About Totally ADD
Created for adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) and those affected by it (family, employers, health professionals, etc.), Totally ADD liberates people from the fear, shame, and stigma that can accompany this often misunderstood and misdiagnosed disorder. Through education, humour, and social interaction Totally ADD provides the tools and support people need to create a life they love.
OUR HISTORY
Totally ADD was founded in 2009 by Rick Green, Dr. Umesh Jain, and Ava Green (click here to learn more about our Founders), and is a division of Big Brain Productions, a privately-owned company based just west of Toronto, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Canadian writer/director/actor Rick and video story editor Ava (no surprise they’re married!) created Big Brain Productions in 2008 and together produced the GlobalTV documentary ADD and Loving It?!, featuring Canadian actor Patrick McKenna. The film is an inventive and often hilarious look at adult ADHD – not a surprising approach considering Rick and Patrick worked together on one of Canada’s longest-running and most popular comedy television series, The Red Green Show. Both Rick and Patrick have been diagnosed with ADHD (Rick several years ago after his son was diagnosed, and Patrick in the course of making the documentary) and they share candid stories of life while untreated and undiagnosed, and how they’re successfully coping now.
As one expert points out in the documentary, ““No other diagnosis brings with it so much good news and possibility for treatment.” For his work as the film’s creator, writer, and director, Rick was honoured with the prestigious ‘Celebrity Changing Lives’ award from the CAMH Foundation.
BUILDING TOTALLYADD.COM
In 2009 psychiatrist and leading ADHD expert Dr. Umesh Jain joined Rick and Ava in the creation of Totally ADD. Together the partners developed and now operate the free consumer web site TotallyADD.com. The site, currently in its beta stage, offers a rich, diverse, and accessible collection of information and insight about adult ADHD. Content covers topics such as: symptoms, steps for getting a proper diagnosis, myth-busting, associated conditions, treatment approaches, when and how medication is used, and tips for managing everyday life.
People who visit the site range from ADDers, people who think they might have ADD, people who service the ADHD community, and friends, family, and colleagues of people with ADHD.
As site guests develop their understanding of the many components of ADHD, they can dig deeper into specific topics through ADDvanced Info segments, get a chuckle from the antics in Bill’s ADDVentures, follow along with Rick’s random musings about all parts of life with ADHD in Rick’s Rants, learn from a variety of ADHD experts and ADDers about what works and what doesn’t in Straight Answers, and get tips directly from Dr. Jain in the Dr. J videos.
On top of the hours of video content available, visitors can check out Rick’s Blog, join the discussion through our Community Forums, and access a number of resources and links in the Tools section. People can even take a quick quiz* with Dr. Jain and the Virtual Doctor to discover if they have symptoms commonly associated with ADHD and should follow up with their doctor to investigate further (*results intended for informational purposes only and should always be reviewed with a qualified physician).
BEYOND THE WEB SITE
As people began to visit the beta version of TotallyADD.com, we got a ton of feedback from people telling us they were looking for an opportunity to learn more in a real-world setting but didn’t know where to find it. This response inspired us to create a series of interactive workshops and seminars, helping people develop a greater understanding of a range of aspects of ADHD.
Our first workshop was held at the Ontario Science Centre at the end of February 2010 and resulted in a sold-out auditorium of almost 500 people (with a waiting list of dozens more). Rick, Dr. J, and special guest Patrick McKenna delivered a fast-paced, fun (often funny!), and informative session that ended with a standing ovation. Not bad for our first run!
We’re developing a schedule for workshops and seminars throughout Canada and the United States and will be announcing these in the Events section of our site as they are added. Our goal is to offer our programs to the public with limited ticket prices, where possible. With this in mind we look for opportunities to defray, share, or have expenses underwritten – but only in cases where such support in no way compromises our standards for objectivity and complete disclosure. We adhere to a strict code of ethics in every aspect of our operations and will provide, when applicable, details of any support we receive from other companies, organizations, and community groups to help set up these events.
FOR HEALTH CARE & ALLIED SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS
In addition to the content and events we create for the general public, we also offer a comprehensive product suite focused on ADHD education and training for professionals in the health, pharmaceutical, education, and support sectors. Products include multimedia content, on-location learning programs, and speaking engagements. For more information about how Totally ADD can assist you with your conference, special event, fundraiser, or continuing education programs, please contact Ava Green at 1-519-429-2871. We will work with you to tailor a program that meets your specific needs and delivers compelling results.
MORE INFORMATION
“You’re doing the most important work of your life.”
This observation, recently made by a friend of Rick’s, applies to not only to him, but to virtually everyone on the team at Totally ADD. We’re a small group of folks who love what we do and feel strongly about doing whatever we can to help people with ADHD and those who support them. While not all of us have ADHD (jeepers, can you imagine what that office might be like?!), we’ve all experienced first-hand the implications of living with, working with, or caring for someone who does.
We hope you’ll get in touch if there’s anything you’d like to share any feedback with our team….from your experience on TotallyADD.com, how our site functions, and content you’re interested in to workshops you’d like us to offer, tools or resources you’re looking for, or virtually anything else from the world of ADHD.
You can reach us by email at: customersupport@totallyadd.com or by phone at: 1-519-429-2871.
We hope to hear from you soon.