ADHD Awareness Month 2026: Deaf Experiences, Resources, and Support
October is ADHD Awareness Month—a time to celebrate the strengths of people with ADHD, increase understanding of their experiences, challenge harmful stereotypes, and promote acceptance and accessible support.
In recognition of ADHD Awareness Month 2026, OUL has gathered information, books, videos, and community resources about ADHD. We especially want to highlight Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people with ADHD, whose experiences and accessibility needs are too often overlooked.
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Why ADHD Awareness Matters
ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition that can affect attention, organization, memory, impulse control, activity levels, emotional regulation, and other areas of daily life. Every person’s experience is different. ADHD can create challenges, but people with ADHD also bring creativity, energy, curiosity, problem-solving skills, and unique perspectives to their families, schools, workplaces, and communities.
OUL’s goals include:
Educating the public about ADHD
Reducing stigma and correcting misinformation
Supporting people with ADHD and their families
Encouraging timely, accessible, and culturally responsive evaluation and support
Empowering people with ADHD through reliable information and community resources
Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Experiences with ADHD
For Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people, ADHD experiences may also be shaped by communication access, language barriers, cultural identity, educational experiences, and limited access to qualified professionals. Some ADHD characteristics may be misunderstood or confused with the effects of inaccessible communication or language deprivation.
Assessments, counseling, education, and healthcare should be accessible in a person’s preferred language and communication method. Professionals should understand Deaf culture and recognize that Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people are not all the same. By sharing accessible information and lived experiences, we can help people feel seen, understood, respected, and supported.
A Brief History of ADHD
Descriptions of attention and self-regulation differences go back centuries, but British physician Sir George Frederic Still’s 1902 lectures are often considered a scientific starting point in the history of ADHD. Medical understanding and terminology continued to evolve. In 1968, the condition was called “Hyperkinetic Reaction of Childhood.” In 1980, it was renamed “Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), with or without hyperactivity.” In 1987, the term “Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)” was introduced.
ADHD awareness began as a single day in the United States in 2004 and later grew into ADHD Awareness Month, observed each October. Our understanding of ADHD continues to develop, and listening to people with lived experience—including Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people with ADHD—is essential.
How You Can Participate
You can help raise awareness and build a more supportive community:
Wear an orange ribbon for ADHD awareness
Share accurate and respectful ADHD information
Attend or host an accessible ADHD workshop
Read books and articles written by people with ADHD
Watch and share captioned or signed videos featuring lived experiences
Encourage schools and workplaces to provide appropriate accommodations
Challenge stereotypes and listen without judgment
Share OUL’s ADHD resources with families, educators, coworkers, and community members
OUL ADHD Resources
What Is ADHD? — Learn about ADHD and how it can affect attention, activity levels, organization, and daily life.
ADHD Myths and Facts — Explore common misconceptions about ADHD and learn the facts.
Identifying ADHD — Learn about common signs and characteristics of ADHD.
ADHD Books — Explore OUL’s recommended books about ADHD.
Videos: Deaf Experiences with ADHD
Neurodiversity: Toni’s ADHD Story — Watch on YouTube — In this ASL video, Toni discusses diagnosis, anxiety, self-acceptance, communication, counseling, and support. Read the written transcript.
From Silence to Signals: Tim Blonsky on Deaf ADHD Leadership, AI Innovation & Breaking Barriers — Tim discusses growing up Deaf, receiving an ADHD diagnosis as an adult, workplace strategies, leadership, accessibility, and ASL technology.
Neurodiversity — Adrean discusses having ADHD, neurodiversity, and connections with the ASL Deaf community.
Getting Personal with Abigail Gorman — Deaf activist Abigail Gorman shares her ADHD diagnosis journey, the effects of ADHD on studying, and practical strategies.
BSL Blethers: ADHD Journey — William Everett, a Deaf BSL user with ADHD, discusses his ADHD journey with Avril.
Diagnosing ADHD in Deaf Is Tricky — An ASL news video for Deaf Canadians about challenges involved in recognizing and diagnosing ADHD in Deaf people.
Featured ADHD Books
These books offer information, lived experiences, and practical strategies for people with ADHD, parents, caregivers, families, and educators:
How to ADHD: An Insider’s Guide to Working with Your Brain (Not Against It) — Jessica McCabe
ADHD Is Awesome: A Guide to (Mostly) Thriving with ADHD — Penn and Kim Holderness
ADHD for Smart Ass Women — Tracy Otsuka
From Scattered to Centered: A Practical Guide for Women with ADHD — Rowan Reeds
A Beginner’s Guide on Parenting Children with ADHD — Richard Bass
Mastering Teenager ADHD: A Comprehensive Guide to Raising a Teenager with ADHD — Annabelle Mitchell
Visit OUL’s ADHD Books page for the complete reading list, descriptions, and purchasing links.
More from the OUL Blog
Learn, Listen, and Share
This ADHD Awareness Month, we invite you to learn, listen, and share. Help OUL amplify the experiences of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people with ADHD by sharing these resources with your family, school, workplace, and community. Together, we can challenge stigma and build a future where everyone has access to understanding, respect, and meaningful support.
This post is intended for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have questions about ADHD, consider speaking with a qualified professional who understands Deaf culture and can provide accessible communication.
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