ADHD: A Challenge and a Gift

Maria del Carmen Garcia

BEFORE YOU READ:
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder. (Read the box on p. 10 to learn more.) Notice the title of this piece. What do you think might be the challenges and the gifts of ADHD?

A Silent Disorder
Have you ever felt different? I have felt different in many ways. All my life, I tried to understand myself. I experienced my world very differently than other people. I did not fit in anywhere, not even at home. Many things were happening inside of me, and I couldn’t understand them. It turns out, I have Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It is a silent disorder that has a big effect on daily life.

Isolation
The hardest times were when I stuttered as a child. That was the first time I felt rejected, even by my family. At school, I didn’t have any friends, not only because kids laughed at me, but because I distanced myself from them. I thought they would hurt my feelings. Speech therapy helped me improve my stutter, but I was no longer interested in making friends. Even at home, I
felt alone. Family is a strong word. Family is supposed to give you support, love, respect, and acceptance, but I didn’t have any of that. They always reminded me that I was weird.

A Diagnosis and New Understanding
Finally, as an adult, I was diagnosed with ADHD. Now I understand myself better. I see how this condition shows up in my life. For example, not to brag, but I have been awarded Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year multiple times at my job. You might be impressed by this accomplishment. You might think, “Oh, she must enjoy her work.” But it is not all good. I am a “workaholic.” Because of my ADHD, I bring many emotions to my work: anxiety, perfectionism, obsessive behavior, hyperactivity, and hyper-responsibility, to name a few.

Most importantly, I feel depressed. The depression comes from feeling like I can never do enough. I put everything I have into being the best for others. But I can’t be there for myself. Therefore, I never get a break. Most of the time, I feel overwhelmed and burned out. Sometimes, I cannot get out of bed. I am overcome with emotions. My life is like a roller coaster of intense frustration and sensitivity.

Energetic and Persistent
I do not hate my life. Even though I have bad times and I face many challenges every day, my condition also encourages me to do things that I am proud of. I am energetic and persistent. For example, I sat down to write this essay, and I cannot stop writing. I overflow with creativity. I am finding ways to tell my story. I cannot stop writing, and I can be here at my desk all day. I can watch the sunset and everything is okay. I enjoy it. I know I am a good person, not a weird lady.

Coexisting with My Condition
I have come a long way. For many years, I wondered why others would not accept me. But my therapist taught me that that is not the best question for me. My therapist encouraged me to ask, “What do I have to do to accept myself?” She told me, “Nothing is wrong with you.”

ADHD is an incurable condition, but you can learn to coexist with it. I practice Qi Gong and Tai Chi to try to balance my mind and body. I pray and do special breathing exercises when I have an anxiety attack. These practices help me. Every day, I face a lot of challenges. But I am learning how to change bad moments into good experiences. The most important thing is to trust myself and move forward. Have you ever felt this way?

AFTER YOU READ:
1. The author says that winning Employee of the Month is not necessarily a good thing for her. Why?
2. Study the image below. What does ADHD look like on the surface? And what hides below?

Maria del Carmen Garcia is a student at Ysleta Community Learning Center in El Paso, Texas. She is a hardworking single mother who shows unwavering resilience and perseverance. Her goals in life are to continue chasing her dreams, to inspire her daughter to chase her dreams, and to be a worthy role model in her community.

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Diagnosed with Autism at Age 35

Deborah Allen

BEFORE YOU READ:
1. Read about the definitions of autism on pp. 12-13. What do you think the consequences would be of receiving an autism diagnosis at age 35 instead of as a child?
2. Do you have an experience (or does someone in your family have the experience) of it taking a long time to get a diagnosis? Describe what that was like.

I Didn’t Fit In
I grew up having autism, but I didn’t know it. Looking back, I think that’s why I hated going to school. If it had been up to me, I would have dropped out at age seven. School felt like a waste of time, and I felt unhappy there. I didn’t fit in with other students. I couldn’t communicate. I felt dumb and depressed. In addition to those feelings, my family moved often, and adjusting to new schools, teachers, and classrooms was difficult. At age 15, I stopped going.

Found a Way to Get My GED
When I was 24, I started thinking about going back to school to get my GED. I wanted to gain more confidence. I enrolled at a community college for GED classes when I was 25. Going back to school was difficult. I was still dealing with familiar challenges from childhood—things like poor communication, emotional strain, and the persistent sense that I didn’t measure up.

Thankfully, my instructors were very nice and supportive. They helped me in specific ways. For example, they showed me how to sign up for accommodations to get extended time on my exam. I had to study hard for my tests, and I failed several times. It took a lot of hard work and help from my instructors for me to pass my GED. I am a high school graduate, class of 2001.

