Attention Deficit Disorder in the UK

(By Simon Buckingham).

Welcome to the ADD/ADHD in the UK Page

This is a web page for people interested in Attention Deficit Disorder (with or without Hyperactivity) in the United Kingdom. I intend to provide links to other ADD pages on the web which are of use, as well as giving other useful addresses and information. These pages will be constantly under construction, as information is bound to change. If you wish to learn more about me, you can see my own home page. If you would like to add information or make suggestions for these pages, please feel free to E-Mail me. My address is bucko@pavilion.co.uk.

Plans for this page

In the near future, I wish to extend this page somewhat. I plan to have versions in other languages, and have started on the German, French and Russian versions already. If you wish to translate this page into your native tongue, please feel free, and then E-Mail it to me. I will then get it checked for accuracy, content and everything, and include a working link to it. Watch this space!

Links on ADD

This section gives some really useful links to other ADD pages that may be of use. I have given my views on each, but you may disagree with my assessment. If you do, let me know.

To find out what ADD is, I would suggest the ADD WWW Archive. This page gives you links to all sorts of other useful pages, and helps you to both define and deal with ADD. It is an excellent bookmark for future reference, and a good initial page for someone seeking information. Also good when searching for specific information.

For practical information, 50 Tips on the Management of ADD has to be a good scource. It has many tips and suggestions to help with ADD management, and whilst my wife and I have not adopted all of the suggestions by any means, many of them are still very useful. This is the page for coming to terms with and compensating for ADD.

If you wish to get more technical, I would suggest the ADD FAQ for information. This page will answer any further questions you may have.

For an excellent list of ADD personal contacts, I would try out Kellye Culberth's Link page. Also, for North Americans, try "For all the special kids in the world". Whilst the site is pretty mediocre and corny, the addresses given are both relevant and good. Not much point going here if you are not in N.America though. My advice then is to use one of the previous links, and skip this one. Apart from the addresses and telephone numbers, it is pretty irrelevant.

Whilst this list is by no means comprehensive, it will give you those all important initial links. From these pages you can access all the general ADD information you need.

For ADD/ADHD discussion and feedback, I would suggest three sources. Firstly, alt.support.attn-deficit on the news groups is a good forum. Also, you could subscribe to the ADD Mailing List. Just leave the subject line blank, and in the bulk of the text, type in:

Subscribe ADDult Fred Bloggs

where Fred Bloggs is your real name. This is a good group, but don't make the same mistake I did, and get into an arguement. It is full of people with ADD, and is therefore a strange mixture of extreme caring and extreme stroppiness. Be prepared. It has to be one of the best forums for information and debate on the Internet though.
Finally, if you have IRC, try joining #ADHD. This is a forum of ADDers from (usually) the USA, and a good source of information, as well as a shoulder to cry on.

UK Contacts

Finally, we come to the UK contacts. The most useful one is the ADD/ADHD Family Support Group. This organisation I have found to be the most useful scource of help, support and advice available in the UK. I would recommend a first course of action to be writing to them for an information pack. They are a registered charity, (No 1041941), so whilst they generously offer their services for free, making a donation might be a thoughtful gesture. I have always dealt with Barbera and Brian Tuffill on (01380) 726710. You can write to:
Mrs Gillian Mead. (President)
1a The High Street,
Dilton Marsh,
Nr. Westbury,
Wiltshire,
BA13 4DL.

Another good contact would be the Hyperactive Childrens Support Group. They tend more towards natural remedies and sollutions, especially for children.
Sally Bunday,
71 Whyke Lane,
Chichester,
West Sussex.
Tel: (01803) 725182

Another good contact is LADDER. I do not know the telephone number.
LADDER
Stan Mould,
95 Church Street Rd.
Bradmore,
Wolverhampton,
WV3 7EW.

I have also heard recently of a group in South London. I have asked for more info, but the details are:
Sue Waren, Membership Secretary
ADD/ADHD Support Group (South London)
32 Abbottswood Road, Streatham, SW16 1AP
phone 0181 769 1667
or via Kathy West: 106324.161@Compuserve.com
or via John Deane: 101601.520@Compuserve.com

For Doctors who diagnose ADD, I would recommend speaking to the ADD/ADHD Family Support Group, shown above. However, for an NHS referral, I would suggest
Dr Brian TOONE
Department of Psychological Medicine
Kings College Hospital
Denmark Hill
LONDON.
SE5 9RS
Tel: (0171) 346 3226 Ext. 2586.
This department diagnoses ADD, follows up, and is researching into the disorder. One area of research is the link between ADD and dyslexia. It is up to your GP to refer you if he/she is willing.
Another group that may be of use are the Thanet ADDers. This is a support group for sufferers of ADD/ADHD and their families in Thanet, Kent. They have adult and child ADD sufferers as members. They are also very open minded with regards more natural approaches to handling ADD/ADHD. Their web site has information, links and local news and they have just added an online bookshop in association with Amazon.com, where you can purchase ADD/ADHD books online. Any small commission we might earn from this will go into Thanet ADDers funds for the benefit of their members. They started the group on 20/1/97 and now have a regular youth group and hold monthly adult meetings, usually on the first wednesday of the month. Also, they have also just received a grant from Dave Lee's Happy Holidays to take the whole group (just over 100 members) to Chessington World of Adventures for a day out.

Key quote would be "I would think the most important aspect of our approach is that we view ADD/ADHD as a potential ability rather than a disability."
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E-Mail bucko@pavilion.co.uk.
Updated 27th December 1996.