ADHD Essentials

Today, we’re talking to Alan Mosden.  Alan is the father of several children with special needs, who wrote a comment letter that addresses how the Family Medical Leave Act applies to IEP Meetings. In today’s episode, we discuss what a comment let is, and how FLMA applies to school care meetings, petitioning the government to get things done, and advocating for our kids.   Special Note: Nether Alan nor I are lawyers. So, although we talk about legal matters in this episode, do not take any of it as legal advice.  Consult your legal representative before implementing anything discussed in this episode.   Learn About & Register For The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups Here!   Guest Links: The Comment Letter (FMLA2019-2-A) discussed in this episode, in which the DOL concluded that FMLA covers an employee’s attendance at a school meeting where their child's IEP will be discussed.   Additional Links: The article written by Jeff Nowak about Aelan's Comment Letter mentioned in today's episode.   ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for the next round of The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  Check out the ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community

Today, we’re talking to Matt Fahy, LMHC.  Matt is a licensed mental health counselor based in Florida.  He began his quest to better understand the human condition as an Anthropologist, spending a number of years exploring and working on archeological sites.  Eight years ago, he shifted his focus to mental health counseling.  And now, he has married the two and uses his Anthropology knowledge and counseling skills to run therapeutic games of Dungeons and Dragons for his clients.   RSVP for the ADHD reWired Live Q&A Featuring Jessica McCabe, Eric Tivers, and Brendan Mahan!  Tuesday, September 10th!  1:30pm Eastern / 10:30am Pacific!   In today’s episode, we talk about what Dungeons and Dragons is, how Matt uses it as a therapeutic tool  to help the kids he works with develop social skills,  problem-solving skills, and greater insight into themselves, the roots of this approach in classic psychological approaches, and Matt shares with us the tale of the clients in one of his groups helped Boogers the Goblin learn coping strategies to better manage his anxiety. Guest Links: Learn more about Matt Fahy and his work at https://mattfahy.com.   Additional Links: Learn more about Dungeons & Dragons at https://dnd.wizards.com. Check out my friend Ryan's gaming newsletter, Burn the Tavern Down.   ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for the next round of The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  Check out the ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community    

Today, we’re talking to Amy Leone.  Amy is a mental health clinician who specializes in adolescent and youngadults with dual diagnoses, including substance abuse, and behavioral or trauma related symptoms.  I first met Amy when I joined her Juvenile Advocacy Group, a group she created to address the effects of the opioid epidemic in Milford, MA, which has become a model for many other towns throughout Massachusetts, as well as the state as a whole.  She is one of the most caring and driven people I know, and it an honor to call her my friend. In today’s episode, Amy talks to us about vaping. What it is, why it’s so hard to catch, its connection to marijuana use, step we can take to keep our kids from doing it, and the fact that it might be a signal of the need for stress reduction and mental health supports for both kids and parents. A quick disclaimer:   This week’s episode is about vaping.  It touches on addiction, and the kinds of behaviors that might signal addiction.  I don’t want to panic anyone.  If your kid engages in one or two of the behaviors mentioned, that doesn’t mean they’re vaping or engaging in addictive behaviors. Sometimes our kids becoming more secretive is a perfectly healthy, developmentally appropriate way of seeking independence and setting boundaries.  That said, the more of these behaviors you see, the more concerned you may need to be.  You can learn more about addiction and what to do if your kid might be  vaping, or using drugs or similar substances athttps://www.drugabuse.gov, and https://drugfree.org.    CLICK HERE to register for a free information session about the ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups and find out if they're right for you.   Update: During the course of this discussion, Amy mentions that vaping doesn't necessarily leave a smell.  She also later talks about there being a smell of marijuana from  dabbing.  This is not a contradiction, things just weren't made clear enough.  Some vaping methods leave no smell, others do.  Sometimes the smell is connected to the flavor, say strawberry.  When dabbing the smell of marijuana will typically be present, unless there are steps are taken to cover it up.   Guest Links: Learn more about Amy and her work at https://community-impact-inc.com. Learn about the Juvenile Advocacy Program she created here, and here.   ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for the next round of The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  Check out the ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community

Today, I share a handful of back to school tips and ideas.  Depending on the age of your kid and your individual situation, some of these might need a little tweaking, but I’m sure you’ll find things in here that are useful. The topics include: Expectations Starting in the morning Making friends Relationships with teachers Homework  Studying Transitions Winding down for bed Register Here For The Executive Function Online Summit (TEFOS)   ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for the next round of The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  Check out the ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community

