ADHD

Dear Danny,

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not a "mental disability." A "mental disability" does not exist. There are mental health disabilities (such as depression, anxiety disorder, or schizophrenia) and cognitive disabilities. Cognitive disabilities affect the intellectual functioning (brain development) and often times physical behavior development. Physical behavior development means a delay related to the ability to learn basic physical tasks such as caring for yourself.

Some people think about ADHD as a cognitive disability. This is because doctors believe ADHD is related to different brain functioning that also affects the ability to control your behavioral activity. With ADHD, the behavioral activity level is very high and this is why you may experience challenges with sitting calm for long periods of time. Participating in sports sounds like a great way for you to channel the extra energy you find from your ADHD!

The majority of people with ADHD, however, do not think it is a cognitive disability. They call it a learning disability. Having a learning disability does not mean that you cannot learn. It means that you learn in different ways than most people. Individuals with learning disabilities can be extremely smart people! For example, the following is a list of historical individuals who were diagnosed with ADHD:

Pablo Picasso (Artist)
Vincent Van Gogh (Artist)
Emily Dickinson (Poet)
Edgar Allen Poe (Poet)
Wolfgang Mozart (Musician)
Bill Gates (Microsoft Founder)
Christopher Columbus (Explorer)
Jim Carrey (Actor)
Robin Williams (Actor)
Albert Einstein (Physicist)
John F. Kennedy (Former U.S. President)

However you want to personally define your disability (cognitive or learning) it okay. The label is not important. What is important is that you recognize and accept your disability and get the appropriate accommodations. It sounds like you are doing a great job with finding your accommodations by seeing a therapist and being active in sports!