Attention Deficit Disorder has been called many things: A curse, a disability, a problem, pure bone lazy.
Dr. Kevin Ross Emery, an expert on child and adult ADD/HD, wants to add another term: gift.
“However well intended, society’s collective attempts to medically treat and otherwise manage ADD/HD individuals often negatively impacts their self-worth and self-esteem and significantly hinders their ability to reach their full potential,” Dr. Kevin said. “Indeed, the stakes are high when it comes to finding a successful treatment plan, particularly for children. Those who face criticism from parents, teachers and others for perceived laziness and bad behavior may face a lifetime of emotional problems.”
Not only that, the researcher and author said in a press release sent to Stately Dude Manor, but that constant harassment, no matter how well intentioned, can have the effect of blunting the sharp edge of the “gift” conferred by their ADD/HD.
“The loss of this population’s insights, brilliance and creativity–their greatness–is all too often sacrificed in order to help them ‘fit in’ to society. We as a culture need to celebrate and nurture those living with ADD/HD as they are so that they can, in turn, love and respect themselves and realize their full capabilities…to the benefit of us all.”
So Dr. Kevin, who actually likes to be called Dr. Kevin, got together with some coders and created the Managing the Gift smartphone app. It’s designed to provide educators, parents and caregivers a better understanding of ADD/HD, so as to counter the more common, negative labels that create such negative presentiment.
According to the press release I was sent: The pioneering Managing the Gift App goes well beyond with highly detailed, custom-tailored reports that help caregivers understand precisely how to best parent, guide, support, feed and educate each specific child living with ADHD, ADD or HD. To facilitate this, among other features, the App uniquely offers a proprietary, personalized “Paint Your Child’s Portrait” interactive tool that reveals and defines a child’s distinct “ADD/HD personality” and, based on the individualized results, provides an expansive custom report that provides caregivers with valuable behavioral insights to recognize, utilize and maximize what Dr. Kevin calls the child’s “ADD/HD greatness.” The information gleaned from the custom-tailored reports also helps caregivers make critical decisions about diet, guidance and other common areas of concern and confusion, while also providing tools and techniques to help ensure the child flourishes amid the unique capabilities and aptitudes identified through the App.
The Managing the Gift App is compatible with any iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch with iOS 5.1 or greater and is available for free in the iTunes Store. The optional “Paint Your Child’s Portrait” feature reports are offered through the App for an additional nominal fee.
I’ll be straight with you dudes. I’ve not tried the app. I wish I had, but real life has been kicking a certain dude’s butt quite severely lately.
The reason I’m running this press release is that I love the idea behind the app. All three of my young dudes were diagnosed with ADD/HD and all three of them have been seen in a poor light at times because of it.
But I’ve also seen some amazing bits – some astonishing creativity – that I don’t see in undiagnosed young dudes and dudettes. It’s hard when you’re constantly being told that there’s something wrong with you. I’m all for something that says they aren’t just as good as the other kids in their class, they’re better. And they can get even better than that.
So take this as a qualified endorsement. I love the idea behind the app’s creation. Now it’s up to you dudes to let me know if the app lives up to its promise.
For more information on Emery (a.k.a. Dr. Kevin), or his books “Managing the Gift of your ADD/HD Child” and “Managing the Gift: Alternative Approaches to Attention Deficit Disorder,” you can find him at www.MyDrKevin.com.
