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Is your child having trouble making friends and fitting in? Blake learning the arch turn Is your child being bullied at school or being made fun of? Does your child find him/herself on the outside of social activities and invitations because he/she does or says impulsive things that just don’t fit in? Are you a parent of an ADHD child? ADHD presents challenges in nearly every area of life. All of us need to learn how to fit in, but for a child with ADHD, it is more of a challenge and it is painful. Unfortunately, before they can figure it out and get it all together, they have been labeled, thus causing more pain. We have had a number of students with ADHD go through the Junior Manners Cotillion Program. The biggest benefit for these children has been the stability and grounding they get from learning manners and social skills. These rules help them keep a level profile. They soon learn that when they act a certain way, people will react to them favorably and this builds confidence. Think of it as a life jacket. They don’t need to know how it works; only that it does. A former student, Blake Taylor has graciously shared some information with us that we believe may be helpful to you. It is our pleasure to introduce you to Blake and pass on this important information. “Learn how to shake hands. Etiquette class was, again, my mother’s idea, and at first I thought it was a colossal waste of time. I joined the class in middle school, and I learned how to introduce myself, converse with others, approach a buffet table, tie a tie, and dine at a formal dinner. I refused to dance with girls, however, and purposely went to the end of the boy’s line, knowing there were fewer girls than boys in class so that when we were matched up, there would be no dancing partner for me. Unfortunately, I outsmarted myself and I ended up having to dance with Mrs. Millet, our teacher! But etiquette class helped me to improve my personal image. I realized that having good manners made me more likeable to other kids, and grown-ups even began to compliment me on my manners. Knowing what to do can give you confidence, whether it’s how to enter a room, how to approach people or which fork to use.”
You have just read an excerpt (found on page 78) from “ADHD & Me – what I learned from lighting fires at the dinner table” by Blake Taylor (new Harbinger Publications, February 2008) Blake Taylor, a 20 year old University of California, Berkeley, junior, is the youngest person to write about living with ADHD. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurological condition that affects over four million young people in the U.S. alone. It is characterized by distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, on one hand -- and by intelligence, creativity, and energy, on the other. Blake strongly believes that ADHD should be considered a difference – not a disorder -- and that young people can learn to harness its many gifts to become successful in school and with friends. As a result, he speaks at many schools and conferences to help change public opinion about this condition. Blake is double-majoring in Molecular & Cell Biology and French Literature at Berkeley and hopes to pursue a career in neuroscience. He has twice been a recipient of the UC Berkeley Alumni Association Leadership Award. In May 2009, Blake was invited by the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and Children & Adults with ADHD (CHADD) to present to members of Congress. Blake has appeared on CNN.com “Young People Who Rock,” and San Francisco’s ABC7 News, FOX Mornings at 2, CBS 5 Bay Area People, KCBS NewsRadio with Rebecca Corral, and in the San Francisco Chronicle. His book, currently in its 4th printing, is being sold in the U.S., Canada, UK, and Australia, and is now being translated into other languages. Blake sails, skis, works out, plays classical piano, and belongs to the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity. Since 7th grade, he has worked for a greyhound rescue group that saves hundreds of young dogs released from racing each year. He lives in the Bay Area with his family and three greyhounds. You can reach Blake through Facebook, his website www.youngwithadhd.com or through New Harbinger Publications www.newharbinger.com. |