Today, we’re talking to Seth Perler.  Seth is an Executive Function and Twice Exceptional Coach who has dedicated his life to helping kids overcome their challenges so they can live great lives.  He does this by teaching the world about executive function. Unsurprisingly, he’s also the founder of The Executive Function Online Summit. In today’s episode, Seth and I talk about the resistance our kids sometimes experience when faced with challenging tasks, how major shifts come from millions of little successes, The Executive Function Online Summit (TEFOS), and the importance of our relationships with our kids.    Register The Executive Function Online Summit (TEFOS)   Guest Links: Learn more about Seth at https://sethperler.com.   Replay of my ADDitude Webinar on The Wall of Awful   ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for the next round of The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  Check out the ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community

My buddy Adam Wilson is back on the pod! Adam is the founder of Calm Passion, a non-profit that creates sensory sensitive spaces to help those with sensory needs participate in events like comic book conventions and movie showings that might otherwise be too overwhelming for them.  He also runs Calmer Con, which is an entire pop culture convention Adam has developed for kids, adults, and families with sensory needs. In today’s episode, Adam and I talk about the importance of having a consistent approach to how we handle our kids, the power reframing our struggles, navigating the isolation of raising a kid with special needs, including our kids on their support team, and going out to dinner to get on the same page as our partner.   Recent & Upcoming Appearances: Replay of my ADDitude Webinar on The Wall of Awful Register for the Live Q&A with Eric Tivers Register The Executive Function Online Summit   Guest Links: Learn more about Adam & Calm Passion at http://calmpassion.org Or check them out on Facebook, here! ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for the next round of The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  Check out the ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community

Today, we’re talking to Lindsey Steele.  Lindsey is a high school social studies teacher with ADHD. She writes about managing the life of a teacher while having ADHD on her blog, Fight, Pray, Teach.  In today’s episode, Lindsey and I talk about how having ADHD informs her teaching practice, and her relationships with her students.  She also shares some of the organization strategies she uses in her classroom, and we talk about how they can be applied in the home by parents affected by ADHD.         Register for my Webinar with ADDitude Magazine on Tuesday, August 6th at 1pm Eastern, Here!   Guest Links: Learn more about Lindsey and her work at https://fightprayteach.wordpress.com/ Read her article about organizing her classroom to be ADHD friendly. ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for the next round of The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  Check out the ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community

Today, we’re talking to Doug Harris of ADHD Synergy.  Doug is a long-time ADHD coach, working primarily with creatives and the gifted.  He organizes the Ann Arbor Michigan ADHD Support group, and was an absolute blast to talk to!  In today’s episode, Doug tells us about finding connection in ADHD conferences and groups, how he used streaks to meditate for 388 days in a row, his theory of pre-trying, and growing up with ADHD. Guest Links: Learn more about Doug at http://adhdsynergy.com Find the Ann Arbor, MI support group here: https://www.meetup.com/AnnArbor-ADHD-ADD-Support/ ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for the next round of The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  Check out the ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community

It was is an honor and a privilege to reconnect with my old friend, Jarra Meltzer for this interview. Jarra is the senior Developmental Learning Specialist at the Interactive Learning Center in Lexington, MA, and is an expert in learning and development of children, both academically and socially. In today’s episode, we discuss focusing on process over results, the power of saying “I wonder…”, allowing space for failure, asking better questions, and the pillars of problem solving.   Guest Links: Learn more about Jarra and her work at https://theinteractivelearningcenter.com    ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for the next round of The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  Check out the ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community

WARNING:  At one point in this episode, we discuss mass shootings at mosques and synagogs.  It's only a small part of the show, but it does occur. /WARNING Today, we’re talking to René Brooks of Black Girl, Lost Keys. René is a member of the ADHD tribe, and return guest.  She’s currently raising awareness for Black Women’s Health as part of the “Crazy Like a Fox Tour”.  The tour will be in Philly on Sunday at Location 215, and then they’ll be at Impact Hub in Baltimore on July 27th. Go to CrazyLikeAFoxTour.com for more details.    In today’s episode, René and I share some of our ADHD struggles and vulnerabilities while discussing ADHD & Self-Esteem, the  importance of asking for help, the intersection of mental health and race, and the power of networking.   Guest Links: Learn more about Rene at her website: BlackGirlLostKeys.com  Check her out on Facebook or Twitter And go see her in the "Crazy Like A Fox" Tour   ADHD Essentials Links: Learn about & Register for the next round of The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups  Check out the ADHD Essentials Homepage Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Join Our Facebook Community