CHADD is pursuing the promotion of health and wellness as part of our health care reform agenda.
A blogger and former CHADD chapter coordinator reacted to my June 25 blog on health care reform messages noting: “Totally left out of the debate are such factors as encouraging health and wellness. A huge chunk of our health care costs arise from avoidable conditions—obesity, lifestyle choices (smoking, for instance), inactivity, and so on.” I did leave this out of my blog entry that week; however, CHADD is actively involved with this objective. Blog comments are supposed to be very brief; thus, I limited my message and links to two coalitions.
Encouraging health and wellness is an important component of health care reform and part of both the National Health Council (NHC) and Campaign for Mental Health Reform (CMHR) advocacy. CHADD works through these coalitions. The NHC comprises roughly 44 voluntary health agencies (VHAs), including those addressing heart, cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, arthritis, asthma, and autism, as well as CHADD. We reach consensus and publicize the consensus.
Likewise, the CMHR is a coalition of 17 national mental health associations, including National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mental Health America (MHA). We reach consensus and publicize the consensus. My June 25 blog merely highlighted the priorities of these two important coalitions. These 61 national health organizations are serious about the principles I discussed in last week’s blog.
CHADD participates in three organizations where promoting health and wellness are important advocacy elements:
1. The Whole Health Campaign is a newer coalition that advocates integration of mental health and substance abuse into public health systems promoting healthy lifestyles, preventing disability and disease, encouraging lifelong management of chronic disease, monitoring health trends, and linking people to needed health services. The Whole Health Campaign advocates five actions to promote health and wellness that includes mental health and substance abuse. Link here for their five actions and paper on health and wellness.
2. Between January and May, the federal agency Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has convened “listening” sessions with mental health and substance abuse organizations, including CHADD. The result of these sessions was the SAMHSA publication of nine principles. The first principle is: “Articulate a national health and wellness plan for all Americans, with a focus on prevention and early intervention.” Link here for a copy of the SAMHSA principles.
3. CHADD co-chairs, with the March of Dimes, the CDC National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) External Partners Group (EPG) advocacy effort. The U.S. Congress, through the Economic Stimulus Act, established a new $600 million Prevention and Wellness Fund. The EPG was instrumental in convincing the Congress to insert “disabilities” in the initial legislation. At the last moment, in back-door tradeoffs, “disability” was deleted and the Fund focuses on chronic and infectious diseases. We continue to advocate that disability be included in prevention and wellness programs. Learn more about these efforts on the CDC-NCBDD website (click on “partners”) or visit the EPG website.
Several blogs ago I summarized the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine report on prevention of mental health challenges in teens and young adults. This is a component of health and wellness.
Visit the public policy section of the CHADD website to see the comprehensive agenda we are pursuing. You can also read the health care reform objectives CHADD submitted to President Obama’s transition team. A single blog, briefly reviewing a few of the coalition efforts we advocate, is no substitute for the comprehensive agenda we work on.
There are many other aspects to health care reform, many of which CHADD is involved with. Visit our public policy website and keep the comments coming—particularly directly to your elected members of the U.S. Congress.
Clarke
You can read this blog and others like it at the HealthCentral website.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Health Care Reform Messages
Every day in the national media there are reports of the debates, discussions, proposals, and controversies about national health care reform. This is a very complicated arena.
Here are the highlights of CHADD’s priorities for health care reform (as of today).
CHADD, as a member of the National Health Council Voluntary Health Agencies, advocates five principles in addressing health care reform, as part of the Council’s “Campaign to Put Patients First” initiative:
1. Cover everyone.
2. Curb costs responsibly.
3. Abolish exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
4. Eliminate lifetime caps.
5. Ensure long term and end-of-life care.
At CHADD’s encouragement, each NHC principle includes an emphasis on “non-discrimination between health conditions.”
