Hyperfocusing

On March 12, J., one of our group members, gave us presentation on hyperfocusing. We all know that people with attention deficit disorder tend to have a hard time focusing on something, and are easily distracted. But there is another side of ADD and ADHD: the tendency of paying exclusive attention to something while blocking out everything else. This intense concentration is called hyperfocusing. When that happens, people tend to focus only on one thing, sometimes for hours, while neglecting everything else around them.

Some experts say that hyperfocusing is a coping mechanism to deal with distraction, which is a common trait in attention deficit disorders. This, of course, can be very useful at times, especially when we are trying to accomplish a task. However, this could also happen to the detriment of other things in our life, sometime for hours at a time. During hyperfocusing, it could happen that we neglect or forget about other important things or people in our life, or we fail to notice dangers around us etc.

During his presentation, J. offered ways who to cope with hyperfocusing. One suggestion was to use an alarm to prevent spending excessive time on one particular task. Another way of dealing with this is to break down a big goal into small ones. This will limit the time and energy one will spend on the task. J. also suggested to keep a journal (or list) of multiple goals.

Neuroplasticity and the Brain

At his most recent presentation to the group, Dr. Steffen Fuller talked about neuroplasticity that he defines as "brain's ability to restructure itself after repetition, rehearsal or training." The topic is of great interest to many group members who wonder whether there is any "training" for the brain that can help with mitigating the deficits associated with learning disabilities and attention deficits.

Dr. Fuller described how wiring and re-wiring of the brain happens. First, the information gets imprinted/encoded. Second, information needs to be rehearsed in order to be remembered, which does not always happen on a conscious level. The next step is reinforcing what you learned through action or behavior (for example, learning to pay rent when you move out of your parent's house). Retrieving information activates the neural pathways that were created through learning. Dr. Fuller emphasized that memory has not only factual component, but emotional component as well. Strong emotions can increase memory 5-10 fold. When memories are constructed, they get influenced and often distorted by emotional process. That is why regulation of emotions is an important part of improving one's cognitive functions, including memory and concentration.

When the person is young, there is less information competing to be encoded and imprinted and the brain is "fresher." It explains why younger people seem to have less difficulty learning new skills or information. With age, however, there is more competition for the brain's attention. In addition, the flow of oxygen to the brain reduces with age. People also develop ideas on what they think they can learn and cannot learn, which can hinder the process of learning. All of the above can become an obstacle to learning in adults. Dr. Fuller believes that in order to improve one's ability to learn, the person needs to focus on things that can be changed and put aside things that are immutable. 

According to Dr. Fuller, brain heals and develops through training. The important components of "re-wiring" the brain are activation/stimulation, novelty, surprise, variation (doing old things in new ways), and re-rehearsing (undoing negative/invaluable behaviors or thinking through doing things differently). Every time you think, "I never thought about it this way!," a new pathway is being created. Re-wiring strengthens the valuable connections and weakens the invaluable. It takes practice and time, but can lead to satisfying results.

Dr. Fuller suggests that those who want to work on improving their cognitive functioning take the following steps: undergo the neuropsychological testing, evaluate their learning style, do the personality assessment and then develop a treatment plan using cognitive/learning/ego strengths to attack weaknesses.

To learn more about Dr. Fuller's work, go to http://fullerconsultingservices.com/bio.html.

Schedule for March 2012

Session 9

March 5

CBT Treatment for ADD/ADHD

Guest Speaker: Dr. Susan Spritch, MGH

Session 10

March 12

Dealing with Hyperfocusing

Presentation by J., group member 

Session 11

March 19

ADA and Work Accommodations

Presentation by R., group member

Session 12

March 26

Wrapping Up

Brainstorming ideas for the next cycle

Assistive Techologies: Trip to Easter Seals Assistive Technology Regional Center

The group’s recent field trip to the Easter Seals Assistive Technology Regional Center (ATRC) was productive and informative.  Easter Seals (www.eastersealsma.org) is an organization that “provides services to ensure that children and adults with disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work, and play.” The program is federally funded through MassMATCH (www.massmatch.org). ATRC is a demonstration and loan program with assistive technologies for people with communication, language, physical, deaf and hard of hearing, and visual disabilities. Assistive technology is “any item or piece of equipment used to maintain or improve the capabilities of people with disabilities.” You can borrow assistive technology for free for one month and try it out, see how it works for you in order to make an education decision of whether you would like to purchase it so that you do not waste money on something that will not work for you. Other programs offered include home modification, vehicle modification, loan program, and assistive technology evaluation.

