Beyond Distraction – Shining a Light on ADHD Strengths & Struggles
As we wrap up ADHD Awareness Month this October 2025, we’re taking a moment to spotlight some excellent resources and champions who are helping to grow self-awareness and broader understanding—highlighting both the challenges that individuals with ADHD face and the unique strengths they bring to the world.
How to ADHD? with Jessica McCabe
Those of us with ADHD have brains that work differently, which means we need to work differently. – Jessica McCabe
In her popular YouTube video series and her best-selling book, How to ADHD: An Insider’s Guide to Working with Your Brain (Not Against It), Jessica McCabe shares personal stories, tools, and insights for navigating a world that isn’t designed for the neurodivergent brain (HOWTOADHD, 2025).
Diagnosed with ADHD at the age of twelve, Jessica experienced many related setbacks into adulthood. Over time, she realized that instead of trying to “fix” or fight her brain’s natural tendencies, she needed to understand and work with them (HOWTOADHD, 2025).
Determined to make sense of her experiences—and supported by an incredibly generous ADHD community (affectionately known as “Brains” and “Hearts”)—Jessica provides straightforward tools and tips delivered with humour and heart.
In her ADHD-friendly book, she explores how ADHD affects everyday life and offers practical advice on “How to…”
- ADD/ADHD
- (Hyper)focus
- (Executive)function
- Sleep
- Remember stuff
- Motivate your brain
How to Homework Strategies
With Reading Week around the corner, students with ADHD may find Jessica’s eight-minute video on How To Homework: Top 10 Tips for ADHD Success a worthwhile watch. She highlights that students with ADHD are interest-based learners – it’s not about being “not smart” or “unable to do the work”. Rather, unless an assignment feels interesting or exciting, it often isn’t stimulating enough for ADHD brains to stay focused.
In her short video, McCabe highlights simple, yet effective strategies that can help ADHD brains navigate homework and studying struggles. Your homework this week – try out one or two strategies and see if they make a difference for you. Want the written version? Check out our summary guide.
The Many Faces of ADHD, Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada
ADHD doesn’t look the same for everyone. – The Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada
Inspired by this year’s ADHD Awareness Month theme – The Many Faces of ADHD – the CADDAC amplifies the stories of Canada’s diverse ADHD community, helping to breakdown stigma, challenge myths, and celebrate the unique strengths that those with ADHD contribute to the world – in school, the workplace, and with family and friends.
Canada’s ADHD Speaks – Stories from Across the Country
ADDitude eNewsletter & Magazine
For some, ADHD shows up in childhood, and for others, it is recognized much later in life. (CADDAC, 2025) As awareness around ADHD continues to evolve, ADDitude is a leading digital network that provides expert guidance in support of living better with ADHD and its related mental health conditions. In collaboration with medical experts, scientific research, and community members with lived experience, ADDitude has become a valued resource for learning – offering access to free webinars, articles, downloads, and more.
Sources:
About the Author
This post is part of our staff-authored series.