CHADD, as a member of the Campaign for Mental Health Reform, advocates the following priorities for mental health in health care reform:
6. Parity for mental health conditions in health benefit design; something stronger than “nothing in this legislation shall prevent implementation of mental health parity” and adequacy of the mental health benefit for subpopulations, such as children.
7. Chronic Care-Chronic Condition Management must include mental illness and mental disorders, such as serious and persistent mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, co-occurring physical illness and mental illness such as health attack/stroke and depression, and co-occurring mental disorders such as the AD/HD child mental disorder co-occurring prevalence data. Focus on lifelong disorders.
8. Encouragement of the “medical home” concept whereby professionals take responsibility for coordinating, integrating, and communicating services and supports. Included in this are consumer-family access to electronic medical records and implementation of personal health records.
9. Affirmative provisions dealing with racial and ethnic disparities, and affirmative provisions recognizing “disability based health disparities.”
There are many other important priorities. These are CHADD’s current priorities, through our membership in these two coalitions. CHADD belongs to many other Washington, DC-based coalitions.
Let us know if there are any very important principles missing from our current priorities. Get involved with your senators and representatives in the U.S. Congress to ensure that these priorities are included.
Clarke
You can read this blog and others like it at the HealthCentral website.
Here are the highlights of CHADD’s priorities for health care reform (as of today).
CHADD, as a member of the National Health Council Voluntary Health Agencies, advocates five principles in addressing health care reform, as part of the Council’s “Campaign to Put Patients First” initiative:
1. Cover everyone.
2. Curb costs responsibly.
3. Abolish exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
4. Eliminate lifetime caps.
5. Ensure long term and end-of-life care.
At CHADD’s encouragement, each NHC principle includes an emphasis on “non-discrimination between health conditions.”
CHADD, as a member of the Campaign for Mental Health Reform, advocates the following priorities for mental health in health care reform:
6. Parity for mental health conditions in health benefit design; something stronger than “nothing in this legislation shall prevent implementation of mental health parity” and adequacy of the mental health benefit for subpopulations, such as children.
7. Chronic Care-Chronic Condition Management must include mental illness and mental disorders, such as serious and persistent mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, co-occurring physical illness and mental illness such as health attack/stroke and depression, and co-occurring mental disorders such as the AD/HD child mental disorder co-occurring prevalence data. Focus on lifelong disorders.
8. Encouragement of the “medical home” concept whereby professionals take responsibility for coordinating, integrating, and communicating services and supports. Included in this are consumer-family access to electronic medical records and implementation of personal health records.
9. Affirmative provisions dealing with racial and ethnic disparities, and affirmative provisions recognizing “disability based health disparities.”
There are many other important priorities. These are CHADD’s current priorities, through our membership in these two coalitions. CHADD belongs to many other Washington, DC-based coalitions.
Let us know if there are any very important principles missing from our current priorities. Get involved with your senators and representatives in the U.S. Congress to ensure that these priorities are included.
Clarke
You can read this blog and others like it at the HealthCentral website.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Faces of AD/HD
Ask five people with AD/HD to describe their AD/HD, and one is likely to hear five different stories. Each will describe how inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsive actions created challenges. Each person’s intelligence, creativity, personality, natural supports (family, faith, neighborhood, community), school supports and accommodations, and access to professional and peer interventions will impact the degree of their challenges. Add co-occurring disorders and another mix of experiences occurs.
Two weeks ago, during National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, CHADD witnessed three different faces of AD/HD.
CHADD participated in the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Congressional visit day. CHADD organized appointments with members of Congress and media interviews with two young college students with AD/HD—Blake Taylor, author of AD/HD and Me, and Courtney Gifford, the reigning Miss Wyoming. Both Blake and Courtney have benefited from access to professional and school supports. Both have strong natural supports. Both are gifted individuals. Both articulated what living with AD/HD was like and how they have benefited from a variety of supports. Blake and Courtney will be featured in CHADD’s member benefit, the June issue of Attention magazine. CHADD members can read this article as soon as it’s posted on the Attention section of the website at the beginning of June.
That same week, CHADD’s president, Marie Paxson, was recognized for her effective family advocacy work by the Commonwealth Academy, a private school in the greater Washington, DC area. Presenting the award were James Carville and Mary Matalin, whose daughters successfully overcame AD/HD and learning challenges in school. James discussed his challenges with AD/HD, describing how an extremely talented and bright guy with high energy deals with his challenges to this day, including the night of the award presentation. CHADD’s June Attention magazine will feature an interview with James Carville, and Mary Matalin will be interviewed in the August issue. CHADD members can read these interviews as soon as they’re posted on the website—part one at the beginning of June, and part two in August!
We each have our stories of dealing with AD/HD. Some have highly successful outcomes. Some are funny. Some are painful and depressing. With some, measuring success is more difficult. Attempting to accurately portray the face of AD/HD to the public will remain a challenge. It takes many forms and we have many different experiences. We should appreciate and learn from the variety of experiences.
Clarke
You can read this blog and others like it at the HealthCentral website.
Two weeks ago, during National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, CHADD witnessed three different faces of AD/HD.
CHADD participated in the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Congressional visit day. CHADD organized appointments with members of Congress and media interviews with two young college students with AD/HD—Blake Taylor, author of AD/HD and Me, and Courtney Gifford, the reigning Miss Wyoming. Both Blake and Courtney have benefited from access to professional and school supports. Both have strong natural supports. Both are gifted individuals. Both articulated what living with AD/HD was like and how they have benefited from a variety of supports. Blake and Courtney will be featured in CHADD’s member benefit, the June issue of Attention magazine. CHADD members can read this article as soon as it’s posted on the Attention section of the website at the beginning of June.
That same week, CHADD’s president, Marie Paxson, was recognized for her effective family advocacy work by the Commonwealth Academy, a private school in the greater Washington, DC area. Presenting the award were James Carville and Mary Matalin, whose daughters successfully overcame AD/HD and learning challenges in school. James discussed his challenges with AD/HD, describing how an extremely talented and bright guy with high energy deals with his challenges to this day, including the night of the award presentation. CHADD’s June Attention magazine will feature an interview with James Carville, and Mary Matalin will be interviewed in the August issue. CHADD members can read these interviews as soon as they’re posted on the website—part one at the beginning of June, and part two in August!
We each have our stories of dealing with AD/HD. Some have highly successful outcomes. Some are funny. Some are painful and depressing. With some, measuring success is more difficult. Attempting to accurately portray the face of AD/HD to the public will remain a challenge. It takes many forms and we have many different experiences. We should appreciate and learn from the variety of experiences.
Clarke
You can read this blog and others like it at the HealthCentral website.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Media's Rush to Publish Can Mislead Parents
On Monday, April 13, USA Today published a commentary titled “New Findings Raise Questions about Use of ADHD Drugs.” CHADD was asked to prepare a counterpoint; however, USA Today editors would not share their commentary with us before publication. They verbally informed us that they would significantly caution against the use of medications and they would criticize CHADD for receiving funding from pharmaceutical companies. We proceeded to prepare a statement.
You can read the commentaries here or go to the homepage of our website and click on Media coverage on effective treatment under the “In the News” section.
As the father of a son with AD/HD and co-occurring challenges, I found the limitations and conditions imposed by USA Today confining. I previously shared some of my personal understandings of the NIMH-funded Multimodal Treatment Study in the context of other published research with CHADD’s Professional Advisory Board. I share here my understandings as a Dad.
1. At six to eight years, participants’ functioning remained improved compared with their functioning at the beginning, but the research does not “prove” this is related to specific treatments.
2. First year of treatment does not predict functioning after three years.
3. Six to eight years after initial treatment, children and adolescents with AD/HD still had significant academic and social problems but not as bad as at the baseline.
