This is an exciting newsletter for two reasons. First, ADHD PEI just turned 2 years old on September 12th. Secondly, October is ADHD Awareness month! Check out the list of activities below and join in. It has been an exciting adventure so far. I believe that with the launch of our website and the community we are building, we are making tangible progress towards our goal of all Islanders with ADHD being accepted, understood, and able to thrive.
Please join us, and bring a friend!
~ Sandy Slade
Upcoming Events
OCTOBER IS ADHD AWARENESS MONTH!
Two of our weekly support group meetings will be converted to casual 'Open House' information sessions where everyone is invited to stop by and see what we are all about.
WEDNESDAY ADULT ADHD SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS (ONLINE):
Wednesday, October 7th 7:30pm-9:00pm Atlantic Time.
Wednesday, October 21st, 7:30pm-9:00pm Atlantic Time. WHERE: Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9720415025
Meeting ID: 972 041 5025
ONLINE OPEN HOUSE - INFOSESSION:
Wednesday, October 14th 7:30pm-9:00pm Atlantic Time.
Wednesday, October 28th 7:30pm-9:00pm Atlantic Time. WHERE: Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9720415025
Meeting ID: 972 041 5025
If you haven't used Zoom you can check it out here. The first time you join a meeting you may be prompted to download some software, after that zoom will be able to launch from your computer when you click a meeting link.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Our social media will be hopping this month, with daily posts and some fun extra tidbits. If you are on Facebook then be sure to check out our public page: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDPEI
For more personal interaction with others dealing with ADHD join our private Facebook group where we share ideas, discussions, and funny memes: https://www.facebook.com/groups/268296020531282
OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF OUR WEBSITE:
It's been some time in the making, but our website is finally ready to launch!
Come visit us at www.ADHDPEI.ca to learn about our organization, access our Resources page, see archived previous issues of our newsletter, and more!
TAKE OUR 'HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW ADHD' QUIZ any time during the month of October. Look for a link on our Facebook page!
ADDing to your Toolbox
This month’s toolbox is a little different, instead of offering tips to help those living with ADHD we’d like to celebrate some famous and inspiring folks (both real and fictional) that are believed to have had ADHD:
Simone Biles
Olympic Gymnast
Simone Biles is one of the most decorated gymnasts in the USA. Open about having ADHD she discusses how people attempted to use her treatment against her and how she turned the direction of the conversation.
Richard Branson
Business Magnate Sir Richard Branson, famous businessman and founder of the Virgin Group, is a great example that there is no limit to the potential of people with ADHD. This clip also explains 'net' vs 'gross' if you've struggled with that business concept yourself! :D
Leonardo DaVinci
Artist and Inventor ADHD officially entered the DSM in the 1980s, but it existed long before that.
There's no way to diagnose a historical figure but this article in Brain: A Journal of Neurology discusses reasons why some think that the great inventor and artist Leonardo DaVinci had ADHD. https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/142/6/1842/5492606
Anne of Green Gables
(and likely her creator, Lucy M. Montgomery)
We know that Anne isn't a real person, but she is nonetheless a known and beloved figure to those of us on PEI!
This article in the Pediatric Annals discusses why Anne is likely an early description of ADHD and why they suspect her creator, author Lucy Maud Montgomery, could also have had ADHD.
Our regular list of resources can be found on our website HERE.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a stress and disruption for everyone, but for those of us with ADHD there are some particular reasons it may be difficult to cope. We've assembled a collection of external resources that we think may be helpful to you: