About Us
Unlocking ADHD was founded to bring hope to the ADHD community and to address the gap in information, support and access that exists in Singapore.
Hope
We believe that there are many struggling children/ youths in the community and stressed out parents who have tried many avenues but are unable to unlock their children’ potential. This situation also applies to adults who have struggled through childhood, academic, professional and personal life saddled with underperformance, shame, low self esteem and negative labels.
If ADHD happens to be the underlying reason for their situation, the good news is that with a proper diagnosis and management, life can change for the better! ADHDers have many inherent strengths and identifying these will enable them to become productive members in society and also fulfil their potential.
Gap
There is gap in the availability of information about ADHD in Singapore – where to go for help, access affordable support and connect to a community. There are also gaps in accessing tools to equip ADHDers to live a better life. Unlocking ADHD hopes to be able to do its part to fill these gaps.
US psychiatrist, Dr Edward (Ned) Hallowell, a world authority on ADHD and himself an ADHDer, has described the ADHD brain as a “Ferrari engine with bicycle brakes”. Unlocking ADHD would like to support the efforts to strengthen the “bicycle brakes” of ADHDers
2021 was a big year for Unlocking ADHD – We started our social media presence in April, our website went “live” in July and we officially launched in October in conjunction with ADHD Awareness Month. On November 9, 2021, we were registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee (Non Profit). Read about our year here. We are grateful for our dedicated team of volunteers, without whom we would not have been able to serve the ADHD community through creating content, planning events and reaching out to society. Click to find out more about our volunteers!
Impacting the Lives of ADHDers and our Community
ADHD impacts so many areas of our lives, and at different stages – whether it be during childhood, adolescence or adulthood, and in the home, school and workplace. Thus, more comprehensive information about ADHD needs to be available to help ADHDers have the best life that they deserve.
Parents with young children will find it helpful to learn more about the condition in order to help their child navigate potential learning, emotional, social, psychological and physical issues. Parents are also the earliest advocates for their children – they can only be effective when they have the knowledge to support their communication with school and society at large.
Youths with ADHD, whether diagnosed as a child or as an adolescent, also benefit from learning about their condition – to accept, own and embrace it. Gone are the days where one just followed the lead of parents (willingly or grudgingly) to doctor appointments, therapy and assessments. As teenagers become more independent, the onus shifts from parents to the teens to manage symptoms, medications and school accommodations. They need to equip themselves with skills to advocate for themselves.
The teen years are also a period of life transitions, from puberty to relationships, academic milestones and career decisions. Managing ADHD symptoms and learning about themselves and their strengths are critical in preparing for a successful launch into adulthood.
Adults with ADHD can lead very productive and successful lives. On the other hand, if the condition is undiagnosed and unmanaged, or under treated, this can impact their lives quite significantly.
Key areas of adult life that may be affected by ADHD include employment, romantic relationships, social integration, financial management, physical health, parenting and self care. Dealing with emotional regulation and inhibiting impulsivity while trying to stay motivated are also areas where it is important they are managed well.