Feb 2
In Episode #48 of ADHD for Smart Ass Women, I invite you to meet Sandra Coral. Sandra is a 41 yr old black woman who was adopted at 3 by a poor, white family in Canada and was diagnosed with ADHD last year. She joins us from London, where she lives with her husband and 5-year old son. Sandra was a K-12 teacher for over 15 years. She has an MA in Educational Psychology as well as post-graduate certificates in English As An Additional Language, Gifted Education and Special Education. She has taught internationally including in the UK, South Korea, Thailand, Oman and Turkey.
Sandra will share her fascinating story, including: her childhood where she and her little brother were the only people of color how she was bullied and traumatized and because of this suffered from emotional dysregulation and anger how her 7 year old brother was diagnosed with ADHD, but she remained undiagnosed until last year how up until recently Sandra thought her issues were solely related to her race Sandra and I will also talk about: how she finally discovered that she had ADHD what childhood symptoms Sandra now recognizes as ADHD what additional issues come up for those with ADHD when you’re black and how one even starts to unravel this and figure out what is related to adoption, race, trauma, or ADHD The importance of focusing on our strengths when we have ADHD Since being diagnosed, Sandra has decided to make it her mission to give children, teens, parents and adults the support that she didn’t have growing up, so that they can manage their ADHD and thrive in life.
APPLE
SPOTIFY
YOUTUBE
"I think the one thing is that you need to get knowledgeable about ADHD, that's the first thing. Because how you advocate for them is like how they're going to learn how to advocate for themselves."
- Sandra Coral
"I grew up in a household where you didn't show emotions, so not like that. So. So I would never happen at home."
- Sandra Coral
"I think that parents do need to, you know, be flexible in a way. And I mean this in the sense of, like, the strategies or methods they put in place don't always work for a little bit, and then they change."
- Sandra Coral
- Sandra shares her story of growing up in a conservative community as a black child adopted by a white family in a small town.
- Sandra reflects on her experience with ADHD as a black woman, discussing the challenges she faced in being diagnosed and the differences in her experience compared to her brother.
- Sandra finds success on her own terms, embracing her unique identity and values.
[19:40 - 33:42] ADHD in the Black Community
- Sandra shares her personal experience with ADHD in the black community, including the struggles of her two brothers who were diagnosed and medicated as children, but ended up in jail later in life.
- Sandra discusses the challenges of getting diagnosed and receiving proper support for ADHD in schools, particularly for black boys and girls.
- Sandra emphasizes the importance of focusing on strengths and individuality for twice-exceptional students.
[33:42 - 45:58] ADHD Challenges and Strategies
- Sandra shares her experiences with ADHD and how she's developed workarounds to manage her weaknesses, including minimalism and persistence.
- Sandra uses various strategies, such as meditation and journaling, to manage her ADHD and executive function challenges.
- Sandra shares her story of being diagnosed with ADHD and her mission to support children, teens, parents, and adults with ADHD.
