UBC Press The Boy from Hell book Paperback 208 pages

"Saturday 14th August 2001: Today has been a horrible, hatefulday. Daniel has pushed me to my absolute wits' end. Sometimes itreally does feel like he is the original child from hell." ForAlison, life with her son Daniel sometimes seemed like an endlesstorrent of disobedience, backchat, rudeness, name-calling andaggression. Upon starting school, where his aggression and lack ofconcentration concerned teachers, Daniel was given a vague diagnosis ofborderline Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which waslater changed to ADHD with secondary Oppositional Defiant Disorder andautistic traits. In this unapologetically honest account of the first18 years of Daniel's life, Alison exposes her own worries, doubts,and exceptional courage at every pivotal turn in Daniel's life.Interspersing the narrative with tips and advice on what she has founduseful - or not - in bringing up Daniel, Alison also providesencouraging guidance for teachers and fellow parents. This book alsoraises serious questions about how the education system supportschildren with special needs, and if medication can be the answer tomanaging ADHD in children.

Alison M. Thompson is the founder of ADHD Kids and atrained NLP Practitioner and Life Coach, a route she was propelled downdue to the ongoing experience of raising a son with ADHD. She works toeducate parents and teachers on understanding and dealing with ADHD inchildren. In 2008, Alison was nominated and shortlisted for themother@work Most Exceptional Working Mother Award.