this one is short.  i've already shared that low-income kids have many more developmental disabilities than kids from more privileged backgrounds.  as environmental racism and environmental inequality come to people's consciousness, it should be less necessary to explain why this is the case.  the toxins in our environment are disproportionately located in low-income environments (which are disproportionately communities of color).  so, when someone tells me they "don't believe in ADD," which happens on at least a weekly basis, i get upset because of the implications.

over and over again, people confuse personal responsibility with systemic inequality.  its not the kids' fault that their environment is changing their brain chemistry.  its not.  ADD does exist, as does down syndrome, as does auditory processing disorder.  (i have 2 of 3 of these by the way).  these conditions, and those like them, are growing more and more prevalent, especially for kids with no money, because they play in empty lots that don't have to comply with toxicity levels as playgrounds have to, their homes are exponentially more likely to contain lead, and they eat food that has been fertilized, chemically treated, and then packaged with preservatives.

so stop blaming the kids.  and stop spreading the hate.  we need to find ways to reach these kids where they are at.  i'm not saying we need to label them and shove them in the ADD box or the Special Needs box, but we can't treat them like they just aren't living up to 'normal' expectations.  it makes me mad.