So recently I came across this video. And being really shallow, I was very, very surprised that people with Down Syndrome can be independent adults and is just like everyone else. My impression of them has been a quiet bunch (maybe cos they are not capable of conversation and communication) and that they think like children even if they are grown up. (But well, some of us are pretty immature even without mental disabilities. Sigh)
But today, I am not going to talk about Down Syndrome. I will be discussing ADHD, also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Not surprisingly, this is actually a very common disorder found among children nowadays. It is postulated that roughly 8-10% of the world population has ADHD.
Back in my times, parents were petrified if their kids was suspected of having the ADHD disorder. It was like sinful even. ADHD was like some "bad reputation". Parents got mad if teachers vaguely the child may need "special care". The thing is even if the child is diagnosed with ADHD, it doesn't prevent them from making the most of their life. They may need a little help in learning, but that does not mean they cannot learn. (Huge difference there alright!) There are some successful people with ADHD, like Ryan Higa and even Justin Timberlake to name a few.Do people judge them differently? They both earn more than me. LOL. And I would have never known they had ADHD if they did not declare it themselves.
*I think as a parent (not that I am one yet), but I always believe that it seems right to give your child the best you possibly can. After, you are the one who brought them to the world. (They didn't really have a choice.) Our education system is still rather rigid and for children with special needs, you do need a properly trained teacher or tutor to guide the child.
Whether the child has any physical deformities or mental disabilities or even slight disorder, a parent should try to let the child feel that he or she is as normal as possible. Kids their own age actually are unable to distinguish another who is different from them. It is the adult's attitude that signal to them "Hey, something isn't right?"*
**Above is just my personal opinion, this is not an invitation to hate. I do however welcome comments from people who like to share more.