Edge Foundation Blog

We’re pleased to announce About.com has posted an interview with the Edge Foundation. The article explores how coaching can help high school and college students with ADHD reach their full potential.

ADHD Coaching for High School and College Students

About.com is a part of the New York Times Company. The (ADD) ADHD section is written by Keath Low. Low is a psychologist and holds a Clinical Scientist appointment with the Center for Development and Learning at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical School. Low is also an expert panelist and contributing writer for iParenting.

Edge Foundation board member, Nancy Ratey, publishes a new book: The Disorganized Mind: Coaching Your ADHD Brain to Take Control of Your Time, Tasks, and Talents (St Martins Press April ‘08)

“This is a book about possibility,” says Ratey “It’s both a practical guide to taking control of the symptoms with which individuals with ADHD struggle, and an inspirational summons to believe that living a rich and balanced life – a life you love – is possible.”

The book addresses the common issues confronted by the ADHD adult:
“Where did the time go?”
“I’ll do it later, I always work better under pressure anyway.”
“I’ll just check my e-mail one more time before the meeting…”
“I’ll pay the bills tomorrow – that will give me time to find them.”

The strategies for managing time, staying on task, and accomplishing your goals are simple, and they work:

• The Parking Lot – Distracted by someting you need to do later?  Get it out of your mind by writing it down on your ‘parking lot’ note pad, where it will be safely stored for later.

• Beat the Clock – Have a deadline on a report? Take your laptop to the park, pop in the battery, and get going. Watch the power drain as your report gets done. Hit save before the battery runs out!

• Appoint a “Watch Dog”—Saying or doing things you regret? Enlist a trusted friend to watch over you and your actions. Give him permission to be very honest and to confront you if you are about to do something you might be sorry for, like calling an old flame or walking off your job.

Nancy A. Ratey, EdM., MCC is a strategic life coach specializing in coaching professionals with ADHD and an internationally recognized expert on the subject of ADHD coaching. Her work has been featured in The NY Times, Newsday, Wired, and Vogue, and has appeared on ABC, CBS and NPR. Click here for more on the book.

 You may have noticed that there are a lot of web sites out there that mention ADHD.  Here at the Edge Foundation, we like to think we have some of the best information about ADHD to be found on the web.  But of course we know there are other great sites out there as well. Here are our current top 5 favorite ADHD web sites (listed alphabetically).

1.      ADDitude Magazine
This magazine offers tons of on-line resources for families and people with ADHD.  They offer an on-line newsletter as well as a well written and content rich periodical.

2.      Attention Deficit Disorder Resources
A non-profit organization dedicated to providing everything you might want to know about ADHD including articles, links, a national directory, teleclasses, podcasts, e-news, and more.

3.      Bryan L. Hutchinson Blog
Bryan has recently gained media attention for publishing his memoire, One Boy’s Struggle: A Memoire:  Surviving Life with Undiagnosed ADD.  The book has been described as providing new insight into what it’s like to live with ADHD.  The blog is aimed at promoting his book, but does give you a glimpse into Bryan’s perspective and current concerns.

4.      CHADD Leadership Blog
This must-read blog is written by E. Clark Ross, the CEO of CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.)  You’ve probably already heard of CHADD’s amazing work to educate the nation, and Congress, about the special needs of people with ADHD.  But you probably haven’t run across this blog.  It’s a great source for up-to-the minute, scientific facts about ADHD.  It also includes moving personal stories by the people who are spearheading the ADHD movement.

5.      National Resource Center on AD/HD
An invaluable program of CHADD, The National Resource Center on AD/HD is the nation’s clearinghouse for science-based information about all aspects of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD).  Funded through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the NRC provides information on this disorder which affects how millions of children and adults function on a daily basis. Don’t see your favorite listed here?  Post a comment and let others know about it.