On a number of occasions during court hearings, I have encountered legal professionals who are not cognizant of the ADHD iceberg. Here, a much larger number of possible difficulties can be found, including difficulty inhibiting behaviour, difficulty retaining information in order to make a decision, difficulty planning and difficulty regulating emotions. A much larger portion of the iceberg, however, is hidden underwater. It can be helpful to picture an iceberg, with a handful of well-known ‘visible’ symptoms (like fidgeting and difficulty paying attention) at the top. In fact, ADHD is a much larger cluster of traits and difficulties. Views on ADHD vary, with some dismissing the condition as ‘naughty child syndrome’, while others understand it to be simply a matter of inattention. Beyond inattentionĪ big part of understanding and making adaptations to accommodate ADHD more effectively is going beyond the surface. This need has been recognised by the Ministry of Justice, whose 2021 Prisons Strategy White Paper underscored the need for greater understanding and adjustments for prisoners with ADHD (in response to the 2021 Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System report). Given the high prevalence of ADHD in police stations, prisons and Crown court docks, understanding the condition’s possible impact upon fairness and participation is essential. And please give.The prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among people in the Criminal Justice System is believed to be around ten times that of the general population, with around 25% of adults in prison having ADHD compared to 2.5% of adults in the general population (Young & Cocallis, 2021). There are millions like me out there, and all the gifts they can bring to the world are hidden underwater, just like that iceberg.ĪDDA can find those people. This is why I’m sharing my story here, and asking you to give to ADDA. Somehow I climbed it, and my potential was seen. With the majority of adults undiagnosed with ADHD, it’s crushing to consider how many have stalled in their lives and don’t know why. And the shock was realizing how close I came to stalling all those years ago. Several years later I realized I had ADHD. My never-still mind was best directed to learning and creating my own solutions. Gradually, I found the way my brain worked was a means to growing my roles and reaching my potential. While all of my ideas didn’t get launched, I got the job - the first of several roles I would personally create in a variety of health industries.
On my next day off I had a meeting with the CEO and pitched. She became my self-regulation, and encouraged me to see the ideas as something I could present to the hospital, as a new role. We just struggle to bring them to fruition.įinally, the frustration at all these thoughts, and the unshakable feeling of not reaching my potential, became too much. Having a wealth of ideas is not new for people with ADHD. Others were about businesses or changes to the hospital I worked at, or services like therapeutic mental health programs. One was digital photo restoration, long before it was widely available. I took a career path that, while worthwhile, didn’t challenge me.īut my undiagnosed ADHD didn’t let me settle. Eventually I grew tired of the big last minute efforts, so I settled. Deadlines got closer together, the work was more demanding, and there were so many more distractions. I could pull out the good marks when needed, but as I got older it got harder. Growing up, I was always told I was bright.
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