4. Thousands of personal stories from across the nation received through CHADD, including my own, report that proven treatments, including medication and structured behavioral interventions, are helpful. The MTA study did not conclude that treatments were ineffective; merely that over time, when they no longer receive systematic research-based intervention, participating children continued to have significant problems.
5. We have known for several years that, on average, there is height suppression early on with the medication. Parents have to balance this “on average” finding with the consequences of not treating AD/HD and their degree of access to high-quality structured behavioral interventions, special education services, parent training, and other helpful supports.
6. We have clearly known since the 1999 Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health that for a subset of the population, medications either don’t work or have severe side effects. This issue was not addressed in the six-to-eight-year MTA Study follow-up.
7. As with many medications to treat a variety of illnesses and disorders, over time people with AD/HD stop taking medication.
8. People who remain CHADD members over a multi-year period of time, such as my family, generally seem to have family members with more severe forms of AD/HD and/or co-occurring mental and learning disorders. Researchers need to increase their attention to the more severe forms of AD/HD and those with co-occurring disorders. This is not an MTA Study finding, just common knowledge.
9. We know that good treatment must be sustained over time.
10. We know that optimal treatment combines a variety of coordinated approaches. For years, CHADD has referred to these combinations of treatments using the NIMH phrase “multimodal.” Maybe we need a new phrase, since many people focus just on the NIMH-funded MTA study when this phrase is used.
11. Scientists don’t know all the answers. Scientists should think carefully about the message they send to parents, families, consumers, and the public when they get too involved in the complexities of a particular research methodology or when they advocate one intervention to the detriment of other helpful interventions. Scientists should not initiate therapeutic squabbles about therapies. We parents are just looking for the best combination of what works.
12. The media seems obsessed with focusing on controversy, disagreements between scientists, and negative stories. CHADD attempts to deliver a message to the public that is science-based, balanced with the lived experience of thousands of families across the nation. When the science is unclear, we are uncertain. USA Today attempted to make the issue black-and-white—medications are either good or bad—in its point/counterpoint. In reality, there is a broader toolkit of interventions. We parents, if we have access to these various interventions, choose what we think are effective combinations. Severity of the disorder influences these selections.
13. Access to professional services and natural supports plays an important role in an individual’s success in dealing with life and with the symptoms of AD/HD. This is not an MTA Study finding—it is common sense, based on what we know about a family’s lived experience.
USA Today criticizes the CHADD website for not having detailed warnings about medications and the MTA Study—before the study follow-up was actually published. But rather than rush with a headline, CHADD wants its professional advisory board to reach a consensus on what published studies actually say before we disseminate the information.
USA Today criticizes CHADD for accepting funding from pharmaceutical companies. Since 2001, we have published on our website the amount, percent, and company donating. We have published on our website our policies and philosophies, including avoidance of conflicts of interest, and we limit such funding to no more than thirty percent of our revenue. CHADD’s practices are consistent with those of the leading voluntary health agencies in America. We are a national network of 12,000 members and 70,000 involved constituents, with hundreds providing volunteer support for others. We happen to accept some funds from industry, which allows us to broaden our services and support.
These are my thoughts as a Dad dealing every day with the consequences of AD/HD in the family. The media and all of us should strive to not lump under a single label the variety, complexity, and severity that constitutes what we call today AD/HD.
Clarke
You can read the commentaries here or go to the homepage of our website and click on Media coverage on effective treatment under the “In the News” section.
As the father of a son with AD/HD and co-occurring challenges, I found the limitations and conditions imposed by USA Today confining. I previously shared some of my personal understandings of the NIMH-funded Multimodal Treatment Study in the context of other published research with CHADD’s Professional Advisory Board. I share here my understandings as a Dad.
1. At six to eight years, participants’ functioning remained improved compared with their functioning at the beginning, but the research does not “prove” this is related to specific treatments.