Catherine H. Bly, ATRC Coordinator and Vision Specialist and Kristi Peak-Oliveira, ATRC Coordinator and AAC Specialist  demonstrated to the group devices and software that can be useful for someone with learning disability and/or attention deficit. Here are some examples:

·       Echo Smart pen by Livescribe: http://www.livescribe.com. Smart pen uses special paper to take notes while recording audio. Unlike conventional recorders, smart pen allows you to “connect” what you write to what you record and download both your notes and audio on the computer, which makes searching for and retrieving needed information easier.

·       Evernote: http://www.evernote.com/evernote/. Free downloadable software that allows you to keep notes. Can be downloaded and synchronized on multiple devices (for example, your computer and smart phone).  

·       Click ‘n Dig Item Finder: http://clickndig.com/. Item finders are good for people who tend to misplace items, such as keys or remote control. You can attach a receiver to any item and when you need to find it, you can press a button on the transmitter and the receiver will beep and flash so that you can find it. One transmitter has access to multiple receivers. Of course, you need to make sure that you do not misplace the transmitter!

·       Various timers

·       RNIB PenFriend Audio Labeller:

·       http://www.rnib.org.uk/shop/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?category=labelling_penfriend&productID=DL7601. Can also be found on http://www.independentliving.com/prodinfo.asp?number=756610&gclid=CIj15eD7vq4CFbMAQAod6k8hQw. Originally designed for visually impaired, allows to record your own self-adhesive labels that you can put on various items, such as medicine bottle, for example. When you touch the label with the special pen, it will tell you what is recorded for this label.

·       Dragon Naturally Speaking: http://www.nuance.com/dragon/index.htm. Voice recognition program that can type for you as you speak. ATRC can lend you a laptop with Dragon installed on it. They will also provide some basic training and will help you to set user profile. New versions of Dragon are fast and can be installed on the tablet. Speak Selection option will read whatever is selected.

·       Natural Readers: http://www.naturalreaders.com/index.htm. It is a free program that allows you to convert written text into spoken.

·       Kindle Touch: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005890G8Y/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=14069933875&ref=pd_sl_8fw7a7j6lf_e. Has built in reader, you can listen to the book instead of reading, can slow down or speed up.

·       Reader in Safari: http://www.apple.com/safari/whats-new.html. For Mac users – program that allows you to view only the content part of the website without ads.

Group members shared their favorites:

·       Shush app for Android: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.publicobject.shush&hl=en. An app that turns back the ringer on your Android phone after you turn it off. For example, of you go to the movies and turn off your ringer, the app will ask when you want it back and will turn it on automatically after the specified time. Great for people who forget to turn on their ringers and as a result miss important calls.

·       Google Calendar: http://www.google.com/googlecalendar/about.html. Allows you to view your calendar on multiple devices with reminders and create different calendars for different tasks that can be overlaid. One member, for example, created multiple calendars in his Google account, including shared calendar with his wife, calendar that tracks birthdays of relatives, etc.

·       Leechblock: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/leechblock/. A free program on Firefox that allows you to block websites that you otherwise will be tempted to spend too much time on in order to stay productive. According to Leechblock website: “You can block sites within fixed time periods (e.g., between 9am and 5pm), after a time limit (e.g., 10 minutes in every hour), or with a combination of time periods and time limit (e.g., 10 minutes in every hour between 9am and 5pm). You can also set a password for access to the extension options, just to slow you down in moments of weakness! LeechBlock also keeps track of the total amount of time you have spent browsing the sites in each block set.”

·       Several group members use GPS on their smart phones to get around as their “sense of direction is off.”

·       One member e-mails herself as a reminder that s­­­he can check on her smart phone.

Group members agree that it takes time to learn how to handle technology and that not everything will work for everyone. ATRC can help you determine what might be helpful and what might be not by demonstrating and loaning various devices and software.

Self-Employment/Owning a Business for Adults with LD/ADHD

On January 30, 2012, Owen Doonan, Chairman of THE-Group consulting services gave our group presentation on self-employment for people with disabilities. THE-Group provides Executive Level IT, Business & Innovation consulting and executive mentor support services to business & government for over 40 years. It empowers home based executives & entrepreneurs with disabilities to work competitively. In addition, it advocates for virtual access to public meetings and home based employment and self employment for people with severe limiting disabilities.

Owen wants the group to distinguish between self-employment (working from home) and running a business (that can employ 2 or more people and if incorporated can protects you from possible business risks, such as a lawsuit).

