Author note: What if the tables were turned and most of society possessed the ADHD nervous system and a minority exhibited more normative learning styles? It suggests that attention deficit disorder might be less of a “disability,” and more of an alternate set of strengths and weaknesses. It forces us to contemplate the possibility that it might be the school or workplace that needs fixing rather than the individual with an alternative brain structure.
Dina attends the Simon Academy for Creativity, which, like nearly every other school in the country, focuses on creativity and divergent thinking. Despite being superb at math, reading, and memorizing factoids, Dina is forced to attend a traditional creativity school. The one alternative school in the district that focuses on competency in math, science, reading and writing is too far from Dina’s home and costs a hefty $18,000 per year.Dina has always felt out of place at school.
Now that Dina’s in middle school, the school suggests that Dina take a battery of psychological tests to determine if she has any. After the testing, the school psychologist, Dr. Schmidt, called a meeting with Dina’s parents for 3 P.M., showing up late as usual. “What can we do about it?” Dina’s parents asked. “Well, fortunately, there’s a new medication out called Freeal, which relaxes the prefrontal brain systems and allows for more creativity and less self-editing. While we can’t mandate that she take it, I can say from experience that it will make her a much better student. I think it’s important that Dina catch up with her peers, lest she develop an inferiority complex.