Deseret News | Camp is therapy for kids with ADHD

Reader comments
Camp is therapy for kids with ADHD

GodIsADD | 1:23 a.m. July 28, 2009

ADHD is not all bad. It would have been nice to hear some of the positives.

Great to see a program that is not medically driven.

Famous people with ADHD:

Entertainment:
-Will Smith
-Anthony Hopkins
-Jay Leno
-Glenn Beck
-Britney Spears
-Paris Hilton
-Tom Cruise
-Cher
-Danny Glover
-Ty Pedington
-Whoopi Goldberg
-Dustin Hoffman
-Robin Williams
-Sylvester Stallone
-Henry Winkler
-Steven Spilberg
-Dustin Hoffman
-Bill Cosby
-Jim Carrey
-Stevie Wonder
-Ann Bancroft
-Kirk Douglas
-Ozzy Osbourne
-Suzanne Somers
-Mariel Hemingway
-Robert Redford
-Jack Nicholson
-Orlando Bloom
-Patrick Dempsey
-Woody Harrelson
-Keria Knightly
-Philip Manuel
-Robert Benton

Athletes:
-Magic Johnson
-Jason Kidd
-Pete Rose
-Michael Jordan
-Nolan Ryan
-Carl Lewis
-Terry Bradshaw
-Greg Louganis
-Scott Eyre
-Bruce Jenner
-Michael Phelps

Business World:
-David Neeleman
-Richard Branson
-Paul Orfalea
-Pete Kight
-Bill Gates
-Ted Turner
-James Sorenson
-John T. Chambers
-James Carville
-John Roberts
-Dennis Webb

Famous People:
-Prince Charles
-George Bush’s Children (and George Bush)
-Stephen Hawkings
-Danielle Fisher
-Tommy Hilfiger

laura | 2:39 a.m. July 28, 2009

It would be nice if there were a mentoring program for adults with ADHD. My college-aged son could use some advice, friendship, etc.

adult with ADHD still | 5:34 a.m. July 28, 2009

dear GodisADD; thank you so much for pointing out that there are still a lot of famous people who are ADHD and can be funcional in today's society as well as successful. I have had ADHD for over 41 years and struggle everyday. I am not a criminal, I have never been arrested. This article makes people think that these kids will never have a chance to make it into society and what's up with the punishment all the time. Nobody is perfect even adults are figidity at times. ADHD/ADD is a condition we have to deal with it's not genetics like the Doc want's you to believe its a condition some of us are born with that we need to deal with. It's not contagous either.
thanks again.
sincerly,
NOT A CRIMINAL, just ADHD

Comments continue below

FSB | 7:06 a.m. July 28, 2009

Our 15 year old adoptive daughter has ADHA and some other issues. Drugs helped a little, but not much. You have to get good at channeling their high energy into appropriate activities. She spent a year in a residential treatment center which gave our daughter some skills on coping with her disability. Things like working with horses and being incharge of calling 50 people seem to help. You have to really watch them because they constanly try to manipulate you and the people around them. We really praise the good our daughter does, but we also hold her accountable for bad decisions. They will try you in a lot of areas. Hopefully, we can continue to help our daughter become a good and productive citizen like those on the list of famous people with ADHD.

Anonymous | 10:04 a.m. July 28, 2009

I hate hearing that ADHD is a disorder.

While it may be to you who don't have it, but ADHD is an asset and a learning difference to those that do and have learned how to use it WITHOUT medicating.

Ridlin is a cop-out parents. You need management more than drugs.

I agree | 10:28 a.m. July 28, 2009

Is the camp based on experiences found on textbooks? What first hand experiences do these social workers and therapists have? Are they basing their treatment from what "they" perceive as the solutions or from others with ADHD that are productive contributors of society? From how the article was written, it appears as though having ADHD might as well be equaled to having a Scarlett Letter on your forehead.

Thus the very purpose of this camp worries me.

While I applaud their effort to make the kids feel normal, I agree with previous comments-- instead of focusing on making the kids adapt in being like everyone else, why not help the children learn how to focus their energy into being productive contributors?

Teach the value of self reliance and self-empowerment by realizing their potential and what they can do, not by their limitation and what they shouldn't do.

I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. It explained the struggles I faced as a child and a teenager. But I too am not a criminal but a successful member of the community because I was taught how to channel my energy.

Desert Dawg | 10:54 a.m. July 28, 2009

I feel as though with all of the diagnoses we have for "disorders" it gives these individuals, whether they are young or old, a "justification" for their poor choices at times.

My wife and I understand what these parents are dealing with...we have a child who also struggles, though not with ADHD. Medicate or not? How much? These are tough questions to answer, even with some great doctors helping you out.

The bottom line is it all comes down to parents trying their best with their children and the child's personal choice to do what is right. With this combination, the child will be successful in life's endeavors.

mom2superstar | 11:45 a.m. July 28, 2009

We almost had our son go to ADHD camp, but it was too expensive. I'm concerned that kids with ADHD whose parents cannot afford specialized camps and treatment fall by the wayside. I'm looking for resrouces. Does anyone know if there are "special" schools in Utah that address these issues? Where do we find help for our kids with LD and ADHD?

Anonymous | 12:18 p.m. July 28, 2009

So what happens when these kids get out in the real world and there are no "immediate" rewards or punishments for their actions? How are they going to function in, say, a normal classroom or when they get a job? What long term consequences does this camp have?

Community Resources | 12:43 p.m. July 28, 2009

Try this:

Dial 2-1-1 on your phone to speak with a community representative.

It's a centralized information center for anyone wanting to know what resources are available within the local community.

