Advocacy

CHADD is part of a social movement that seeks to shape the conversation on how society treats, accommodates, and views people affected by ADHD. Our movement is made up of countless people affected by ADHD, their families, teachers, friends, and leaders in the fields of ADHD research, education, and mental health. We realize the most effective way to accomplish our goals is through sustained and strategic outreach to policymakers on the state and federal levels.

We are making a difference for families and adults affected ADHD. And we need your help! We want you to be equipped with information to make a difference in your own life, whether that means dealing with issues in the classroom, the boardroom, or your living room.

CALL TO ACTION

Your Support and Advocacy Matters

Your voice matters. Your experience with ADHD matters. Now is the time for you to take action and be an advocate for the ADHD community in whatever way you are able to contribute.

CURRENT ISSUES

You Can Help Protect the Rights of Students with ADHD

March 11, 2024

Urgent action is needed to encourage the US Department of Education to release updated rules on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which provides educational accommodations for children who have ADHD. The process for this release has currently slowed due to a complication at the US Department of Justice, and time is running…

Tips for Handling the Medication Shortage

August 11, 2023

ADHD Medication Shortages: What to Know and Do By Andrew Adesman, MD, and Anna Krevskaya, MD Attention, October 2023 In recent years, many new stimulant medications have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of ADHD. These new formulations vary in their duration of benefit, and many offer new ways…

A Way You Can Address the Medication Shortage

June 28, 2023
Parent with child talking to a pharmacist about ADHD meds / medication and substance use concerns.

We have heard the frustrations many members of the ADHD community are experiencing when they go to refill their ADHD medications, the disappointment and worry when the pharmacy is unable to fill a prescription because of the ongoing shortage. CHADD’s public policy committee is pursuing all appropriate channels to bring this to the attention of…

Protecting Youth Mental Health: The US Surgeon General’s Advisory

February 15, 2022

The challenges today’s generation of young people face are unprecedented and uniquely hard to navigate. And the effect these challenges have had on their mental health is devastating. Recent national surveys of young people have shown alarming increases in the prevalence of certain mental health challenges. We know that mental health is shaped by many…

Developing Diagnosis and Treatment of Adult ADHD Guidelines

January 15, 2022

In 2022, CHADD received funds from a generous donor to sponsor and support the development of national guidelines in the U.S. for the diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD. This milestone has been achieved due to the sustained efforts of our Public Policy Committee and builds on the committee’s published recommendations emerging from a national…

CHADD’s Statement at the Public Meeting on Patient-Focused Drug Development for Stimulant Use Disorder

October 8, 2020

Posted October 8, 2020 Presentation to the Joint Meeting of the Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee of the US Food and Drug Administration Public Meeting on Patient-Focused Drug Development for Stimulant Use Disorder Presented by Robert Cattoi, CHADD Chief Executive Officer Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder…

ADVOCACY PARTNERS

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

ADULT ADHD GUIDELINES DEVELOPMENT

The recent surge in adults seeking care for ADHD, coupled with a steady increase in ADHD medication prescriptions, has underscored the pressing need for diagnostic and treatment guidelines.

To address this issue, CHADD has partnered with the American Professional Society for ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD) to develop and distribute guidelines in 2025. APSARD is leading the charge in developing the guidelines for review. CHADD is taking the lead in developing resources and toolkits for healthcare providers across the United States to implement the new diagnostic and treatment guidelines.

WEBINARS

Analysis and Impact of Federal Healthcare and Education Policies

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Several proposed federal policies have the potential to affect ADHD diagnosis, treatment, and educational support for individuals and families. Experts in ADHD diagnosis and treatment will review research-based responses to the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission's claims about ADHD. They will also discuss the critical role the US Department of Education plays in supporting students who have ADHD.

Previous Lunch and Learn Webinars

The Importance of Adult ADHD Guidelines

Dr. Peter Jensen, founder of The REACH Institute, is the director of a coalition of organizations developing adult ADHD diagnosis and treatment guidelines for use in the United States, a joint effort of CHADD and APSARD.

For more information on the development of adult guidelines, read The Quest for Clinical Practice Guidelines for ADHD in Adults.

What Is ADHD? How It Affects Children and Adults

Max Wiznitzer, MD, discusses the medical science of ADHD and how it is expressed in children and adults. ADHD impairs many aspects of life, and it is important that the public and policymakers have an understanding of the disorder when addressing laws and policies regarding ADHD and its treatment.

RESOURCES

WHITE PAPER

The Adverse Health Outcomes, Economic Burden, and Public Health Implications of Unmanaged Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Call to Action to Improve the Quality of Life and Life Expectancy of People with ADHD

 

Proceedings of the ADHD Public Health Summit
Washington, DC
October 7, 2019

 

Presented by Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)

TOOLKITS