CHADD

What the service is

CHADD, the Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder organization, is a national nonprofit focused on improving the lives of people affected by ADHD. The organization operates online peer-support communities, maintains professional directories, publishes educational resources, and provides a support phone line. CHADD functions as both a direct-service organization offering community and support and an informational clearinghouse providing research, toolkits, fact sheets, and publications about ADHD. The organization does not endorse specific medications or treatments but instead provides evidence-based information and peer support to help people navigate ADHD across the lifespan.

What you actually get

CHADD offers three distinct online peer-support communities: one for parents and caregivers of children with ADHD, one for adults with ADHD, and one specifically for women with ADHD. These are free membership communities where people can connect with others who have lived experience with ADHD, share strategies, discuss challenges, and offer mutual support. No clinical staff run these groups; they are peer-driven spaces where members share their own journeys and learn from each other.

Beyond peer support communities, CHADD maintains two directories that help people find professional care. The Professional Directory lists local ADHD professionals, and the ADHD Centers Directory identifies healthcare providers at clinics located at universities and hospitals in users' areas. The organization also operates a support phone line at 1-866-200-8098, available Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 PM ET, where callers can reach a specialist who can answer questions about ADHD and provide information. Spanish-language support is available; the same phone number connects callers with specialists who speak Spanish.

The organization also operates a nationwide network of local CHADD chapters. Members are encouraged to find a group in their area to connect with resources and join a local in-person support group for their community. CHADD organizes an annual International Conference on ADHD as well as webinars and training events on various ADHD topics. The organization publishes educational materials including Attention Magazine, a bimonthly publication described as rich in practical information, clinical insights, and evidence-based strategies for managing ADHD. CHADD also publishes an ADHD Newsstand, ADHD Weekly newsletter, ADHD Blog, ADHD in the News updates, podcasts, fact sheets, infographics, and toolkits on various ADHD-related topics. The organization provides continuing education offerings for professionals seeking ADHD training.

The site also houses an ADHD Information Library, ADHD Fact Sheets and Infographics, ADHD Toolkits, and resources addressing ADHD and diversity. An ADHD Tools Video series provides educational content. Membership in CHADD provides additional benefits and supports the organization's work; people can also donate or volunteer with the organization.

What the pages prove

CHADD operates a nationwide network of local chapters that individuals can find and join. The organization has a dedicated phone line staffed during business hours with specialists who can answer questions about ADHD, available Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 PM ET. The number is 1-866-200-8098. Spanish-language specialists are available at the same number for callers who speak Spanish ("Hablamos Español").

The organization publishes Attention Magazine bimonthly and makes it available to members. It maintains an ADHD Centers Directory specifically for identifying healthcare providers at universities and hospitals. There is a Professional Directory listing local ADHD professionals. The organization holds an annual International Conference on ADHD, provides continuing education on ADHD for professionals, and offers webinars and ask-the-expert sessions. Topics covered in recent events include managing adult ADHD, addressing diagnosis and treatment selection, supporting teens' independence in high school, and homework solutions.

CHADD provides free resources on its website including an ADHD Information Library, Fact Sheets and Infographics, toolkits, ADHD and Diversity resources, and video educational content. The organization publishes weekly ADHD news updates, maintains an ADHD blog, produces a podcast featuring ADHD-related discussions, and offers a digital box of resources. Self-paced online courses on ADHD training are available; the site lists a course available from November 1, 2024 through November 1, 2034, though dates may reflect a permanent listing rather than a specific course run.

The online communities are free to join: parents together for parents of children with ADHD, adult ADHD support for adults, and a women support community for women with ADHD. The organization operates an ADHD Advocacy Action Center where people can contact their elected officials about ADHD-related policy issues.

What the service does not say

CHADD does not publish any pricing or membership fees for joining its online communities or becoming a member on its captured homepage. There is no detail about the structure or frequency of the peer-support communities, whether they use videoconference, messaging boards, or another format. The page does not specify how many members are in each community or how large the groups are.

The site does not explain what the Professional Directory and ADHD Centers Directory actually contain in terms of how many providers are listed, what information is searchable, or how the directories are maintained. Geographic coverage of local chapters is not detailed; the site encourages people to find a chapter in their area but does not specify which states have chapters or whether all areas are covered.

The page does not detail what continues education credits or certifications are offered through the continuing education courses for professionals. There is no information about how the organization vets or credentials the professionals listed in its directories or whether they have met any particular standards. Specific start dates for upcoming events and courses are not all listed; some show historical dates while others show future dates without specific scheduling information.

The captured homepage does not include information about CHADD's history, when it was founded, its size, or how it is funded. There is no detail about the organization's research agenda or whether it conducts any original research versus compiling published research by others.

Who it fits and who it does not

CHADD fits anyone seeking free information about ADHD, whether they have just received a diagnosis or have lived with ADHD for years. Parents of children with ADHD can access the dedicated parent community and educational resources tailored to supporting a child. Adults with ADHD will find the adult support community and resources for adults, as well as workplace-focused educational materials. Women with ADHD have a specific community designed for their experiences and needs.

The service is appropriate for people who benefit from peer support and learning from others' lived experience. Those seeking to connect with local ADHD community members can use CHADD's chapter network. Professionals seeking continuing education on ADHD can access the organization's training offerings. People looking for providers can use the professional and ADHD centers directories.

CHADD is not a clinical service and does not provide therapy, medication, or psychiatric care. It is also not a crisis service: the captured page does not publish a crisis line, hotline number, or emergency contact path anywhere on the site, and its own published phone number, 1-866-200-8098, is explicitly framed as a line to "Contact an ADHD Specialist," not a crisis resource. Someone in crisis or requiring immediate mental health intervention needs to look outside CHADD for that kind of help. People seeking private therapy or medication management should use services like Resova Health or a therapist directory. CHADD's peer communities require self-direction and may not work well for people who need structured, one-on-one professional support. The ADHD specialist line's limited hours (Monday through Friday 1-5 PM ET) may not be accessible to everyone; outside those hours, people need to rely on the website's written resources or the online communities. There is no information on the captured page indicating whether the online communities are moderated or how the organization handles conflicts or inappropriate behavior within groups.