Living with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be a rollercoaster ride for kids and the adults who care for them. What if you had a quick guide you could reference to remind yourself what kids with ADHD need to thrive? A guide that promotes understanding, advocacy, and compassion for children with ADHD. That’s where the ADHD Bill of Rights, inspired by Kaiser Permanente’s framework can be helpful. It is designed to remind caregivers, educators, and clinicians of the unique challenges these children face, and to emphasize their right to be treated with dignity, respect, and support. Review each right and learn how you can best support and help your child or loved one struggling with the daily challenges of ADHD.
- HELP ME TO FOCUS …
Please teach me through my different senses (e.g. sense of touch).
I need “hands-on” and body movement.
- I NEED TO KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT …
Please give me a structured environment where there is a dependable routine.
Give me an advance warning if there will be changes.
- WAIT FOR ME, I’M STILL THINKING …
Please allow me to go at my own pace.
If I’m rushed, I get confused and upset.
- I’M STUCK, I CAN’T DO IT! …
Please offer me options for problem solving.
If the road is blocked, I need to know the detours.
- IS IT RIGHT? I NEED TO KNOW NOW …
Please give me rich and immediate feedback on how I’m doing.
- I DIDN’T KNOW I WASN’T IN MY SEAT! …
Please remind me to stop, think, and act.
- AM I ALMOST DONE? …
Please give me short work periods with short-term goals.
WHAT? …
Please don’t say “I already told you that.”
Tell me again, in different words that don’t hurt.
Give me a signal. Draw me a symbol.
- I KNOW IT’S ALL WRONG, ISN’T IT? …
Please give me praise for partial success.
Reward me for self-improvement, not just for perfection.
- BUT WHY DO I ALWAYS GET YELLED AT? …
Please catch me doing something right and praise me for the specific positive behavior.
Remind me—and yourself—about my good points when I’m having a bad day.
- KNOW WHAT IS REALLY HARD FOR ME!
When things get boring my brain goes “offline.”
- PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ….
Yelling works to get my attention but it also hurts our relationship!
- WHEN I DO HOMEWORK PLEASE REMEMBER….
That I need to take frequent breaks and that music and other creative ways of studying will help me.
What can Parents, Teachers, Educators, and Clinicians do with this Bill of Rights?
The ADHD Children’s Bill of Rights can serve as a practical and empowering tool for parents—not just as a list of ideals, but as a guiding framework for advocacy, understanding, and daily parenting decisions.
Here’s how parents can use the ADHD Children’s Bill of Rights in real life:
1. Use it to Advocate for School Support
- Bring it to meetings with teachers, school counselors, or IEP/504 plan discussions.
- Use the language of rights to request appropriate accommodations, such as:
- Extended time on tests
- Preferential seating
- Movement breaks
- Visual instructions and reminders
2. Reflect on Family Interactions
- Ask: Am I offering empathy and support instead of just discipline?
- Use the Bill of Rights to adjust your approach when managing behaviors at home:
- Focus on strengths, not just challenges
- Allow space for mistakes without shame
- Encourage your child to express feelings safely
3. Teach Self-Advocacy
- Explain the Bill of Rights to your child in age-appropriate language:
“You have the right to learn in ways that work for you.”
“You deserve to be treated with respect, even when things are hard.”
- Help them identify what supports help them succeed and how to ask for them.
4. Share it with Others
- Give a copy to family members, babysitters, or anyone involved in your child’s life.
- This helps reduce misunderstandings and builds a more supportive environment.
5. Use it as a Conversation Starter
- Discuss each “right” with your child to build insight and emotional awareness.
- For example: “What helps you feel good about yourself when school is hard?” or “What do you wish adults understood about your ADHD?”
6. Revisit It Often
- As your child grows, their needs and understanding will change.
- Reuse the document to guide new stages—middle school, high school, transitions, etc.
How Mindwell Urgent Care Can Help
When parents, teachers, and caregivers honor the ADHD Children’s Bill of Rights, they help children receive the understanding and support they need to grow, learn, and develop healthy self-esteem.
An essential part of treating ADHD in children and adolescents is nurturing strong, positive relationships within the family. As a parent of a child with ADHD, you may have experienced conflict, frustration, or even moments of aggression at home—challenges that can deeply affect the entire family system.
Improving relationships between children and adolescents with ADHD and their parents and siblings can significantly enhance emotional well-being and long-term outcomes. Family connection, empathy, and consistent support are powerful tools in helping children with ADHD thrive.
At Mindwell Urgent Care, we provide patient-centered ADHD support rooted in understanding these rights. Our board-certified providers offer compassionate online care across Texas, Oklahoma, New Jersey, Florida, and Kansas, plus in-person appointments in Dallas, TX. Schedule an evaluation with our expert team to give your child the respectful, structured, and strength-based support they deserve.