How can I advocate for myself with ADHD?

PostedDecember 23, 2025

UpdatedDecember 30, 2025

ByMy Patient Advice

Author: Victoria Rowe, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Self-advocacy means understanding your needs, your rights, and your voice, and using them confidently. For people with ADHD, this can make a real difference in healthcare, education, and the workplace. According to NICE guidance, everyone with ADHD should be involved in decisions about their care and supported to express preferences and values.

What self-advocacy means in ADHD care

Advocating for yourself starts with understanding your condition, knowing how ADHD affects your focus, organisation, and daily life, and communicating clearly with others. The NHS shared-decision-making framework defines self-advocacy as active participation: being informed about your options, asking questions, and helping shape your care or support plan rather than passively receiving it.

Speaking up in education and work

ADHD is recognised under the Equality Act 2010, meaning schools, universities, and employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments. According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, these can include written instructions, quiet workspaces, extended deadlines, or flexible scheduling. Students can also access Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), which funds mentoring, assistive technology, or study-skills support. Preparing conversations, listing your main challenges and practical solutions, helps others understand how ADHD affects you and what adjustments will help most.

Building self-advocacy skills

NICE highlights psychoeducation and peer support as essential for helping people and families understand ADHD and communicate effectively about it. Adults often find confidence through peer groups, coaching, or therapy that builds planning and communication skills. Charities such as ADHD UK, the ADHD Foundation, and ADDISS provide template letters, webinars, and helplines to support people advocating for themselves or their children.

Overcoming barriers

Self-advocacy can be difficult when stigma, low confidence, or executive-function challenges get in the way. NICE and RCPsych recommend practical support like written reminders, checklists, and structured meetings to reduce cognitive load. If you are unsure where to start, local NHS neurodiversity or SEND services (for example, NHS Dorset’s ADHD support page) can guide you to advocacy resources and legal rights information.

The takeaway

Advocating for yourself with ADHD means knowing your condition, your rights, and your value. You have the right to be heard in decisions about your treatment, learning, and work, and to ask for reasonable adjustments that help you thrive. Trusted resources from the NHS, NICE, RCPsych, and UK ADHD charities can help you build those skills confidently and safely.

For adults seeking structured support to improve organisation, confidence, and self-management, Theara Change offers therapy-based coaching designed to complement evidence-based ADHD care.

Victoria Rowe, MSc

Author

Victoria Rowe is a health psychologist with a Master’s in Health Psychology and a BS in Applied Psychology. She has experience as a school psychologist, conducting behavioural assessments, developing individualized education plans (IEPs), and supporting children’s mental health. Dr. Rowe has contributed to peer-reviewed research on mental health, including studies on anxiety disorders and the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare systems. Skilled in SPSS, Minitab, and academic writing, she is committed to advancing psychological knowledge and promoting well-being through evidence-based practice.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy.

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Reviewer

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy.