8 Billion Ways of Being Human

Welcome to my blog! I’m the mother of a young adult who lives with ADHD, an HR professional, facilitator and trainer, and accredited coach who specializes in executive functioning and ADHD in the workplace.

ADHD is the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder. It impacts between 5% and 9% of children, and between 3% and 5% of adults. I know that there is some discomfort around the use of the word ‘disorder’, and part of the work that I do is to hold space for difficult and complex conversations about the 8 billion ways there are to be human. 

I tend to take a practical approach and focus on the gap between how the majority of the world is organized, and the way in which people who are neurodiverse tend to function, as opposed to the gap between a ‘difference’ and a ‘disorder’.  I’m not saying that it doesn’t make a difference. It certainly can.  Folks who sit on the ‘disorder’ side of the fence may tend to see things through what is called a ‘medical model’, where the location of the pathology, or the issue, is with the person. Whereas, folks who sit on the ‘difference’ side of the fence may tend to see the crux of the issue as an environment that doesn’t meet folks where they are, with rigidly defined norms and social expectations.  While I am proudly part of the latter group, I acknowledge with gratitude the research advances and deeper understanding we are now privy to, as a result of investigations predicated on a medical model view.  I have found that things are not often simple either/or choices…it’s always a complex weave of a bit of this, a dash of that and a pinch of luck.

My goal is to work with clients to help them articulate their goals, identify their strengths, and move towards the future they want. I am also looking to increase knowledge and awareness of neurodiversity and executive function differences, and will post resources and snippets of information I have found useful.  While I am an accredited coach, a critical thinker and an avid researcher, I am not a medical doctor, and my opinions are not to be mistaken for medical advice.