About - Spaces of ADHD

Spaces of ADHD is a photovoice project that seeks to understand how women (aged 21+) experience ADHD in the home and in online spaces.

Women with ADHD are invited to submit photos showing their relationship with ADHD in the home, to complete short diaries recording online activity and answer some questions. Photos will be uploaded to the Spaces of ADHD Facebook Group. Join to help shape the analysis – sharing your thoughts on the photos!

Read more about what’s involved in the project, or sign up and get involved.

Who can get involved?

Women aged 21 and over with ADHD or suspected ADHD can get involved with any aspect of the project!

Other than that, there’s no restrictions – you can be based anywhere in the world!
Please note, that by ‘women’ I refer to all women, and am particularly interested in speaking to groups that have been marginalised in research and society.

What is photovoice?

Photovoice is a participatory method that asks participants to produce images that represent their experiences. Here photovoice will be used to allow women to show the world how ADHD affects them in their homes, letting them represent, visualise, and bring attention to their own experiences of ADHD. More here.

Can I help analyse photos if I don’t take any?

Yes! Any women aged 21+ with ADHD or suspected ADHD can join the Spaces of ADHD Facebook group to help with analysis.

What will happen to the photos?

Where participants agree, photos will be uploaded here, and shared on social media.
If you join the Facebook Group Spaces of ADHD, you can help analyse the photos (more here).

Alongside this, up to 10 photos will be framed and a small art exhibit will be curated. The exhibit will be on display in London and Stoke in 2022

Why is it important to look at women with ADHD?

Growing numbers of adult women are being diagnosed with ADHD, although largely this group remains marginalised compared to men and boys with ADHD. Although awareness is growing recently, there is a lack of research that looks as women’s experiences of living with ADHD. There is even less that looks at ADHD in the home. More here.

Why is it important to look at spaces of ADHD/ why Geography?

ADHD diagnosis itself is inherently spatial, requiring evidence of ‘impairment’ in two or more settings of which home is one. Added to this, research indicates that ADHD may manifest differently in different spaces for different groups. Yet, most ADHD research focuses on education and employment settings, ignoring home settings where issues such as doing domestic chores, organising home life, and engaging in relationships can prove difficult.
Both the home and online spaces have been neglected in previous research, although evidence indicates these may be particularly important spaces for women with ADHD. More here.

Who is funding the project?

Spaces of ADHD is funded by the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers). It is funded via their Small Grants Programme, and has also received the Jasmin Leila Award.
Maddy Thompson works at Keele University and is currently funded by The Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship.

Who is leading the project?

Maddy Thompson (PhD) is leading this project. You can read more about Maddy here.

Chloe Goodwin, a Masters Student in Human Geography and the Environment at Keele University, is assisting on the project. Please be aware that only Maddy will have access to any confidential information.

How is my data kept safe?

Full data security, confidentiality, and anonymity processes are outlined here.