I am very pleased to be with you today to launch the HADD Family Support Group website. I would like to thank Una Caulfield for the invitation.
It is less than four years since I was here at Carmichael House to open the newly refurbished premises. It is a very fitting location for today's launch. This centre is steeped in the tradition of voluntary service to the community – indeed it symbolises it.
The launch of the website is entirely in keeping with Carmichael’s strong ethos of mutual assistance, where people can network, share information and draw support from one another.
I would like to congratulate everyone involved in providing the HADD website. In particular, I warmly acknowledge the selfless work of the volunteers who run the Family Support Group.
Parenting is a wonderful vocation. But as every parent knows, it brings its fair share of challenges. However, for parents of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder those challenges are so much greater. They are complex and varied. But the common denominators between these parents are the increased frustration, stress and exhaustion which they feel. The quality of family life can be significantly diminished for them. Knowing how best to deal with it, what therapies are out there and where to go once parents suspect their child suffers from ADHD is crucial in overcoming the difficulties that present themselves.
That is why the new website is so important. It is an excellent resource. It will help parents to take that very important step forward – whether it is learning about ADHD, getting advice on symptoms and diagnosis and the therapies that are available to them.
As we also know, ADHD is not as clear cut and easy to diagnose as some other medical conditions. There is no single test and no unique set of symptoms. Diagnosis always depends on a comprehensive evaluation. And this task is often made even more complex by other co-existing conditions that children with ADHD can suffer. In such challenging circumstances, it is very important that families receive support.
In this regard, the support group provides a vital link between parents and professionals which can greatly assist in their understanding and acceptance of the condition.
Sometimes when difficulties arise, parents can be overly critical of their parenting skills. But as this website correctly points out: “it is no parent’s fault if their child has ADHD.” This is a very important point for everyone to remember. ADHD is believed to have biological origins. Research is continuing in this area and I am pleased to see you have covered this angle in your website.
The website also advises parents that children with ADHD “are different and that they have to be treated in a slightly different way”. Children suffering from the disorder have their own set of difficulties, frustrations and challenges. Their difficulties can, if left untreated, pose serious obstacles to their future development and to their school work. That is why early intervention is the key and why those around them must know how to support them in the right way. Above all, it is important to remember that if the condition is managed well, children affected can look forward to a bright future.
I would like to pay tribute today to the HADD Family Support Group for the vital and valuable support they provide. This website will help enhance your supporting role to families.
It can be a source of great comfort to them to know that they are not on their own; through sharing common experiences, parents can come to realise that their feelings of frustration and stress are mirrored by other parents in similar circumstances. And the inclusion on your website of information on other support groups of interest should also prove a great asset to them.
In conclusion, I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the launch of www.HADD.ie. You deserve every success with your important work. And, of course, I could not let this occasion pass either without paying tribute to all parents in this situation for their unsparing dedication to their children's well-being.
Thank you very much.
ENDS.