Honestly, I’m not sure how content creators do it. Having spent the last three days at the International Conference on ADHD 2024 in Anaheim CA, I was overwhelmed with new learnings, new insights and meeting new people. Between taking in the outstanding keynote speeches by Dr. Sasha Hamdani, Penn Holderness and Dr. Kojo Sarfo, attending engaging sessions on topics from new research, to ADHD and intersectionality, to frameworks and strategies that community members, coaches and clinicians can leverage to manage the symptoms of ADHD and help people thrive in a society designed largely by and for neurotypical folks. Yes, that’s a run-on sentence, and yes, the experience felt very much like you feel when you read it.
Pausing to provide updates on my social media felt like I would be missing out on the live experiences, miss out on the chance encounter at the coffee station, or the exhibit hall that revealed a new friend or potential colleague or collaborator. So, instead of a series of updates in real-time, I’m reflecting on the experiences of the past few days.
The ADHD Conference is a yearly conference co-led by CHADD, ACO and ADDA. With over 1000 attendees, primarily organized and run by volunteers from around the globe, this was the world’s largest ADHD conference. The power of working together towards a unified vision is unmistakable – and it’s notable that the leaders and volunteers who put this stellar event together comprised of people who are part of the ADHD community as well as allies.
There is always something new to learn. I’ve been involved in the ADHD community for close to 15 years, have read extensively on the subject, am the parent of a young adult with ADHD and am an accredited coach specializing in ADHD. I also give presentations and workshops about ADHD. But there is always something new to learn – new research, a different perspective, or someone else’s lived experience. I’m still digesting the new learnings and experiences I acquired over the past few days, however I can already start to see how my thinking is evolving to incorporate these new insights.
I was able to meet folks in person that I only knew online, like Dr. Tamara Rosier, Barb Williams, Cindy Goldrich, Jill Linkoff and Kathy Edwards. I got to see Dr. Ari Tuckman again – two ADHD conference within three weeks – that’s got to be some kind of record! Each of these amazing humans have made significant contributions to the ADHD and neurodivergent community, from writing books, to leading ADHD organizations and educational institutions to working with individuals and groups. Check out their sites for some great resources.
There are a few folks that I get to see yearly at this conference, and as always, it is a pleasure to renew our acquaintance and friendship in person – Stephanie Monks, Deidre Donchian, Alex Delmar, Griffin Rouse, Liz Brown and Dr. Alan Graham to name but a few.
The ADHD community is unique, diverse and energizing and there’s something magical about a gathering where ADHD symptoms are accepted and accounted for, where most people have lost their keys 5 times before breakfast, showed up at the wrong session at the wrong time, and can’t remember what they came into the room for in the first place, and none of that is a big deal. It’s just another Tuesday.
New insights. New learnings. New and old friends. Acceptance, support and celebration. This is why the ADHD Conference feels like home.
Leadership & ADHD Coaching | Keynotes | Workshops 