A Life-Changing Moment
After earning my GED, I decided to continue my education at the community college. My first class was Diversified Career Training, which involved goal-setting, job interviewing, and budgeting. I learned some valuable communication skills through role-playing. Over time, I gained confidence in socializing with people. I learned how to develop a positive mindset. I got to practice conversation, and I learned the importance of putting my thoughts and feelings into the conversation.

At age 35, a life-changing moment came during a conversation with one of my teachers, who had a PhD in psychology. I told him I was struggling—I felt depressed, emotionally stressed, tired of feeling dumb, and full of anger. He suggested I may be on the autism spectrum, and maybe I should go to counseling to learn how to manage life with this condition. That small moment was like a light switching on in my mind. His advice opened me up to new tools and a different way of seeing and doing things.

Finally Getting Help
The college offered short-term counseling, so I signed up and gave it a try. After 35 years of
holding in my feelings and not having a voice, I finally began to face the anger I had carried for so long. Counseling wasn’t easy, but with effort and honesty, it helped me work through that pain.

Along the way, my communication and social skills improved, and I started to build self- confidence. From there, my life moved in a more positive direction. I no longer feel defined by my disability. Instead, I’m defined by my strength to overcome challenges, my ability to grow, and my determination to achieve. It felt like leaving an old life behind and starting a new one.

I thank the Lord for these programs and the encouragement from my instructors to continue learning. Now, I’m taking a writing class. It is all part of my plan to write my own happy ending.

AFTER YOU READ:
1. How did it affect Deborah that she grew up having autism but didn’t know it?
2. What are the specific ways Deborah got help from adult education programs? Take it further and share this resource with your program: The Basic Disability Screenings for Adult Education Program Use, published by SABES.
3. Deborah describes a life-changing moment she had when she was talking to one of her teachers. Have you ever had a life-changing moment in your adult education program? Describe it to a partner and then write about it.

Deborah Allen is a sister and caretaker to her special needs brother. She has worked as a cashier and self-checkout monitor at a grocery store for over 28 years. She studied for her GED from 1992 to 2001 at Seminole State College in Sanford, Florida. In 2023, she enrolled in Essential Education’s online Job Ready program and earned certificates in the Work Essentials and Computer Essentials courses. She plans to continue her education.

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Math Genius

Elwood Green

BEFORE YOU READ:
What does it mean to be a genius at something? Look up the definition of autism spectrum disorder or read the definitions on pp. 12-13.

Good Programs Have Helped Me
I like having autism. I have genius math skills.
If somebody tells me a date years ago, I can tell them what day of the week it was. Even though I am good at math, I have a hard time staying on a budget. I need help for that and other things.

I have attended many good programs that help me. According to the CDC, there are 75 million people in the world with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder). Many of them have missed out on good programs.

One good program for me is Literacy Chicago. I go to school four days a week. I am learning to read and write. My church supports me to reach my goals. My Pastor told me that the church will give me a free car. I have my license, and I know how to drive. I am waiting for my car.

Communication Is Hard
I have a hard time communicating. Many people with autism do not have good social skills. Bad people will scam people with autism. They will act like jerks and try to take all our money. We need to be careful.

I Like Being with My Family
I was in foster care until I was 18 years old. My foster parent was not nice. We did not get along. She didn’t help me. When I was in foster care, I went to my mom and dad’s home every weekend.
They took me camping, and we went fishing on a boat. I had a negative experience in my foster home. I loved being with my parents on the weekends.

After I turned 18, I started living with my mom and dad every day. I’m so happy that I live with them every day. One day, we went to Six Flags. I went on a rollercoaster. I screamed, but I liked it. My family did a lot of fun things that day. Some people with autism might have a harder time on a rollercoaster.

I have real family memories. Not everyone with autism can be with their families. I am lucky to be able to be with my family.

AFTER YOU READ:
1. What are some of the support systems Elwood has in his life? Which ones have worked well and which ones have not worked well for him?
2. According to Elwood, what are the gifts and challenges of having autism?
3. Do the writing activity in the box on p. 17.

Elwood Green is a student at Literacy Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.

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Born with Special Needs

Allen Lovelace

BEFORE YOU READ:
What do you think the author means by “special needs”?

My Parents Are Always Here for Me
I have special needs. I was born with autism a long time ago. My parents did all they could for me, their only son. They always loved me; they didn’t want anything bad to happen to me.

When the hard times happen, when I am in trouble, they are always there for me. When the boys at school were trying to get me, they took me out of that school. When I need something, they buy it for me.

My parents were there when I graduated from high school. They were there when I was sick. They were there when I got engaged. I called them on the cell phone and told them.

