Resources

1. STORYBOOK: http://www.socialworkerstoolbox.com/lucky-horseshoes-a-childrens-book-dealing-with-adhd/

   • Description: This book is about a young girl who has ADHD and works with her parents and doctors to learn about her disorder. It talks about the struggles she experiences with attention and daydreaming.

   • Evaluation: Written by Gayle Grass, a Canadian author and pioneer in children’s mental health education. The efficacy of Gayle’s storybook formula regarding mental health has been supported by a 2010 study conducted at Queen’s University. This storybook was published in 2014, but the information is general as it’s written for children. The content is written in a way that children can understand. The book states that it should not be used as a diagnostic tool and that it exists to support families and allow them to relate to the content of the book.

3. STORYBOOK: https://ca1lib.org/book/3921870/4eaa3e

1. • Description: A book explaining a young boy's everyday life with ADHD. The book includes lots of tips, advice, and coping strategies for children and parents to better understand how to structure their life around ADHD. The link provided is a link to the PDF copy of the storybook, the copy is the French version (the English version was originally linked, but has been recently taken down for unknown reasons).

   • Evaluation: French-Canadian Psychiatrist Annick Vincent (the author), specializes in ADHD and is an active board member on the Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance (CADDRA). The book was published in 2017 in English & French as a free PDF document making it accessible. As the book was published by a reputable company (who publishes books and open access journals), the content was edited thoroughly and contains no spelling errors. The purpose of this storybook was to provide an easily accessible resource for children to learn coping strategies, relate to a child, like themselves with ADHD, to de-stigmatize the disorder and normalize it.

4. WEBSITE: https://wideopenschool.org/#section-3

1. • Description: This is a website with resources to help children organize their day better. It includes games, articles, and a helpful schedule that can be followed. This is not exclusively for kids with ADHD, but would absolutely be useful and relevant for children with ADHD. It is user-friendly and can work for kids ranging from preschool to grade 12.

   • Evaluation: This website uses a colourful design that is suitable for younger children, but is also suitable for older children (grade 12’s). Also, the website ends in .org, which is known to be trustworthy. The grammar appears to be accurate, but there are limited words on the screen which are useful for children who have ADHD. This website overall does an excellent job at providing games, planners, etc., for children to use (of course with some guidance from their parents if they cannot read).

5. SERVICE: https://www.ednet.ns.ca/earlyyears/families/earlyinterventionprograms.shtml

1. • Description: This resource is a service provided by the Nova Scotia Early Childhood Development Intervention Services which provides early intervention services that help to promote positive developmental outcomes for young children who are not meeting certain developmental milestones or are at risk for developmental delay due to biological risk factors.

   • Evaluation: ednet.ns.ca is a webpage owned and managed by the Nova Scotia Provincial Government. The service outlines that it provides consultation, information, support, and other services to help children, who may be lagging behind in their development, to meet their developmental milestones. The service is backed by research and is also government-funded and follows an open referral system where families or their physicians can make referrals on behalf of the child. The child is then taken through the referral process until they are determined that they are eligible for the service.

1. PODCAST "Eat This:" https://www.iheartradio.ca/newstalk-1010/audio/podcasts/eat-this-adhd-podcast-1.10481505

   • Description: Lianne Phillipson, a registered nutritionist and media expert, hosts the "Eat This" podcast on IHEARTRADIO Network. Lianne interviews a physician about ADHD and diet.

   • Evaluation: IHeartRadio is the largest radio network in the United States. Anything they post would go through fact-checking for legal reasons, which makes them a credible source. Lianne Phillipson is a registered nutritionist and best-selling author. She interviews Dr. Tim Bilkay, psychiatrist and leading expert in the field of ADHD. Dr. Tim Bilkay is the founder of the ADHD clinic for Women in Toronto and is registered with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada. The statistics and information shared in this podcast can be found online through other sources.

2. WEBSITE: https://mha.nshealth.ca/en/topics/conditions/attention-deficithyperactivity-disorder

• Description: This resource is provided by Nova Scotia Health and outlines what is normal vs. abnormal behaviour concerning ADHD presentation. It lists common signs and symptoms, when to seek help, then lists a variety of helpful resources.

• Evaluation: This website has a design that is very easy to follow along, as well as a reputable logo and company name (Nova Scotia Health). Also, the website ends in .ca, which is known to be trustworthy. The grammar appears to be accurate and everything is written as concisely as possible to ensure easy reading for parents. This website does an excellent job at informing and explaining what ADHD looks like. Finally, they list many different resources and other helpful links that the parent can visit.

3. BOOKLET: https://keltymentalhealth.ca/sites/default/files/resources/ADHD%20Info%20for%20Families%20Booklet_BCCH_2019_0.pdf

   • Description: This is a resource booklet created by the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. It contains information on ADHD basics, diagnosis, and treatment. It provides parents with a good understanding of what to expect from a diagnosis and prepares parents for raising a child with ADHD.

   • Evaluation: This booklet was created by a very reputable organization, the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. It contains up-to-date information and the last date of updates are displayed in the booklet. The grammar is concise, free of errors, and written in a manner that is easy to understand. The booklet contains a vast array of information and clearly communicates its intent and purpose. Lastly, the links provided by the booklet are relevant and working.