2. First year of treatment does not predict functioning after three years.
3. Six to eight years after initial treatment, children and adolescents with AD/HD still had significant academic and social problems but not as bad as at the baseline.
4. Thousands of personal stories from across the nation received through CHADD, including my own, report that proven treatments, including medication and structured behavioral interventions, are helpful. The MTA study did not conclude that treatments were ineffective; merely that over time, when they no longer receive systematic research-based intervention, participating children continued to have significant problems.
5. We have known for several years that, on average, there is height suppression early on with the medication. Parents have to balance this “on average” finding with the consequences of not treating AD/HD and their degree of access to high-quality structured behavioral interventions, special education services, parent training, and other helpful supports.
6. We have clearly known since the 1999 Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health that for a subset of the population, medications either don’t work or have severe side effects. This issue was not addressed in the six-to-eight-year MTA Study follow-up.
7. As with many medications to treat a variety of illnesses and disorders, over time people with AD/HD stop taking medication.
8. People who remain CHADD members over a multi-year period of time, such as my family, generally seem to have family members with more severe forms of AD/HD and/or co-occurring mental and learning disorders. Researchers need to increase their attention to the more severe forms of AD/HD and those with co-occurring disorders. This is not an MTA Study finding, just common knowledge.
9. We know that good treatment must be sustained over time.
10. We know that optimal treatment combines a variety of coordinated approaches. For years, CHADD has referred to these combinations of treatments using the NIMH phrase “multimodal.” Maybe we need a new phrase, since many people focus just on the NIMH-funded MTA study when this phrase is used.
11. Scientists don’t know all the answers. Scientists should think carefully about the message they send to parents, families, consumers, and the public when they get too involved in the complexities of a particular research methodology or when they advocate one intervention to the detriment of other helpful interventions. Scientists should not initiate therapeutic squabbles about therapies. We parents are just looking for the best combination of what works.
12. The media seems obsessed with focusing on controversy, disagreements between scientists, and negative stories. CHADD attempts to deliver a message to the public that is science-based, balanced with the lived experience of thousands of families across the nation. When the science is unclear, we are uncertain. USA Today attempted to make the issue black-and-white—medications are either good or bad—in its point/counterpoint. In reality, there is a broader toolkit of interventions. We parents, if we have access to these various interventions, choose what we think are effective combinations. Severity of the disorder influences these selections.
13. Access to professional services and natural supports plays an important role in an individual’s success in dealing with life and with the symptoms of AD/HD. This is not an MTA Study finding—it is common sense, based on what we know about a family’s lived experience.
USA Today criticizes the CHADD website for not having detailed warnings about medications and the MTA Study—before the study follow-up was actually published. But rather than rush with a headline, CHADD wants its professional advisory board to reach a consensus on what published studies actually say before we disseminate the information.
USA Today criticizes CHADD for accepting funding from pharmaceutical companies. Since 2001, we have published on our website the amount, percent, and company donating. We have published on our website our policies and philosophies, including avoidance of conflicts of interest, and we limit such funding to no more than thirty percent of our revenue. CHADD’s practices are consistent with those of the leading voluntary health agencies in America. We are a national network of 12,000 members and 70,000 involved constituents, with hundreds providing volunteer support for others. We happen to accept some funds from industry, which allows us to broaden our services and support.
These are my thoughts as a Dad dealing every day with the consequences of AD/HD in the family. The media and all of us should strive to not lump under a single label the variety, complexity, and severity that constitutes what we call today AD/HD.
Clarke
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Preventing Disorders Among Young People
We know that AD/HD is an abnormality of how the brain functions, and we know that there is frequently a genetic element. We also know that environmental elements can influence brain development. We know that natural supports, such as home and community, can influence the symptoms of AD/HD. Now, the Institute of Medicine (IOM), National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has issued a new report, Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People. This 400-page report, by the most prestigious body of medical science in the United States, is expensive and can be ordered here through the IOM. The IOM recommends that the national government make healthy mental, emotional, and behavioral development of young people a national priority, establish goals, and provide needed research and service resources to address the goals.
