I too am concerned that the label of ADD/HD is being conveniently
(mis)used. A few months ago I did a trip out into south west Queensland
(that's the outback for overseas readers - we are talking about remote++)
. The pupose of the trip was to meet with people with disabilities and their
families and hear their stories about living in the bush and what it was like
trying to access ordinary services like health, education, legal services
etc.
What was really disturbing was the numbers of children we meet who had
been diagnosed as ADD/HD. In one small town, the local school was
preparing for the new school year (Jan 2000) and said that they had 8
new children they already knew about coming into the Grade 1 class (total
of about 24 children) who had this "disorder". Another family living in a
very remote area drove 10 hours to a specialist to have a hearing
assessment for their son only to be told that all three children had ADD or
autisitic spectrum disorder.
I am not an expert on ADD/HD but I am left wondering what is going on
here?
Is there a link with the amount of toxic chemicals used in the agricultural
industries where these children, and their mothers while carrying them,
live and breathe?
Is the label a way for under-resourced country schools to get some
resources?
Is their one rampant diagnostician travelling through the bush labelling
kids?
Are rural children now similarly being marginalised like African American
children as Colin cites?
Any ideas?
Lesley Chenoweth
Dr Lesley Chenoweth
Acting Director Post Graduate Coursework Programs
School of Social Work & Social Policy
The University of Queensland
BRISBANE Q. 4072
Phone: +61 7 3365 1252
Fax: +61 7 3365 1788
Email: [log in to unmask]
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|