The Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) is the world’s leading adult ADHD organization. We are an international non-profit – 501C – organization founded over twenty-five years ago to help adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) lead better lives. Since its inception, ADDA has become the source for information and resources exclusively for and about adult ADHD. ADDA brings together scientific perspectives and the human experience to generate hope, awareness, empowerment and connections worldwide in the field of ADHD.
Supporting adults with ADHD has led ADDA to focus its efforts on the life stages where adults with ADHD struggle most:
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Adults with ADHD seeking support and connection throughout the lifespan - ADDA offers support, resources, and connection to adults with ADHD and their loved ones. The ADDA Ambassadors are volunteers who reach out to newcomers and provide a helping hand at conferences and throughout the year. ADDA hosts virtual support groups for adults with ADHD to forge connections and share information. ADDA also offers educational webinars to help members build skills and receive up-to-date, accurate information on living successfully with ADHD.
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The Transition to Post-Secondary Education - The transition from high school to post-secondary education is traditionally a difficult step, fraught with challenges and roadblocks for adults with ADHD. Students with ADHD are more likely to struggle with academic under-achievement. That is why ADDA has endeavored to ease this transition by developing programming exclusively for post-secondary students. ADDA’s dedicated professionals routinely provide information and strategies so that adults with ADHD don’t just survive in school, but thrive there.
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Adults with ADHD in the Workplace - ADHD affects 4.4% of U.S. adults. According to a 2012 U.S. economic impact study of ADHD, the overall national annual incremental costs of adult ADHD ranged from $105-$194 billion. Productivity and income losses account for $87 – $138 billion. Furthermore, a 2006 study by the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that untreated adults with ADHD lost an average of 22 days of productivity per year. ADHD is among the most prevalent mental disorders in the U.S., yet is widely ignored by employers. ADDA’s Workplace Issues Committee develops training materials to help managers and HR professionals understand ADHD’s influence in the workplace. They also provide a toolkit for HR professionals to assist people with ADHD regarding ADHD performance issues and accommodations requests.
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Adults with ADHD in the Criminal Justice System - While estimated prevalence rates of ADHD in the general population range from 4 to 8%, it is estimated that 25 to 40% of inmates in the criminal justice system have ADHD most undiagnosed and untreated. This significant overrepresentation of ADHD in the prison population is cause for great concern, especially since incarceration could have been avoided altogether if ADHD symptoms were properly identified and managed. ADDA’s justice programming significantly reduced recidivism rates and created productive citizens, safer communities, more secure correctional institutions and provided considerable savings to taxpayers and serves as a model government can use to improve outcomes for adults with ADHD as they leave the criminal justice system.
In addition to these specific areas, ADDA works diligently to support adults with ADHD by providing:
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Virtual Support Groups to connect members with others who truly understand life with ADHD so they may share resources, information, and support.
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The International ADHD Conference is the largest live event of its kind. This Conference brings together everyone with ADHD, their loved ones and the professionals who serve them in a unique event to connect with experts, professionals, researchers and most importantly, with other people with ADHD.
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An educational and supportive webinar series that provides information on executive functioning challenges and living successfully with ADHD. Each webinar is packed with helpful information and features expert coaches, psychologists, therapists, physicians, researchers, organizers, and educators.
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A monthly newsletter featuring articles from ADHD experts and members who truly get it to provide subscribers with up-to-date information on topics related to ADHD as well as inspiring and motivational stories.
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A voice to policy makers in Washington, DC regarding issues that directly impact adults with ADHD, such as reporting discrimination faced by students seeking accommodations for high stakes testing. ADDA is also the author of U.S. Resolution 390, unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate, establishing ADHD Awareness Day, now ADHD Awareness Month in the U.S. and spreading internationally.
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Support for and facilitation of research on issues specifically impacting the adult ADHD community. ADDA needs your support to facilitate research on diagnosis and treatment options geared towards adults.
URL: | https://www.add.org/ |
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