4. INFORMATIONAL DOCUMENT: https://caddac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Understanding-Early-Childhood-ADHD.pdf

   • Description: An informational PDF pamphlet on ADHD in children that explains what ADHD is and some of the stigma surrounding it. It also lists very useful quick facts including its origins, core symptoms, etc. It also describes diagnosis and how it may present in early childhood and lists various resources and behaviour techniques.

   • Evaluation: This document has a flawless design with multiple supporting resources, as well as a reputable logo and company name. Also, the website ends in .ca, which is known to be trustworthy. The document specifies that it provides “up-to-date scientific information on ADHD,” so we know that it reflects what is known about ADHD today. The grammar appears to be accurate and everything is written in a concise manner. This document does an incredible job at informing and explaining ADHD for children. Finally, they list all of their resources to support their information, as well as other websites that you can visit.

1. DAILY PLANNER: https://smarts-ef.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Weekly-Planning-High-School-Parent-Resource.pdf?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=High%20School%20Parent%20Resource

   • Description: A resource sheet that contains information on organization skills and a template of a daily schedule.

   • Evaluation: This resource contains useful information on what executive functioning is and how to utilize it by maximizing the time in your day through proper organization and planning. The resource contains a template of a daily schedule which an individual can use to plan their day. The resource is well written, thoroughly edited, and doesn’t contain spelling mistakes. The original writers of the article host yearly conferences with top experts in executive functioning to further try to improve intervention methods for youth.

2. CHART: https://caddac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Instruction-AND-Chart.pdf

   • Description: This resource is a chart that contains an array of possible roadblocks that adolescents with ADHD may face and an excellent list of accommodations that can help them adjust to learning in a university setting.

   • Evaluation: This resource was created by CADDAC, which a reputable Canadian website for information on ADHD. The chart contains up-to-date information on accommodations for university and is well maintained. The content of the chart is grammatically correct, well written, and thoroughly edited. The intended audience of this chart is clearly identified and the information is presented without bias.

3. WEBSITE: www.caddra.ca/public-information/children/

   • Description: This resource explains what ADHD is, how it presents, treatment options, and how children can discuss it with friends and family.

   • Evaluation: CADDRA is a non-profit organization of health professionals dedicated to supporting and providing information to individuals with ADHD, so one can assume that they are accurate and give good information. The information is well laid out and is purely descriptive. The organization strives to provide treatment, education, advocacy, and research options for patients and individuals in hopes that ADHD is better understood as a disorder and treated properly.

4. SERVICE: https://kidshelpphone.ca

   • Description: This online resource offers 24/7 online chat and phone services to adolescents who want/need to talk to someone about their struggles or if they don't feel comfortable speaking with someone they know.

   • Evaluation: While the author is unavailable, this is a certified source as it has earned the certified secure and data protection certificates. Their services are available 24/7, meaning their content is up to date. There are no signs of grammatical errors and the information is understandable. It has enough features on the website to indicate what its purpose is and who is their intended audience.

5. PAMPHLET: https://chadd.org/for-adults/organizing-the-home-and-office-space/

   • Description: This website provides various tips and tricks for home and office organization. It provides the reader with a fact sheet outlining strategies for motivation and how to get started.

   • Evaluation: The website is powered by Neon Web Studio and is certified by “America’s Best Charities.” There are specialists and experts available to contact. The latest date available on the website is 2021, which indicates it is up to date. There seem to be no grammatical errors and/or spelling mistakes. The website is well written and easily understood. It serves its purpose by having enough features for viewers to know where to go.

2. WEBSITE: http://www.mentalhealthinnovation.com/med_patient.php

1. • Description: This website provides information about medications along with detailed information about side effects, why they are prescribed, and links relevant research to each medication.

   • Evaluation: The author’s information is available, details about the expert and their expertise and their qualifications. It is by Dr. Joseph Sadek who is a psychiatrist affiliated with Dalhousie University. Unfortunately, the last update was in 2014 but the website contains research articles that are up to date. The information provided is well-written as they are all articles that have been by researchers so they must have been edited and reviewed. The website serves its purpose and is available for the intended audience. The links it has provided work with no errors.

3. PODCAST: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1VUSmJQ6n4xluHuwnXlfPt?si=4e5a160041e941dd

1. • Description: This is the first episode of a podcast created by ADHD experts answering many common questions across a range of topics. Each episode brings in a different mental health professional or researcher.

   • Evaluation: Dr. Russel Barkley is the guest on the first episode of this podcast series. He is a clinical psychologist, author, and psychiatry professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The host, and Dr. Barkley, are both clear in their speech, and there are no grammatical errors. The podcast has been producing content since 2014 and is still currently releasing new episodes. The sound and production quality have improved, and the information posted is the most up-to-date. “ADHD Experts Podcast” is most suited for parents of children with ADHD, or adults with ADHD.

5. WEBSITE: http://www.shared-care.ca/toolkits-adhd

1. • Description: Toolkits created by Canadian mental health researchers specifically for ADHD. Variety of helpful information including documents, apps, videos, etc. for parents and their children.

   • Evaluation: The toolkit contains assessments and screening tools developed by clinicians/psychologists to be used to help identify ADHD in a child, adolescent, or adult. The toolkit contains educational patient handouts to offer more information for an individual diagnosed with ADHD, and their parents, on what the disorder is, how it presents itself. It includes recommended treatment plans and strategies for the individual to learn how to live with their disorder, with the assistance of their parents, and familiarize them with medication. Moreover, all the resources are peer-reviewed and backed by research. All links on the website also work.