By Heather Carroll
For many, going to court is not easy, but for those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) their condition can make it even more difficult.
October is ADHD Awareness Month and we will be shining a light on the condition, how it affects vulnerable people in the justice system and the role that intermediaries such as TIC play in supporting service users.
ADHD affects more than simply one’s ability to sit still and concentrate and many diagnosed with the condition have other mental disorders, e.g. sleep disorders (70%), anxiety, depression, eating disorders, Autism and other neurodiverse conditions.
NHS England reports that ADHD can have a lifetime impact, with a range of interdependencies with the health, wellbeing, social integration, and quality of life of individuals and families. Evidence points to neurodevelopmental disorders being associated with an increased risk of loss of life. People with ADHD are overrepresented in the justice system as both victims and perpetrators.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is defined by the World Health Organization as being characterised by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity/ impulsivity, that has a direct negative impact on academic, occupational, or social functioning, the level of which is outside the limits of normal variation expected for age and level of intellectual functioning.
People living with ADHD can face poor educational outcomes, have difficulty maintaining a regular job and keeping relationships.
At court where tensions often run high, there are large amounts of complex information to digest, and behavioural protocols which must be adhered to, people with ADHD experience particular difficulty.
- Planning and delivering their intended message without tangential deviation
- Understanding what is being said, and recognising when they have not understood
- Retaining new and often complex information
- Digesting large volumes of written material
- Remaining focused on a given topic, and when switching to consider a new topic
- Regulating their emotions in light of evidence which is difficult to hear
- Sitting still
- Time orientation/management
- Stereotypes around body language, e.g. the perception that someone who is fidgeting is untrustworthy, suspicious etc.
Every week The Intermediary Cooperative enables people with ADHD and other vulnerabilities to access the justice system, participate in criminal and family court, civil hearings and tribunals.
The Intermediary Cooperative is a not-for-profit social enterprise offering high quality intermediary services across England and Wales.
Built on core social values, we are passionate about ensuring fair access to justice while giving back to the communities in which we serve.
All our intermediaries are experienced communication professionals and come from a wide range of backgrounds including Speech and Language Therapy, Teaching, Social Work, Law, Psychology and Mental Health Nursing.
We match service users to intermediaries with the specialist skills required to fully support their communication needs. Our aim is to maintain consistency of Intermediary throughout each case for the benefit of the service user and the team working alongside them.
We pride ourselves on our high standards, specialist knowledge, and strong sense of community.