their job. Adjustments for ADHD should be as acceptable as this.
And then we head towards Appreciation.
When people with ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions are supported with their adjustments, you allow for their best selves to emerge. And their best? It’s like watching magic in action.
The creativity comes out. Their hyperfocus on the work can be channelled into work that matters. Typically, because people with ADHD have spent so much of their lives grafting HARD just to keep up with their neurotypical peers, they perform outstandingly when their needs are finally met, often far outstripping what others can accomplish in an hour or a day.
And when we appreciate this contribution and the magic, we can start to CELEBRATE.
Celebrate the individuals for what they do.
Celebrate their contributions and their value.
Celebrate the beauty that goes on in their differently-wired brains.
Because that, my darlings, is something really worth spending a month talking about.
This ADHD ‘Awareness’ Month, we are going to be celebrating the stories of ADHD adults, children, professionals and business who are smashing the arse out of life, despite a condition deemed as an impairment.
Got a story? Email hello@thespicybraincollective.com
Send us your submission (500-750 words), 2-3 high quality images, your business logo and links to websites/socials if you have one, and a short bio of no more than 100 words.