Cade Lucas
Werribee’s Rebecca Challoner is one of Australia’s foremost ADHD activists.
She has a popular website (myspiritedchild.com) and runs conferences around the country, including this weekend’s Victorian ADHD Conference at the Plenary.
A married mother who has been diagnosed with the condition along with her two boys and husband, Challoner has done as much as anyone in the country to spread awareness of the neurodevelopmental disorder which can cause inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness among many other symptoms.
Yet a recent parent teacher evening underscored just how much work she still has to do.
“My youngest son had his parent teacher interview the other week and his teacher said he just needs to pay attention” recalled Challoner.
“I said er, he has adhd”, she responded, thinking this would explain the reason why.
It didn’t.
“He said I don’t mean with adhd things and I said yeah, still adhd” said Challoner of the exchange which underlined why she began campaigning in the first place.
“That’s why I put so much effort into these conferences and focussing on adhd above all else because the basic level of awareness and understanding is so poor across the board and how are we supposed to help people who have it, if the people who support them don;t understand.”
Challoner said a lack of understanding and support for ADHD is what’s driving people to conferences like hers.
“The need is really high and people have been supporting themselves for so long and now they’re saying I do deserve this support and I do need to get out there and get information.’
That information will come from six expert speakers, covering topics including medication, adult adhd, anxiety, genetics and child development, demonstrating how far removed
ADHD has come from the traditional stereotype hyperactive in young boys.
Today, low self esteem and difficulty making and maintaining friendships are known to be common traits of people with ADHD.
For Challoner, this makes holding the conferences especially rewarding.
“For parents and adult adhders especially, the great thing about the conference is it gives everyone a great sense of community and empowerment and they realise they’re not alone”
The Victorian ADHD Conference is on at the Plenary from 10am to 5pm tomorrow. Tickets available at the door.
