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September 17, 2007
First Lady to host forum on ADD; Workshops to be held in both districts First Lady Cecile deJongh’s drive to bring attention to children and adults with attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder will receive a significant boost on September 26 and 27 as both the First Lady and Gov. John deJongh Jr. host support group workshops and discussions in the two island districts. The local support group CHADD (Children & Adults with Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder) will work to improve the lives of people affected by attention-deficit through collaborative leadership, advocacy, research, education and support. "I am thrilled with the establishment of a local chapter of CHADD which allows us to address the concerns of parents whose children are affected by attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. This problem is one of the areas I intend to focus a considerable amount of attention on during the term of the deJongh-Francis administration," Cecile deJongh said. The First Lady has had firsthand experience in dealing with this disorder as one of her three children suffers from attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder. "We have seen first-hand the effect of this disorder and have identified the need to provide a support group for other parents whose children are afflicted," said deJongh. The president of the National CHADD chapter, Anne Teeter-Ellison, will travel to the territory to take part in both workshops at the end of the month. Ellison is a newly retired professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has served on the CHADD Board of Directors since 2002. During the course of her service to CHADD, she has served as Board secretary and chair of the Conference Planning for three of CHADD’s international conferences. Prior to service on the national level, Ellison was a professional advisor to the Wisconsin AD-HD project, and a member of the State of Wisconsin ADD Council. Currently, the training director of the School Psychology Doctoral Program at UWM, Ellison has published numerous articles and books and is the co-editor of the CHADD Educator’s Manual on Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder: An In-Depth Look from an Educational Perspective. deJongh appealed to all parents or guardians whose children suffer from attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder or those who simply want to learn more about AD/HD to participate in the workshops scheduled for September 26 at Government House on St. Croix and September 27 at Government House on St. Thomas. The discussions begin at 6 p.m. on each night. |