The report concludes that early interventions can be effective in delaying or preventing the onset of mental disorders among young people. CHADD's sister organization, Mental Health America "concurs" with the IOM, "supports the faithful implementation of a strong science base," and observes that "unfortunately, we lack a national initiative to advance the use of prevention and promotion approaches to benefit the mental health of the nation's young people."
The IOM recommends that national priorities should include:
1. Individuals who are at risk receive the best available evidence-based interventions prior to the onset of the disorder.
2. Promotion of positive mental, emotional, and behavioral development for all children and youth.
3. Poverty is a serious adversity that must be addressed.
4. Neighborhood violence is another serious adversity that must be addressed.
The IOM recommends federal agency research coordinated with practice. The government should identify communities with significant community-level risk factors and target resources to these communities. Researchers and community organizations should form partnerships to develop evaluations. Screening programs should be linked to interventions and evaluations. Risk and protective factors for specific disorders should be researched, and a focus should be on strengthening accomplishment of age-appropriate developmental tasks.
CHADD will be asking members of our professional advisory board to summarize programs cited by the IOM "as worth duplicating across the country," including:
1. Clarke Cognitive-Behavioral Prevention Intervention
2. Good Behavioral Game
3. Positive Parenting Program
4. Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS)
Prevention requires an investment of commitment and resources. The nation's school districts should be more responsible and involved with such prevention programs.
Clarke
You can read this blog and others like it at the HealthCentral website.
The report concludes that early interventions can be effective in delaying or preventing the onset of mental disorders among young people. CHADD's sister organization, Mental Health America "concurs" with the IOM, "supports the faithful implementation of a strong science base," and observes that "unfortunately, we lack a national initiative to advance the use of prevention and promotion approaches to benefit the mental health of the nation's young people."
The IOM recommends that national priorities should include:
1. Individuals who are at risk receive the best available evidence-based interventions prior to the onset of the disorder.
2. Promotion of positive mental, emotional, and behavioral development for all children and youth.
3. Poverty is a serious adversity that must be addressed.
4. Neighborhood violence is another serious adversity that must be addressed.
The IOM recommends federal agency research coordinated with practice. The government should identify communities with significant community-level risk factors and target resources to these communities. Researchers and community organizations should form partnerships to develop evaluations. Screening programs should be linked to interventions and evaluations. Risk and protective factors for specific disorders should be researched, and a focus should be on strengthening accomplishment of age-appropriate developmental tasks.
CHADD will be asking members of our professional advisory board to summarize programs cited by the IOM "as worth duplicating across the country," including:
1. Clarke Cognitive-Behavioral Prevention Intervention
2. Good Behavioral Game
3. Positive Parenting Program
4. Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS)
Prevention requires an investment of commitment and resources. The nation's school districts should be more responsible and involved with such prevention programs.
Clarke
You can read this blog and others like it at the HealthCentral website.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Medication Treatment for AD/HD
An article about medication effectiveness and side effects is circulating in the media. A piece by Shankar Vedantam appeared on the front page above the fold of today’s Washington Post. The article highlights some of the disagreements that have arisen between leading scientists over a follow-up to the landmark Multimodal Treatment Study on AD/HD. We encourage concerned parents to learn more by perusing the CHADD website and the website of CHADD’s National Resource Center on AD/HD. As always, parents should consult with their treatment and prescribing professionals before making any decisions about the treatment of AD/HD. Any treatment, including treatment of AD/HD, must be individualized to meet the unique circumstances of the person and his or her family.
Clarke
You can read this blog and others like it at the HealthCentral website.
Clarke
You can read this blog and others like it at the HealthCentral website.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Take and Make Time
My son Andrew, now age 18, and I just returned from our third consecutive baseball spring training trip to Florida. Our annual journey together has been a wonderful opportunity to bond.
