The Icelandic ADHD Association

The Icelandic ADHD Association was previously called the Parents’ Association for MDB Children, but its name was changed when an annual meeting decided that the Association should also function as an interest group for adults with ADHD and should work on their behalf in addition to its role as an interest and support group for children with ADHD.  ADHD is an international abbreviation that stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. 

In the year 2004, the offices of the Icelandic ADHD Association moved to Háaleitisbraut 13, which also houses the offices of the Sjónarhóll Counselling Centre and the associations represented by Sjónarhóll:     these are, in addition to the Icelandic ADHD Association, the National Association Throskahjálp, Umhyggja — association for the support of children with chronic illnesses, and the Benefit Society of Children with Disabilities (SLF).  As is well known, the Sjónarhóll Counselling Centre would never have come into being without both the collaboration of these organisations, which work to protect the interests of children with special needs, and the support of Icelandic people, corporations, and governmental authorities. 

The chief functions of the Icelandic ADHD Association are the following:

• Information and instruction services are an important facet of the Association’s activities. The Icelandic ADHD Association’s offices are open on weekdays from 10:00 – 15:00 ten months a year.  Information and advice are given by phone (tel: +354 581 1110) during opening hours.  The Association’s offices include a library with books, articles, and videos on matters pertaining to ADHD and related subjects. 

• Educational meetings are held3-5 times a year. Icelandic specialists and other individuals with pertinent expertise have given lectures and talks that are very well attended by Association members and other guests.

• A newsletter, issued three times a year, is sent to all Association members, as well as to some 800 organisations, professionals, and specialists in the field.  The newsletter contains announcements concerning educational meetings, special offers, seminars, and support groups, as well as articles and interviews of interest to readers.  For years, the Association has maintained a positive collaborative relationship with all of the chief professionals and experts working in fields relating to children and adults with attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity, and related disorders.

• Publications: Through the years, the Association has published various materials on ADHD and related disorders.  For example, a children’s book about a hyperactive boy was published in the fall of 2005.  The Association has also engaged in the publication and distribution of four well-prepared short publications on ADHD in collaboration with the pharmaceuticals company Janssen-Cilag.  One of these, which centres on the education of children with ADHD, was distributed to all of the primary schools in Iceland in the fall of 2005. The other three deal with various subjects: the first two are on ADHD and the family, and teenagers with ADHD; and the third is a workbook for children. These will be sent to all Association members.  In addition, a package containing all four publications will be sent to as many professionals who work with ADHD children and their families as possible.

• Sjónarhóll Counselling Centre: Because of the Association’s participation in the founding and operation of Sjónarhóll, members now have access to specialised family counselling that aims at assisting families in their dealings with the complex network of organisations and service providers.  One of Sjónarhóll’s objectives is to facilitate collaboration among all the parties that are associated with each single family’s affairs; that is, to integrate services and follow-up.

• Adults with ADHD: During the year 2005, the Association began an experimental project that centred on engaging a psychologist to work half-time on diagnosing adults who may have ADHD.  This project was conceived primarily in order to address the unfortunate situation that has developed because of how few professionals have dedicated their efforts to working with this group. 

• Seminars and support groups: The Association holds educational seminars on various subjects in collaboration with the education and counselling service Eird, as well as organising self-help and self-support groups for parents and for adults with ADHD, etc.

• The Association’s Internet website, http://www.adhd.is/, is constantly being developed and updated. It contains accessible information on most matters related to ADHD, as well as links to other useful websites.  Not all Association members have Internet access, however, and this is why it is necessary to communicate through newsletters as well as through e-mail and the website.

• Nordic co-operation: Nordic co-operation includescollaboration meetings that are held annually and are an important element in development work and in the interactive sharing of information among the ADHD associations in the Nordic countries. The Icelandic ADHD Association also participates in Nordic conferences, both in Iceland and abroad.

The Icelandic ADHD Association has over 900 registered members, and the number is growing steadily, as new members join every week through registration on the Association website.  To date parents are the largest group among Association members, but it should be emphasised that behind each single name is an entire family because only one parent from each family is registered as a member. 

There is a need for an educational campaign to inform all those who work with children and teenagers about attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity and the consequences of these disorders.  One of the Association’s most pressing concerns is increased continuing education for primary school teachers, centring on the education of children with ADHD.  A special goal of the Icelandic ADHD Association is to increase its collaboration with members residing in rural parts of Iceland and to provide support to parent groups and to the municipalities whose role it is to provide services to children and their families despite frequent financial constraints.  The Association is currently planning further development of its operations for the benefit of adults with ADHD and intends to publish materials aimed at this group.

Children and teenagers with ADHD are recognised as a group at risk.  The level of understanding of matters pertaining to children and teenagers with ADHD is growing, however.  Among the Association’s primary sponsors are the Icelandic Federation for the Handicapped, The National Budget Committee, the Pokasjódur commerce fund, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Fund, Iceland Express, Glitnir bank, and Alcan. Other parties — such as VISA Ísland; the Child Welfare Fund; the City of Reykjavík; the Icelandic Ministry of Social Affairs; Caritas Iceland; the Sumargjöf association for friends of children; the Icelandic Ministry of Education, Science and Culture; the Icelandic Ministry of Health and Social Security; the Borghildur Women’s Club; Sjóvá; KB Bank; and SÍF — have also supported projects carried out by the Association.  The need for the Icelandic ADHD Association is undeniable, as is the importance of the Association’s work toward the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse among people with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders.   

Summary prepared by Ingibjörg Karlsdóttir, President of the Icelandic ADHD Association 2006.