Booklet targets parents of Hispanic Children With AD/HD.

The National Resource Center on AD/HD, a CDC-funded program of the patient advocacy group Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) and the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the Alliance) have published a free bilingual booklet, Educational Rights for Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Primer for Parents. The booklet will increase the availability of information about laws protecting educational rights of eligible children with AD/HD and can be an important tool for Hispanic/Latino parents of children with AD/HD.

“Hispanic children with AD/HD have unique needs,” said Jane L. Delgado, PhD, MS, president and CEO of the Alliance. “Our hope is that this guide will help Hispanic parents face the challenges they meet when their children are diagnosed with AD/HD and who may be eligible for services in the public school system.”

According to the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), 7.8 percent of children ages four to 17 have a history of AD/HD. Typically, symptoms of AD/HD arise in early childhood, although the disorder may not be diagnosed until later.

The Spanish/English booklet guides parents through the process of identifying the disorder and understanding federal laws that assure specialized education and related services for eligible children with AD/HD. Written in question and answer format, the booklet includes case histories, a list of available resources and a glossary.

“Developing informational materials in English and Spanish is a critical part of our outreach efforts to the Latino community and we’re pleased to have this opportunity to partner with the Alliance on this important publication,” said Phyllis Anne Teeter Ellison, EdD, president of CHADD. “It’s CHADD’s responsibility to ensure information about the diagnosis and treatment of AD/HD is available to everyone affected by the disorder, especially in terms of educating our children.”

Publication of the brochure was made possible by a cooperative grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which funds the National Resource Center on AD/HD (NRC) through CHADD.

Single free copies of the guide are available on request by calling the NRC at 1-800-233-4050 or the Alliance’s Su Familia Helpline at 1-866-783-2645.