This may be our last trip for some time. Next year Andrew will be out of high school and we are working on developing a post-high school experience. He may not be available. If the economy does not substantially improve, there will be no more vacations in the Ross family, after one we are planning in June in celebration of Andrew’s completion of high school. One never knows if a next opportunity will be there, but we will remember the last one.
It has been fascinating and wonderful to observe Andrew’s growing maturity and independence over these last three years of trips. He is a guy with a variety of special needs, significant inattention and anxiety among them.
Three years ago, Andrew had difficulty navigating a stadium without my prompts and supports. Now, he navigates any baseball stadium by himself, whether to get a hot dog, ice cream, score card, or memorabilia. He is comfortable at the ballpark.
Three years ago, Andrew needed me with him when he sought autographs. Now he is comfortable dealing with the crowds swarming for autographs and obtaining them himself.
Three years ago, personal hygiene was a challenge. He didn’t recognize its importance. Starting on our first trip three years ago, I insisted that he adhere to a personal hygiene schedule. Shaving, showering, putting on clean clothes, and other self-care tasks had to be completed before we went to the ballpark. Now he sees personal hygiene as part of his preparation for the day. (We still have major organization and neatness issues, however.)
Three years ago, Andrew never initiated discussions about his life situation and resisted answering my questions about the subject. While this remains a challenge today, during this year’s trip Andrew offered a few insights and questions about life—and his own life.
People grow, develop, and mature at very different rates. We need to provide patience, structure, and role modeling. Patience, structure, and role modeling pay off. It just takes some people a little longer.
If at all possible, take the time—make the time—to spend special time with your children. Andrew and I will remember these trips to Florida for the rest of our lives. They are special. Enjoy them as you are able.
I hope this isn’t too simplistic or self-evident. I hope it reinforces your thoughts and instincts. We had a great baseball trip—and as a Dad, I feel more hopeful than ever.
Clarke
You can read this blog and others like it at the HealthCentral website.
This may be our last trip for some time. Next year Andrew will be out of high school and we are working on developing a post-high school experience. He may not be available. If the economy does not substantially improve, there will be no more vacations in the Ross family, after one we are planning in June in celebration of Andrew’s completion of high school. One never knows if a next opportunity will be there, but we will remember the last one.
It has been fascinating and wonderful to observe Andrew’s growing maturity and independence over these last three years of trips. He is a guy with a variety of special needs, significant inattention and anxiety among them.
Three years ago, Andrew had difficulty navigating a stadium without my prompts and supports. Now, he navigates any baseball stadium by himself, whether to get a hot dog, ice cream, score card, or memorabilia. He is comfortable at the ballpark.
Three years ago, Andrew needed me with him when he sought autographs. Now he is comfortable dealing with the crowds swarming for autographs and obtaining them himself.
Three years ago, personal hygiene was a challenge. He didn’t recognize its importance. Starting on our first trip three years ago, I insisted that he adhere to a personal hygiene schedule. Shaving, showering, putting on clean clothes, and other self-care tasks had to be completed before we went to the ballpark. Now he sees personal hygiene as part of his preparation for the day. (We still have major organization and neatness issues, however.)
Three years ago, Andrew never initiated discussions about his life situation and resisted answering my questions about the subject. While this remains a challenge today, during this year’s trip Andrew offered a few insights and questions about life—and his own life.
People grow, develop, and mature at very different rates. We need to provide patience, structure, and role modeling. Patience, structure, and role modeling pay off. It just takes some people a little longer.
If at all possible, take the time—make the time—to spend special time with your children. Andrew and I will remember these trips to Florida for the rest of our lives. They are special. Enjoy them as you are able.
I hope this isn’t too simplistic or self-evident. I hope it reinforces your thoughts and instincts. We had a great baseball trip—and as a Dad, I feel more hopeful than ever.
Clarke
You can read this blog and others like it at the HealthCentral website.
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