School is officially in session and it\u2019s so good<\/em> to be back.<\/p>\n The drama has always shown a willingness to tackle challenging social issues, from teen pregnancy to mental health, and the new season is no different, with Kelly Jo Rafferty\u2019s storyline a particular standout.<\/p>\n When we first meet the Year 11 student (played by Alicia Forde) she\u2019s outwardly disruptive, with her emotional outbursts often landing her in hot water. But in time, her teachers suspect that she might have ADHD (Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder<\/a>) and refer her for an assessment that not only helps Kelly Jo to understand her behaviour, but also to accept herself.<\/p> ADHD, which affects an estimated five per cent of children and three to four per cent of adults<\/a>, is a neurological disorder that impairs the brain\u2019s executive functions. It\u2019s not a behavioural disorder or mental illness as it is sometimes categorised. As a form of neurodiversity<\/a>, the way in which an ADHD brain processes and learns patterns differs from what is considered \u201cneurotypical\u201d. Due to that, people with ADHD may struggle with\u00a0impulse control, focus, organisation, exaggerated emotions and executive dysfunction.<\/p>\n ADHD can also present differently depending on your sex. While men and boys typically present as externally hyperactive, women and girls are more likely to be inattentive, commonly struggling with mental hyperactivity and anxiety. That can lead to women and girls being more likely to be overlooked or even misdiagnosed \u2013 men are almost\u00a0three times more likely<\/a> than women to receive an ADHD diagnosis.<\/p>\n But this is where Waterloo Road<\/a> breaks the mould.<\/p>\n Rather than choosing a male student with \u2018anger issues\u2019, the stereotype most commonly associated with ADHD, the series\u2019s writers created Kelly Jo. Instead of presenting typically female ADHD traits, she\u2019s outwardly angry and has a short-fuse, which is more commonly associated with men and boys, but not unheard of in females.<\/p>\n Waterloo Road is also a lesson for educators. 39 per cent of children with ADHD<\/a> have experienced fixed-term exclusions from school, and 11 per cent have been excluded permanently. But with the correct support, many of those outcomes could potentially have been avoided, instead playing out as Kelly Jo\u2019s story does.<\/p>\n The pupil\u2019s teachers help her seek out medical support and it quickly becomes apparent that a little understanding goes a long way.<\/p>\n \u201cADHD is often seen as something that only naughty boys at primary school have, so it\u2019s great that this storyline is being featured on prime-time television,\u201d said Hester Grainger<\/span><\/a>, an ADHD mentor and co-founder of Perfectly Autistic<\/a>, a neurodiversity consultancy. \u201c<\/span>A lot of viewers may recognise some of the traits in themselves or their children.\u201d<\/p>\n She went on to discuss the difficulty she faced in receiving her own diagnosis: \u201cI was only diagnosed at 43 despite being impulsive and failing my maths GCSE three times.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelly Jo\u2019s story isn\u2019t just about dismantling stereotypes in the hope that people will receive the support they need, but also helping those who have the condition to feel empowered and seen.<\/span><\/p>\n Lucy, who is now 22, was diagnosed at 19. She had always suspected she had ADHD but her school didn\u2019t take action to help her. Eventually, she contacted the GP herself.<\/p>\n \u201cI was told I was naughty and annoying my whole life,\u201d she said. \u201cADHD is seen as \u2018loud and hyper\u2019, which is what she [Kelly Jo] is continually scolded for. But children don\u2019t have the vocabulary to express themselves with words and it can manifest as an outburst. It\u2019s so important that this is highlighted so that this behaviour can be flagged and listened to, not punished.\u201d<\/p>\n Grainger also emphasised the importance of \u201cgood representation\u201d, adding: \u201cA lot of TV characters with ADHD can be seen as brash and loud. Often, ADHD can be more subtle, which is difficult to portray.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Lewis (26) was diagnosed with ADHD in 2020 while studying on an Erasmus programme in Denmark and didn\u2019t know much about it beyond the stereotypes. He said: \u201cADHD tends to be portrayed almost as a parody of what it is; the overly hyper, chaotic and naughty school kid or someone who\u2019s a bit distant or a daydreamer. Those traits don\u2019t resonate with me.\u201d<\/p>\n Like Lucy, he believes positive media representation wields the potential to change lives, and feels his initial understanding of his diagnosis would undoubtedly have been more robust if that positive representation was more widespread.<\/p>\n Kelly Jo\u2019s journey isn\u2019t just a story, but a reality for many. Women can have ADHD, too, and it doesn\u2019t present in one way across the board.<\/p> ![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/Alicia-Forde-47122da.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
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