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Chris A Zeigler Dendy, Ruth Hughes
The quantum leap from high school into young adulthood and the work world can be especially challenging for teens with ADHD. Scientific evidence indicates that ADHD can result in up to a three- to five-year delay in brain maturation and executive functioning skills, which means that many young people with ADHD may not be developmentally ready to meet the demands of this transition. Without continued support, young people can become overwhelmed and risk failure.
Authors Chris Dendy and Ruth Hughes are ADHD experts and parents of adult sons who are now successfully established in their careers. They offer parents guidance and strategies to help their preteens and teens develop the key life skills necessary for the adult world and identify potential vocational interests and career paths before graduation. An important theme is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to life planning for young people with ADHD. The authors therefore caution against assuming attending a four-year college right after high school—or at all—is the best path to a successful, fulfilling adulthood. Instead, they advocate for nurturing natural talents, exploring careers that “work” with ADHD (sales, business owner, chef), using available services (transition planning, vocational testing and counselling), trying out work experiences (volunteer work, internships, summer jobs), and perhaps taking a gap year before getting additional education (college, community college, technical training).
The research indicates that for many with ADHD, this demanding juncture can be difficult due to delays in brain maturation and the development of executive functioning skills. And, this comes at a time when typical supports are at an all-time low, so this book is essential for parents who can turn to it for strategies and next steps to support their son or daughter. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the challenges, including:
In Launching into Young Adulthood with ADHD … Ready or Not!, leading ADHD experts Dendy and Hughes provide much-needed guidance based upon the lessons learned during their sons’ ADHD journeys to adulthood. This book is the logical follow-on to Chris Dendy’s previous books: Teenagers with ADD, ADHD & Executive Function Deficits and Teaching Teenagers with ADD, ADHD & Executive Function Deficits. This book is a logical follow on those two books and is for parents who are wanting to collaborate with teens and young adults to help them move forward into their future—additional education, work/careers, and other fulfilling pursuits.
This go-to resource, full of sage advice and strategies, will help parents and professionals navigate the transition with their young people as they launch into their adult lives and find their potential. It closes with the Photo Gallery of Hope which features young adults who have overcome the challenges of ADHD and are living happy, productive lives.