Can't we deal with the positive? | 1:00 p.m. July 28, 2009

My goodness, we act like having this is a sin, it is a challenge. I believe that adults who have not gained the ability to give structure, and good diet are more at fault then kids with ADHD. We make young kids the ones who have the bad behavior, but it is our society who have not learned to find a different approach. Why do they not offer more physical challenges in school, Michael Phelps discovered swimming and the lines as his guide. Why do we not see that these kids are future leaders and successes? Have you looked at that list of the first poster, what is wrong with ADHD? Maybe we should say, what is right with it and how do we help these kids to be the next generation of greats?

Sara | 1:43 p.m. July 28, 2009

"It would be nice if there were a mentoring program for adults with ADHD. My college-aged son could use some advice, friendship, etc." I agree with this.. Also
I went to a college for students with Learning disabilities in Vermont called Landmark College. it was awesome to see so many kids actually making it. but the sad part was if you didnt have money or couldnt get a loan for it you couldnt go it was Mega expensive because its like 10 kids a class. only reason I got in was because NJ (when I lived there) counts it as a medical expense on taxes

Help me God... | 2:37 p.m. July 28, 2009

My son is in the camp. The price was $2900. It is not the first $3000 plus we have budgeted to help our son gain coping techniques with this disorder. And it probably won't be the last. Not to mention the many parenting classes, books, doctor visits...

It is too bad that spending money won't cure this baby. It is too bad that I was so judgmental before I had children--especially of this mythical disorder. It is also too bad that focusing harder didn't help me see better before I got glasses.

Help me God... | 2:38 p.m. July 28, 2009

I appreciate the camp director and the counselors who have dedicated their summer to these children. i.e. (as my son tells it) the other day a lady is reading a book while walking back and forth in the pool. Enter 11 ADHD kids with their counselors. She kindly asks the group to move, so her pages won't get wet as she was there first......Then attacks the counselors for not complying. We need to live in reality and be a lot more tolerant and respectful of all those around us. Who are you in the story? The kid with ADHD, the counselor, or the lady reading in a rec center swimming pool? (I guess I have been them all at different times.)

Help me God... | 2:38 p.m. July 28, 2009

There isn't anything good about having ADHD, like there is not anything good about having diabetes. Those who learn to adapt and make the most of their lives despite their weakness achieve success like anybody else.
God bless each of us as we all struggle with our individual challenges and weaknesses. God bless us to love and serve each other. God bless the counselors. God bless my son. And God bless me to do his will.

desert dawg said | 9:27 p.m. July 28, 2009

it all comes down to "the child's personal choice to do what is right." You don't get it, do you? This is all about the hard times these kids have with making choices - they are compelled to behave in ways other than you and I would perhaps have them behave. It's not just kids choosing to be distracted one day and then deciding to "make a good choice" and be focused the next.

Kelly-Anne | 8:13 a.m. July 29, 2009

It's Never easy to have kids with ADHD but staying positive is very important. My son was scared o go to camp on his own for the first time alone so I bought him a cell phone so he could contact me whenever he needed to and that gave him huge confidence. I bought a prepaid Tracfone Motorola W376, I think I found a good deal. It comes with DMFL and a camera, FM radio, web access and blue tooth. It also has games like Suduko and Tetras built in which I think are good for math and co-ordination. Anyway, I got it on promotion for less than $30 which means that I only really paid something like $6 for the phone considering what the DMFL costs. He settled down quickly and soon started taking and sending me photo of his new friends with his phone.

Barbie | 11:42 p.m. July 29, 2009

My bright, articulate, funny, 11 year old son (with ADHD) attending this camp. He was born with blue eyes and ADHD. He is not ashamed of either trait. I have never had any doubt that my son would eventually be successful. Right NOW, he would like to be appreciated and accepted by those who do not understand ADHD. He is often shunned and ridiculed by other children and adults due to the "socially unacceptable" behaviors associated with ADHD. Through the ADHD camp he has come to recognize when he is displaying "unacceptable" behavior and has learned to replace those with more positive behaviors. He has developed more skills such as self-discipline, regulating behaviors, completing tasks, and awareness of how his behavior affects others. Skills that come so naturally to 95% of the population, can be so difficult for those with ADHD. Thank you Dr. Groot and the camp counselors for helping my son develop these skills that will really enhance his quality of life. This boost in his self-confidence will help him ignore those who might call him a "loser". He now know his is a terrific kid.

Anonymous | 2:25 p.m. Aug. 1, 2009

After reading these comments, I am saddened by how many of you immediately jumped to negative conclusions about the ADHD camp. This camp is the first of its kind in Utah to offer helpful services to kids who are often neglected and ostracized, yet, instead of supporting this service which so many children are in need of, you sit there at your computer and offer up criticism. The bottom line is that ADHD is a disorder...Hence the name, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DISORDER. Children with ADHD can fall anywhere along a continuum. For some, medication may not be necessary, for others, it is. Some may become healthy, productive citizens, while others become incarcerated. If you took but a brief moment to really read the article, it was not saying that all children with ADHD will engage in criminal activity - It was simply saying that is a possibility, and one that this camp hopes to prevent. I think what this camp has done, and will do for children here in Utah is amazing. It is a camp that gives these children a safe place to learn new skills, and channel their existing assests into functional stregnths...Quite simply, it brings hope.

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6 photos

Jason Olson, Deseret News

A sample armband score card such as those used during a camp for kids with ADHD at Rowland Hall St. Marks School is seen Wednesday in Salt Lake City. The participants learn attention and social skills through activities such as soccer and basketball.

Gallery (6 photos)