I Don’t Miss a Single Day of School
When I finished high school in 2001, I was 20 years old. My math and reading were at third and fourth grade levels. My spelling was at a seventh-grade level. I went to school every day. I didn’t miss a single day. Now, thanks to Literacy Chicago, my reading is at a sixth grade level. It keeps getting better. The more I put into school, the more I get from it. I have perfect attendance. I want to get the achievement award to make my family proud of me.

I Want to Share My Ideas
I like to write because I want to share my ideas. I can write a story like this. It is about me, my mother’s son, who is autistic. I love to be creative. I keep my notebook on the table, and I am always ready to write. I want to publish my writing. I want to make my family proud.

I Want a Job
I used to go to Ada S. McKinley Community Services. They help people like me find a job. I did piecework. I made Chia Pets. Piecework means you get paid for each piece you make. I earned a good paycheck. I had money in my pocket. I don’t go now because they don’t have piecework anymore.

I want a job. I want to call the grocery store. I want to get a job as a bagger. My aunt said I should not get a job. She said it would mess up my social security benefits.

AFTER YOU READ:
Write a letter to Allen. Share any of your own experiences that relate to his. Mention details from this essay in your letter.

Allen Lovelace is a writer living in Chicago. He is a student at Literacy Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. He has not missed a day in the two years he’s been attending the school. He graduated from South Central Community Service High School in Chicago in 2001.

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Learning My Own Way

Adonay Kubrom

BEFORE YOU READ:
1. In what ways do you like to learn? How would you describe your learning style?
2. What do you know about autism? Read the boxes on pp. 12-13. Think about the word spectrum. What does it mean? What does it mean to have a condition on a spectrum?

My Disability Is Autism
Autism is an intellectual disability. It takes me a long time to learn about everything old and new. I have difficulty navigating daily life. It is difficult to make friends with average people because of my lack of communication. It is also difficult to pass the driving test because of my limited English. I don’t have my freedom. I am dependent on my family to drive me around.

With all of these challenges, I am able to have a normal life by memorizing anything I need to learn until it is finally in my head. It is very difficult to listen to verbal instruction. It helps if I make recordings of the instructions. Then I can listen again on my own time. It also helps if I have a hands-on or visual opportunity to learn. For example, I can learn better by watching videos on YouTube.

My school is very supportive. I am in the College to Career (C2C) Program, a three-year program designed to help people like me get a college education and find employment. The program is funded by the Department of Rehabilitation, a California state agency that helps people with disabilities find employment, independence, and equality. This program is threatened by the Trump Administration, because he is trying to eliminate programs that aim to be inclusive of all people.1

My Most Perfect Plan in School
Mary Schexnaydre, a C2C coach, says, “I have seen magical things happen in this program. In the three years that students are with us, I watch them transform from timid novices to confident professionals who have a strong sense of self. C2C helps students answer the questions: who am I, what I am good at, and what do I care about.”2

Before I was admitted to the C2C Program,
I was going to the Petaluma Transition Program (PTP). PTP is a community-like program provided by Petaluma City Schools for students ages 18-22 who have disabilities and have finished their high school program with a Certificate of Completion. This program prepared me to get into the C2C Program. The first time I applied to C2C, I didn’t get in. However, with the help of PTP staff, I was able to get in the second time. I really appreciate all the support I receive from them.

In my C2C classes, I am learning how to write a resume, pick out the jobs that I want, and figure out my personal values and what kind of work environment I want. I have only a year and half left before I graduate.

I want to get a job at a library or comic book store due to the fact that I always enjoy reading novels and comic books. My work experience includes working at Casa Grande High School’s library as an assistant and working at CVS as a restocking clerk. At the library, I cleaned and organized tables, chairs, and books. At CVS, I organized items on the shelves, checked the expiration dates on food and drinks, and took out the trash.

Everyone Deserves an Opportunity
I have noticed that my learning difference or disability has opened up something new for me. I value and appreciate everyone who understands my condition and tries to be helpful. I like to be in class with others who have learning disabilities or differences. We are all in the same boat. Although our disabilities are different, we all have the same goal to succeed. Everyone deserves the same opportunity I have. With all the limitations of having autism, I am striving successfully.

Sources:
1. https://time.com/7210039/what-is-dei-trump-executive-order- companies-diversity-efforts/
2. https://news.santarosa.edu/srjc-college-career-program-ranked-most-successful-california

AFTER YOU READ:
1. What strategies does Adonay use to navigate his challenges?
2. How is his school supportive? Be specific.
3. What state agency funds Adonay’s program? What do you think should be the role of state and federal agencies in supporting this type of programming?

Adonay Kubrom is a student in the C2C Program at Santa Rosa Junior College in Petaluma, California. He is known for his hard work and his eagerness to apply his skills in the workplace. Outside of work, he enjoys doing physical activities, writing explanations, reading books, watching movies, and playing video games. He is particularly interested in performing science experiments.

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