The ADHD Conference, sponsored by Cecil’s Yarns, will be held on February 1 at the Mataura Licensing Trust West Otago Community Centre in Tapanui.
The conference will be hosted by author and ADHD specialist Sarah McCall, who said it was for those with the condition, but also people looking to understand a loved one with ADHD.
"I need a space and a place to make connections to recognise that they’re not broken, to recognise that there’s nothing wrong with them.
"We are looking to connect with parents of kids with ADHD to learn how to differently approach school routines.
"To equip families to be able to work together as an extraordinary unit without losing their mind," she said.
Mrs McCall was diagnosed with ADHD two and a-half years ago, and said it was a difficult road.
"My foundational belief was that I was stupid.
"I couldn’t believe anything.
"I couldn’t believe in celebration or success or anything like that because it meant that I wasn’t stupid, which didn’t line up with my foundational belief," she said.
Now Mrs McCall said she understood ADHD can be positive.
"We are phenomenally creative.
"We’re incredibly compassionate and and empathetic.
"We’re more likely to care and notice before other people do."
After her diagnosis, Mrs McCall sought to understand the condition more, and eventually found international expertise.
Now Mrs McCall said she was looking to share these lessons with as many people as possible.
"The things you’re going to get out of the conference are things I got out of my own teaching.
"Here’s something that works for me.
"If it serves you, great.
"If not, be curious about why it’s working for me, how it’s working for me."
Mrs McCall said it was important to support people with ADHD.
"To parents, what if they’re a map through the minefield?
Teachers with a diverse classroom were juggling everyone’s needs, they needed situationally specific tools, she said.
"There has to be support [on] their journey towards self acceptance and self management, without being a psychologist or a counsellor.
"The world is hard enough as it is," she said.
Tickets to the conference are available now.
