| When I was a child ADD/ADHD was not a | | | | at their office. |
| diagnosis that had been identified. I was | | | | They need to have a lot of reminders if they |
| considered hyper active and was the child who | | | | tend to forget appointments, get distracted, or |
| presented a challenge to the teacher because I | | | | lose their train of thought. It may help to have an |
| could talk to my neighbor, and at the same time | | | | organizing buddy or friend to support them in their |
| know what question the teacher was asking and | | | | goals to stay on track. Setting an alarm on their |
| then answer the question. If you were in my | | | | watch, putting up sticky notes, or making a |
| school I could have been the one sitting in the hall | | | | running list of things to-do in a single notebook or |
| so I couldn't talk to my neighbor. | | | | planner will help. Sticky notes can be lost or |
| It used to be that anyone who couldn't stay | | | | become clutter so a notebook or planner can be |
| organized was easily distracted, and tended to be | | | | the most effective way to keep track of things |
| overly energetic. Children were labeled "problems" | | | | that need to be done and appointments to keep. |
| and adults were thought to be lost causes. But | | | | Those with ADD are accomplished people and |
| today, we realize there is an organic brain | | | | need to focus on those things they have |
| condition that causes some people to think and | | | | accomplished, not focusing on the 15,000 things |
| function differently than the majority of the | | | | they haven't done yet. As with everyone they |
| population. These people are often very creative | | | | need to pat themselves on the back for what |
| and intelligent people when they are in a | | | | they have done in any given day and know there |
| supportive environment. Here is some information | | | | is always another day to accomplish other things |
| to help us learn more about Attention Deficit | | | | that need to be done. |
| Disorder -- also known as ADD to the general | | | | Marilyn Bohn's Bio |
| public. | | | | Marilyn is a creative organizer who has been |
| Those who have been diagnosed with Attention | | | | organizing for over 20 years. She is a member of |
| Deficit thrive in a structured environment. They | | | | the National Association of Professional Organizers |
| can be most productive by setting up simple | | | | and is working towards becoming a Certified |
| systems for completing daily tasks and follow the | | | | Professional Organizer. She holds a bachelors |
| same daily routines. For instance: getting ready for | | | | degree in Social Work. She has reared five |
| the day, cleaning the house or finishing up the day | | | | daughters and currently lives in Utah. |