Help make a special playground a reality

Help us build a special playground at the ADHD WA hub

As some of you know, our son (pictured) has severe ADHD. We have been through a very tough time as a family and we have seen our little boy really suffer with this very misunderstood and stigmatised disorder. As a family we have experienced negative judgment, social exclusion, active discrimination and verbal harassment. Through some of our darkest days ADHD WA has been there to support us through its free parent to parent support groups which were a lifeline to us.

Despite ADHD affecting a lot of children (about 1 in 7), ADHD WA is very minimally staffed. The CEO does all advocacy and lobbying work herself (such as trying to get funding for children with ADHD to receive teacher aides at school – which at the moment they do not qualify for). I was shocked to learn that ADHD WA does not receive any government funding. Compare this with Autism WA and you will see the inequity. This organisation is swamped and needs help.

ADHD WA has recently moved to a new “hub” in Mount Claremont and has starting running workshops to help children with ADHD find self-acceptance, develop self-compassion, and build resilience and coping skills. Our son recently attended one of these amazing workshops and it has benefitted him (and us) hugely. However, the hub only has a small patch of grass for the children to use to play during workshop break times. Close your eyes and imagine 20 young children with ADHD trying to get a movement break on a small patch of grass and a tiny bit of brick paving! It was bedlam...

My husband and I wanted to try to raise money to put in a small play space for children to use while they are accessing services and support at the ADHD WA hub. These kids are going through a lot and deserve a place where they can go to find friendships, and feel welcome, safe and accepted for who they are.

ADHD is a hard sell: it does not get the recognition it deserves despite the insidious way the disorder uproots fundamental skills that neurotypical children take for granted. It can make life extremely tough, and for us personally things got so bleak that, like many other families, we had no choice but for our child to be home-schooled to avoid the negativity he was facing at school (constantly being told he was “naughty”, “rude” and “bad”). No parent wants to see their child’s very self-worth eroded to the point where they tell you that they don't want to exist, but that is what this disability can do. ADHD WA is the only organisation in Western Australia that is trying to turn this around for kids like our son. Please, let’s help!

A playground may seem like nothing, but by contributing to the creation of a playground, you are offering children with ADHD a place where they can:

• Feel accepted through play: Through play-based activities children can foster relationships, feel welcome and find acceptance. This is so important as children with ADHD often feel faulty, “bad” and isolated from peers.

• Build Social Skills: By interacting with peers in a supportive environment, children with ADHD can create friendships and build on social executive functioning skills.

• Boost Self-Esteem: Allowing children with ADHD to simply have fun together in a non-judgmental space leads to a sense of connectedness and confidence.

We have seen firsthand the benefits to our child by simply playing with others “like him” and it was beautiful.

Your generous donation will help to purchase specialised equipment, design inclusive play areas, and build a haven where children with ADHD can come to have fun in addition to receiving support.

Every dollar counts no matter if it's $2 or $200, and your support will bring us one step closer to opening this special playground. Please join us in making a difference.

Thank you for your compassion and generosity.

More information about ADHD WA (Inc.): The ADHD WA mission is to provide support, advocacy and expert information to members, adults, families and people affected by ADHD, to advocate on their behalf and to work collaboratively with others to ensure availability of services. ADHD WA is focused on raising ADHD awareness and informing people of what ADHD really is and how it can impact the lives of those affected by it. We strongly believe the more people receive proven, evidenced-based information, the easier it will be to reduce stigma.