海角直播

Design project highlights ADHD clinic

Three years ago Professor Steve Baldwin set up the CACTUS (Clinical and Counselling Training Units) clinic at the University of 海角直播. The clinic, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, was set up specifically to provide alternative treatments to the prescription of Ritalin to children and young teenagers who were diagnosed as suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These alternative treatments included counselling and family therapy, and the clinic was featured in an edition of BBC One鈥檚 Panorama in the same year.

After Professor Baldwin鈥檚 death in the Selby train crash of February 2001, the clinic closed. However, with a donation from Professor Baldwin鈥檚 family, the clinic re-opened in February 2003. This was featured on local television, and seen at home by final year 海角直播 BA (Hons) Graphic Design student Laura Hepburn. Laura, 23, from Brotton, was inspired by the clinic鈥檚 work and decided to base her final year project around it. Mother-of-two Laura said: 鈥淭here鈥檚 a massive ignorance about ADHD, some people think it鈥檚 just naughty children. When I saw the TV story I got in touch with Rebecca Anderson, who counsels children in the clinic, and she showed me some of the literature on the subject. It made me realise there鈥檚 a massive gap in the market, the literature was too hard-hitting and scary and didn鈥檛 cater for children.

鈥淢y project aims to let children communicate. The pack includes a journal where children can describe their feelings. The journal is paramount, as it鈥檚 a means for children to record their feelings and emotions, enabling their families and the clinic鈥檚 counsellors to understand more and help diffuse the ignorance of ADHD. There鈥檚 also a door hanger where children can display their feelings. I鈥檝e also created a leaflet which re-works information about ADHD into a style children can relate to. The project also includes a mug, a bag and a yoyo. Professor Baldwin鈥檚 family have seen my project and want to fund it so it鈥檚 available to children, I鈥檓 really pleased.鈥�

Laura鈥檚 project will be displayed at the University鈥檚 annual free Design degree show, held at the Centre North-East, formerly Corporation House, Albert Road, Middlesbrough, (opposite Middlesbrough Town Hall), from Tuesday 3 June-Friday 6 June, 10am-4pm. The work of all final year students from the following BA (Hons) courses will be displayed: Graphic Design, Design Marketing, Industrial Design, and Interior Architecture & Design.

Laura added: 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to my father John seeing the project on display. He鈥檚 always supported me and it鈥檒l be nice for him to see the work now it鈥檚 all done and dusted.鈥�

Laura is a former pupil of Eskdale Secondary School, Whitby, Whitby Community College and Westwood School of Art & Design, Scarborough.

---