Initially APDUK will primarily be working to help children with APD. Our main concern is for the new generations of APDs, to campaign for the recognition of APD, and the provision of the best possible help.

But we have not forgotten the Adult APDs, how can we, two of our founding members are Adult APDs.

Adult APDs may find coming to terms with the true nature of their disability late in life difficult. Family, partners, friends, work colleagues, and Employers will all have to know to enable them to provide the help, support and understanding that adult APDs need.

We can provide a link to the Adult APD Internet Forum.

OldAPDs

Founded in 2000 and is hosted by APDUK's Vice Chairman (Graeme Wadlow) Dolfrog

The forum has an international membership and is based at Yahoo.

How APD can effect Adults in their daily lives

(This is based on the personal experiences of the adult APD members of APDUK)

Feeling uncomfortable in large groups of people (more than 4 or 5 people) (large groups of friends, canteens, staff rooms, meetings, conferences)

Difficulty in following verbal instructions. (APDs randomly have problems processing what people so you may miss part or all or of a set of instructions)

Institutional Discrimination in the work place by supervisors and management. (Bosses always better advocates, so you always loose out, despite how good your case may be. And even if the man at the top may have a similar disability)

Difficulty understanding telephone conversations. (Difficulty in processing the consonant sounds)

Feeling great sense of underachievement. (Something always seems to prevent you from fulfilling your full potential)

Lack of self advocacy Skills in verbal discussions. (Interviews. complaining, debates)

Difficulty performing long specific sequence tasks. (DOS, UNIX styled programs, repetitive tasks)

How Adult APDs can learn to cope

Adult APDs it has been observed develop delayed processing strategy. (Like replaying a video and then processing the information at a later date)

Adult APDs develop a sense that they will always make , silly mistakes, so they develop strategies or routines to try to correct and prevent mistakes (These strategies operate in the short term memory and take priority over what non APDS use their short term memory for, hence APDs may seem forgetful)

Avoiding stressful, no win, situations (this can sometimes be in the form of a self imposed isolation, to prevent being continually hurt)

The problems which Adult APDs are faced with in their daily lives are similar to those experienced by other Adult Dyslexics.

Many APDs also suffer from Dyslexia, in that the have problems processing Textual information.

(Which is the strict definition of dyslexia, difficulty with reading)

Here are some very helpful links :

Adult Dyslexia Organisation (ADO)

Being Dyslexic Web site

Being Dyslexic Forum