If you would like to be a business owner, you have several options: 

• Buy an existing business from someone who is   retiring or who has a valid reason for selling 
• Buy a franchise 
• Start new business

If you would like to start your own, Owen suggests asking yourself the following questions:

• Does this business make sense in today's economy?  
• Is this something that consumers want/need/find to be important or or feel that it is frivolous? Things that are wanted, needed or important are potentially worth doing.  Things that are perceived to be frivolous generally are not worth doing.
• Who will I sell it to? It is important to know who would buy from you, if they are good prospects and can afford the price.
• Can I do that from both a practical and a legal standpoint?
• What is the cost of starting the business, running it until it is profitable and is that price point right for this market?
• Is anyone selling it now? Is it taking off? Dying out? It is important to get in on the ground floor but it is not wise to get in when the market is saturated and discounting is the main marketing paradigm!
• What assistive technologies can I use to make it easier for myself? It is advisable to talk with a competent consultant or service provider who understands business and maintaining a competitive edge to discuss your strategy.

Owen recommends developing a realistic business plan that includes:

• An Executive Summary of your Business concept (your product/service)
• A Marketing Plan (of the potential market to include how to sell product/service)
• An Operations Plan / Manual (individual components of what you need to do each day to run your business; This manual is much like what is provided when someone buys a franchise. In essence a franchisee is buying expertise in running a business with  an operations manual)

Owen emphasises that adults with LD/ADHD need a "franchise-like level of support," meaning very detailed and specific level of support program or manual, especially in the area of day to day operations and business functions of business. He encourages group members to explore the use of assistive technologies and support from other people. He emphasizes the importance of understanding what you can do yourself, what you are less comfort with and what you cannot do yourself. He gives an example of a client with intellectual disability who was not good at sales but created a good product. For this client, it made sense to increase the price to allow for the payment of a commission to a salesperson rather than trying to do sales him/herself. Owen also finds neurolinguistic programming and hypnotherapy helpful for his clients in increasing confidence and ability in business.

When asked about how to establish a "right price" for the product/service, Owen points out that it is common for people with LD/ADHD to undervalue their talent and offer lower prices. He believes that if price is not right - too low or too high, it creates a negative impression on the customer, who will question your ability to deliver or the value of the product or service. He encourages using the proven "value for money" approach to determining the right price.

Owen mentions the following resources for someone who wants to explore the potential of starting his/her own business and / or to be self-employed:

Funding:

MRC - can provide a $3,000-$7,000 loan, do not have to pay it back
Easter Seals Loan Program - $25,000-$30,000 loan, with negotiable payment plans  to repay loans in up to 7 years

Business Plan Support:

http://www.entrepreneur.com - can purchase from them business operating manuals on 50-60 subjects
http://www.inc.com
http://www.score.com 

Chambers of commerce in different towns

Business Research:

Banker Tradesman - can be found in the library
Boston Business Journal - covers local businesses
ESPN

Robert Morris Associates - 5,000 different types of companies including operating costs
INC Magazine
Entrepreneur Magazine

Owen believes that people with various disabilities, including LD/ADHD, can be successfully self-employed and run their own business. He states that "if you want to do meaningful and rewarding work, you need to create it yourself, not to wait decades for others to hand it to you."

Owen can be reached at memtor-one@usa.net . Be sure to reference that you are from the LD group or that you are a MRC client to get preferred assistance.

Schedule for February 2012

Session 5

February 6

Time Management Strategies

Presentation by L., group member

Session 6

February 13

MRC Research on Needs of Consumers with LD/ADD/ADHD

Guest Speaker: Dr. Mary Esther Rohman, MRC

Session 7

February 22, 3 pm

Assistive Technologies for ADD/ADHD/LD

Group field trip to Easter Seals

Session 8

February 27

Dealing with Hyperfocus

Presentation by J., group member

On-Line Accessibility for People with Disabilities

Recommended by a group member: A11Y, a group of developers, media specialists, designers and usability professionals working on on-line accessibility for people with disabilities. A11Y holds meetings in Boston area and invites everyone interested in the subject to attend. For more info, go to A11Y website at: http://www.a11ybos.org/

Teleseminar on Learning Disabilities and the Workplace

The teleseminar is presented by Jenna Knight, a Chair of the LD/ADHD Task Force at MRC and ADHD coach.

Learning Disabilities & the Workplace Teleseminar

January 25, 2012 @ 2pm

The purpose of the teleseminar is to provide an understand of what learning disabilities are, recognize the strengths and challenges in the workplace, strengths, accommodations, how to find the right job, how to advance and handle trouble if it arises and legal rights

Conference Call Number - (712) 432-0900
Access Number - 574063