1. Edge Foundation & ADHD
Interview Q & A
1. What is ADHD?
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is a complex mental-health
disorder characterized by inattention, impulsivity and/or hyperactivity. Persons
with ADHD often have difficulties functioning in interpersonal, social, academic,
and professional environments. ADHD sometimes is associated with an
impairment of executive functioning within the brain’s "operating system,”
resulting in chronic and severe problems with working memory, organization,
time management and follow-through.
While its symptoms frequently are mistaken as a lack of willpower, ADHD
actually is caused by inherited brain-chemistry deficiencies. The typical individual
with ADHD, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, may “experience
a good deal of difficulty in academic, personal or social realms,” and is frequently
characterized by low self-esteem and vulnerability to drugs, risk-taking and other
dangerous behaviors. Persons with ADHD can benefit from treatment, including
medication and therapy, particularly if they are diagnosed and given help early
on.
2. How widespread is ADHD? Does it affect adults as well as children?
ADHD typically becomes apparent in children at preschool or elementary-school
age, when they have trouble controlling their behavior and/or paying attention.
ADHD is prevalent at all socioeconomic levels, in all ethnic groups, and at all IQ
levels. Contrary to popular belief, ADHD is not something outgrown in adulthood.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that up to 7 percent
of school-aged children have ADHD, and that 4.5 million U.S. children have been
diagnosed with it.
3. What are the societal and economic impacts of ADHD?
Studies have shown that without effective intervention while young, and before
reaching adulthood, compared to their non-ADHD peers children with ADHD are:
 Twice as likely to commit a crime
 Six times as likely to be substance abusers
 Four times as likely to have auto accidents
 Nearly twice as likely to be divorced
 Twice as likely to be unemployed

2. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the annual
societal ‘‘cost of illness’’ for ADHD is between $36 billion and $52 billion, in 2005
dollars. Across 10 nations, ADHD was projected to be associated with 143.8
million lost days of productivity annually. U.S. workers with ADHD were more
likely to have at least one sick day in the past month compared to workers
without ADHD.
4. What sort of academic challenges do ADHD students face?
College students with ADHD have lower GPAs, are more likely to experience
academic probation, and are only one-third as likely to graduate as other
students. They also experience problems with time management, taking notes,
memory tasks, sustaining attention, locating salient information in texts, and
organizing/persisting at long-term projects.
5. What is the Edge Foundation, and how does it help academically
challenged students with ADHD?
The Edge Foundation (www.edgefoundation.org) is a Seattle-based, nonprofit
organization that improves the lives of children and young adults with ADHD by
helping them realize their full potential through personal coaching. The
Foundation trains professional life coaches in ADHD-management techniques
and connects students with coaches in cities across the nation.
The Foundation’s emphasis is on high-school and college students, but its
coaching services will be expanded to other age groups in coming years. In
2008, the foundation launched a $1 million, 27-month ADHD research study—the
nation’s first large-scale look at personal coaching’s effectiveness on the
academic and social performance of ADHD students.
6. Why was the Edge Foundation created?
The foundation was established in 2005 by Flexcar founder Neil Peterson after
he and his two children were diagnosed with ADHD. The family attempted
medication and other treatments but discovered that personal coaching was the
most beneficial tool for managing their ADHD. Personal coaching proved so
transformational for Neil and his children that he was inspired to create the Edge
Foundation so other children could have the opportunity to experience the same
benefits.
Colleges don’t like to dwell on this fact, but one-third of undergraduates drop out
in their first year, and only half of all students complete college. Although tutors
are common in higher education, coaching for ADHD students is still a nascent
field. Few college disability offices—required by law to provide ADHD
accommodations for students who request them—even know where to find
coaches.

3. The bottom line is that millions of students with ADHD—many of whom may very
well be some of tomorrow’s leaders and innovators—are at risk of failing
academically. They need help, and schools and colleges need help keeping them
from dropping out. And that’s where the Edge Foundation comes in.
7. What is ADHD coaching, and how does it benefit students with ADHD?
Personal coaching can be a highly effective intervention and support mechanism
for students with ADHD, but it’s still relatively unknown compared to traditional
treatments such as medication and therapy. ADHD coaching can have a dramatic
effect on students’ academic performance and their social integration into college
life. Students learn techniques and strategies for setting goals, building
confidence, organizing, scheduling, focusing, prioritizing and persisting at tasks.
Through the coaching process, and because it is non-directive, students are able to
develop systems and strategies that are tailor-made for their individual needs.
8. How do students find a personal ADHD coach?
After students apply at www.edgefoundation.org, the Edge Foundation matches
them with a coach from its network. The student may end up talking with several
coaches before choosing one. Since the Foundation is national in scope,
coaching can be provided by phone to eliminate geographic limitations. Once the
student selects a coach, they work together in half-hour sessions during the
school year. Students have the option of touching base with their coaches
throughout the week via e-mail and additional phone calls.
9. How affordable is personal ADHD coaching?
Students or parents pay $100/week during the academic year for the full,
ongoing support of their coach. In cases of financial hardship, the Edge
Foundation offers scholarships in the form of loans or grants. Scholarship
qualification is determined on a sliding scale based on ability to pay.
The Edge Foundation
www.edgefoundation.org
2017 Fairview Avenue East, Suite I
Seattle, WA 98102
(206) 910-7515
(888) 718-8886
Neil Peterson, Chairman and CEO
npeterson@edgefoundation.org