& Family Support Centre
About The ADD Assessment & Family Support Centre
The ADD Assessment & Family Support Centre was established on the 1st July 2003 by the ADD NZ Trust with the assistance of the Sisters of Compassion at the Home of Compassion, Island Bay, Wellington, to provide early medical assessment of children and teenagers/adolescents to diagnose inherited neurological disorders; to assist parents with advice, information and support for the management of their child/teenager/adolescent (with medical, nursing, special education and social needs); as well as providing education to inform and support parents during negotiation processes, assisting with parental relief and sibling support issues.
The Centre has been particularly fortunate to have had the part time services of Wellington's (if not New Zealand's) leading ADD/ADHD Paediatrician Dr Leo Buchanan, whose services have largely been funded by the generous support the Sisters of Compassion, along with a dedicated group of voluntary staff and helpers.
The ADD NZ Trust is a charitable trust that was established in December 1999 by a group of people who had been part of the informal early ADD support groups that developed in the Wellington area during the 1990's. They were encouraged to establish this Trust by then Human Rights Commissioner Ross Brereton to help deal with the issues being experienced by parents who have children, adolescents and other family members with ADD/ADHD.
Many parents/caregivers of children and teenagers/adolescents who have "differently wired" brains (neurological disorders) experience great difficulty in accessing prompt medical assessment and assistance.
The ADD Centre is also a source of information and support for professionals, including teachers, health (nurses and doctors), police and policy makers to enable them to assist children and young people and their families appropriately.
A number of leading politicians and Government officials have visited the ADD Centre. This includes previous Minister for Health Annette King and Opposition Spokesperson for Education Bill English.
The Centre has links with a number of organisations including Autism NZ, Cloud 9, and the leading international ADD/ADHD organisation, CHADD (Children & Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) www.chadd.org.
Information is also made available to communities regarding these disorders because families need the community understanding and support to help these children and young people to achieve their educational, health and social potential.
Key Strategic Goals are:
- To assist children and young people through the school system to achieve independent lives.
- To explore what services are available for adults with ADD/ADHD and other inherited neurological disorders.
- To explore current international research information when conducting professional education seminars for health professionals, teachers and others.
- To present information and give assistance to the wider population regarding development and progress in the ADD/ADHD community.
