FIRST EVER ADHD REPORT CARD SHOWS THREE PROVINCES ARE FAILING CANADA'S
STUDENTS

All students with ADHD in Canada have the right to equitable education
opportunities and should not be barred from receiving additional support

TORONTO, Oct. 27 /CNW/ - The first-ever report card released today on how Canada's special education systems recognize, identify and support students with ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), reveals alarming results.

The report card, produced by the Centre for ADHD Advocacy, Canada (CADDAC), looks at the various systems of special education across Canada and evaluates the potential impact on students with ADHD.  The report highlights marked inconsistencies from province-to-province in how students with ADHD are identified, understood and accommodated within Canadian school systems. Based on this analysis, three provinces - Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia - are failing our students. 

"ADHD is a medical brain-based disorder that's complex, often misunderstood and can affect a child's daily functioning - at home and at school," says Dr. Kenny Handelman, child psychiatrist and expert on ADHD. "The reality is that ADHD affects about five per cent of school-aged children world-wide, which translates as 1- 2 students per classroom, making it hugely important for families to have access to the right medical and educational treatments in order for students with ADHD to thrive."

Currently in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia, a diagnosis of ADHD alone does not qualify a student for an official "exceptional student" designation. The research found that unless a student has a co-existing learning disability or another recognized disorder they will not qualify for the right to receive any accommodations in the way they are taught and evaluated. These systems have led to inconsistencies and inequities in how students with ADHD receive special education services or if they receive them at all.

"Some standards must be brought forward to ensure the needs of students with ADHD in all provinces are met," says Heidi Bernhardt, National Director of CADDAC and a mother of three adult children with ADHD. "This means qualifying for special education resources and having access to appropriately trained educators and making sure every child can access the interventions their doctor feels is the best option for them. Until this happens students with ADHD in some provinces will not have the same opportunity to reach their full academic potential and provinces will keep failing the grade."

The release of the report card is part of CADDAC's nation-wide campaign to attain Fairness in Education for students with ADHD which calls on governments to ensure that ADHD is recognized by education systems as a legitimate learning disorder and that many students with ADHD have special learning needs and require appropriate supports to overcome their challenges in becoming academically successful.

"Our school systems need to become more educated about this legitimate disorder and officially recognize that students with ADHD are indeed special learners that require school accommodations as part of their treatment," says Rosemary Tannock, Canada Research Chair & Professor in Special Education & Adaptive Technology, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in the University of Toronto.

CADDAC has also prepared a white paper which provides an overview of the latest research and expert opinion on the issue of fairness in education, as well as the public policy implications of a failure to enact the required changes. The paper concludes with three main recommendations:

• Provision of  formal recognition for students with ADHD by provincial ministries of education
• Provision of formal recognition of ADHD as an academic and developmental risk factor by professional bodies in education
• Provision of mandatory professional development on ADHD in all school boards (elementary and secondary).

CADDAC will continue to advocate for fairness in education until all provinces receive a passing grade. To read the report card, and for further information and to join the campaign, please visit www.caddac.ca

About ADHD
ADHD is a hereditary neurological disorder that primarily results in difficulty regulating attention and impacts almost every aspect of daily living including learning, organization skills and time management.  The most conservative estimates indicate that ADHD affects over 1 million Canadians, an average of one to three children in every classroom and at least one employee in every small business. ADHD that is not recognized and treated defers huge costs to our social and economic systems. There are excellent multimodal intervention approaches available to manage the symptoms of ADHD.

About CADDAC
The Centre for ADHD/ADD Advocacy, Canada (CADDAC) is a national, not-for-profit organization providing leadership in education and advocacy for ADHD organizations and individuals with ADHD across Canada. CADDAC's mandate is to take a national leadership role in networking all organizations, professionals, patients, caregivers and other stakeholders involved in ADHD related issues, and to then support those people through education and advocacy.

For further information:

or to arrange interviews with a parent of a child with ADHD or an ADHD expert, please contact: Heidi Bernhard, National Director, CADDAC 416-637-8584, [email protected] or Katie Lofquist, Hill and Knowlton, 416-413-1218, [email protected].