BC parents push for ADHD to be recognized as serious learning risk in schools

The Centre for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Awareness Canada (CADDC)  is pushing for ADHD to be recognized as a serious learning risk in BC schools.

According to the CADDC,  BC school boards and educators currently view ADHD as less of a learning risk than other neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism.

Both the CADDAC and many BC parents believe that the Ministry of Education needs to officially state that they recognize ADHD as a serious learning risk.

The Ministry of Education responded to the request and stated, “our goal is to respond to a student’s educational needs, and not only a medical diagnosis and students are assessed in a variety of ways as they progress through school and schools work hard to ensure proper supports are in place.”

However, the President of the Prince George District Teachers Association, Joanne Hapke says that even with the possibility of recognition, there is still one factor that contributes heavily to how much teachers can really help students diagnosed with ADHD.

“Even if parents are successful in getting the Ministry of Education to recognize ADHD as a serious learning risk, classes are still not receiving the necessary funding support to fully teach these students,” explained President of the Prince George District Teachers Association, Joanne Hapke.

According to the CADDC, there are three main symptoms of ADHD, the inability to regulate attention and activity as well as difficulty with inhibitory behaviour, which results in impulsivity.

ADHD presents itself differently depending on the student’s age and gender and  Hapke believes there is no one-size-fits-all method in dealing with ADHD students in classrooms.

“Teachers have more of an understanding of what their students’ needs are and they’re responding to the needs by adapting to their own teaching strategies with all students so it would be hard to give a specific accommodation because they’re all individually based,” explained Hapke.

While there are no specific accommodations required for students with ADHD, Hapke says providing students with opportunities to take breaks from schoolwork and walk around can often help.

“There needs to be an understanding that students with certain behaviours are not bad kids, they’re responding to the needs that they have, their physiological needs at that moment,” Hapke explained.