These are the lived experiences of people with ADHD in Aotearoa. Each story highlights the harm caused by misunderstanding, exclusion, or lack of support — and why systemic change is urgently needed.
Content Warning: These stories include experiences of exclusion, discrimination, and mental health struggles.
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I’m writing this on behalf of my 5 year old. He tells me his brain is too fast, and why can’t others just keep up? He tells me things move too slowly for him and he needs it to be faster. He is clever, kind and definitely misunderstood. He has been asked to do better…
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I was diagnosed with autism first, and ADHD many years later.The contrast in how people respond to those two words has been eye-opening. When I mention autism, people are curious. They ask questions, they want to understand. When I mention ADHD, the reaction shifts — suddenly it’s about effort, parenting, or self-control. The empathy disappears,…
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I’m a teacher with ADHD. Nobody wants to say it out loud, but kids like me, kids with ADHD, aren’t “disabled enough” to get real support in school.I’ve seen it time and time again. A child finally gets their diagnosis. Their parent comes in, hopeful that this means some real help, maybe a plan, some…
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My son showed me the petition since I’m not on social media. I reckon it’s bloody great, but yeah, also pretty sad that it’s true, true about the lifetime of harm. It’s probably too late for me, but it gives me a bit of hope for my boy. If the people in charge actually listened…
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I was diagnosed with ADHD in my late 30s, after one of my children was diagnosed. Since then, I’ve found myself starting to really loathe the school system. I can’t unsee the harm it has caused, not just for my child, but for me too. I feel like I’m stuck doing generational repair. It’s exhausting….
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I have ADHD, Bipolar Type 1 combined. The ADHD I have had my whole life, but the Bipolar started when I was 19. School was a living nightmare for me. I couldn’t remember things and I couldn’t write down what was on the board. I was punished for this and told I was lazy and…
These stories are just the beginning. If you’d like to add your voice, you can share your story directly through our Your Story Matters page.
You can also share your experiences on social media and tag us — so that more people see the reality of ADHD in Aotearoa.
