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Friday Share

Posted by preciouschild

September 5, 2008 |

michael-phelps.jpgThis week we’ve been talking about ADD and Michael Phelps has recently become a poster “child” for ADD awareness. His mother, a lifelong educator and currently employed as a middle-school principal, shared some of the accomodations she made in addressing Michael’s “issues” as a youngster in an interviw for ADDitude magazine.

“At age seven, he hated getting his face wet,” says Debbie. “We flipped him over and taught him the backstroke.” He showed a lot of talent, and it wasn’t long before he was swimming on his front, side, “and every way in between.” But, in the classroom he floundered.

Teachers reported to Debbie that Michael simply couldn’t focus. At 9 yrs old, he was diagnosed with ADHD and placed under medications.

“That just hit my heart,” says Debbie. “It made me want to prove everyone wrong. I knew that, if I collaborated with Michael, he could achieve anything he set his mind to.”

Debbie also challenged the teachers whenever they complained of Michael’s lack of attention. “What are you doing to help him?” she would ask.

Michael, the most decorated olympian of all time, is studying sports marketing at the University of Michigan.

To read the complete interview, go to http://www.additude.mag.com/adhd/article/1998.html


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