In honor of the annual celebration of Black culture, achievements, and community overall, CHADD is highlighting support groups and communities created for and by Black/African Americans.

Navigating life with ADHD can be a struggle. For some people, ADHD can be debilitating, affecting family relationships, job stability, and personal relationships. If you are a Black person with ADHD, these issues can be compounded by stigma, undertreatment, and mistrust of the medical community based on past negative experiences. But you don’t have to go it alone. Whether you are newly diagnosed or you were diagnosed at a young age with symptoms continuing into adulthood—or you are parenting a child with ADHD—finding an ADHD community can be a life raft for individuals and families alike.

Shirelle Pearson, treasurer of CHADD’s board of directors, knows the importance of that community.

“When my family needed it most, CHADD was there as a lifeline,” she says.

Finding your place among friends

“I am a firm believer in the community, and there is plenty of community for people with ADHD in the world now fortunately,” writes René Brooks on her Black Girl, Lost Keys blog. “There are wonderful groups by CHADD and ADDA for you to join both online and in person. There also are so many different groups all over the internet—anywhere a group can form there are ADHD people assembling to talk to each other so don’t be afraid to look.”

As Brooks points out, the ADHD community is large and diverse. There are many opportunities to find people with whom you can connect. Getting to know people with similar experiences and becoming involved in local CHADD chapters can be a way to exchange tips for coping with symptoms, as well as parenting strategies. CHADD chapters often host speakers who share their expertise, offering educational opportunities to members and guests.

No CHADD chapter nearby? We offer free online communities open to all: a support group for parents and caregivers, another for adults, and third for women. The HealthUnlocked platform is free, easy to join, and works much like other popular social media websites and apps. People can share their experiences, find and talk with online friends, and ask for suggestions from both peers and members of CHADD’s health information team.

The Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) offers a variety of virtual peer support groups for its members from different communities and identities, including the African American/Black Diaspora + ADHD Peer Support Group. This group for Black adults who have ADHD meets for ninety minutes on the second and fourth Monday of every month at 7 PM ET, 6 PM CT, 5 PM MT, and 4 PM PT. Group members strive for “a safe, nonjudgmental environment to learn about ADHD, share your experiences, and discover your ADHD strengths.”

CHADD and ADDA, along with the ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO), jointly host two annual events: the International Online Conference on ADHD and the in-person International Conference on ADHD. These conferences offer numerous networking opportunities, along with sessions on pressing ADHD-related issues, and educational opportunities for healthcare providers and coaches. Peer groups based around various identities and backgrounds offer attendees the opportunity to connect with others who understand the cultural challenges they face as people with ADHD.

ADHD coach and psychotherapist IngerShaye Colzie has moderated the Black Women with ADHD peer group during the in-person conference. The group provides a place for Black women to discuss the unique journeys they have had with ADHD that might not be included in broader conversations. She also hosted a Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) peer support group on Zoom during the online conference in 2025.

Colzie created a Facebook group, Black Women with ADHD Executives & Entrepreneurs, which is for Black women who want to continue intersectional conversations on how ADHD affects their professional lives.

She also spearheaded the formation of the ADHD Black Professionals Alliance. This membership-based group was created “for Black professionals, who work with Black people who have ADHD,” whose mission is “to provide education, impactful strategies and resources for our members as they work to improve the lives of Black people with ADHD.” The alliance offers a private forum for its members and is building a directory of listings of Black ADHD professionals.

Men searching for ADHD-related peer support can look to the Men’s ADHD Support Group. Psychologist Mark Katz, PhD, shared about the group in CHADD’s Attention magazine, writing, “Run entirely by men who have ADHD, the group views ADHD as more than a condition to be managed with medication or treated by a therapist or an ADHD coach… learning to accept who they are, learning that they are not broken, and learning how to thrive authentically.”

The Men’s ADHD Support Group is open to men of all backgrounds. In 2024, the organization created a video, ADHD, Authenticity, and the Black Experience, highlighting the experiences of Black men dealing with ADHD.

This is not a comprehensive list of available Black support groups that meet in person or online, but we hope it can give you an idea of what is available and where you can start. You can begin to think about the sort of support group and community you would like to be a part of. You may also feel empowered to start your own group! Do you know of groups not listed here? Let us know!

Black History Month Resources from CHADD:

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