Video Illustrates a Common Perception That ADHD

¶ … video illustrates a common perception that ADHD is being over-diagnosed in our society today. It reflects the notion that there seems to be 'more' ADHD because students are being allowed to get away with bad behavior and are not being reprimanded as they would be in previous eras for not doing their work and not paying attention in class. According to the textbook, however, ADHD is a genuine learning disability reflecting the brain's inability to filter out irrelevant stimuli, and more 'discipline' will not cure it any more than more 'discipline' will enable a child with dyslexia to read without assistance like his or her peers.

Of course, it is possible that ADHD is being over-diagnosed in some anecdotal instances, and being used by parents as an excuse for children's conduct problems. But this does not mean that all cases are the result of over-diagnosis and this cannot be used as an excuse not to treat students with ADHD in an effective pedagogical manner. Effective strategies include restricting lesson plans to break them down into 'chunks;' minimizing distractions in the classroom (such as seating the students with ADHD away from windows; and implementing behavioral 'rewards' systems in which students are rewarded for meeting positive learning and conduct goals).

Q2. Steven Wiltshire is an autistic savant known as 'the human camera.' Like many persons with autism, Wiltshire exhibits profound deficits in language and social functioning. Yet the unique nature of his brain allows him to render images he has seen with uncanny accuracy, often replicating or surpassing high-resolution photographs in technical detail, as seen in the video in his rendition of an aerial view of a cityscape. Even the windows and column details of buildings were accurate in his drawing. This would be impossible for most 'neurologically normal' brains. Persons on the autism spectrum may lack 'mirror neurons' which allow them to mirror the behaviors of others even though Wiltshire can copy the 'non-human' view of the cities he sees perfectly.

Q3. The story of Dick and Rick Hoyt is an inspiring story about surmounting the limits of the human body. The father of 'Team Hoyt' had never competed as a runner before his disabled son asked him to compete in a road race in honor of another paralyzed child. Dick has since trained to enter road races and triathlons while carrying or propelling his son in a wheelchair to enable the boy to fully participate in life. Through the use of technology son Rick can now communicate with the outside world. Rick graduated from college and now lives independently. He still competes with his father as a team and their mutual example show how common assumptions about persons with disabilities are often inaccurate -- when Rick was born, the family was first instructed to institutionalize him. Now the Hoyts accomplish together what few able-bodied persons can.