William Everett on being diagnosed with ADHD and founding the Deaf ADHD Journal (BSL)

My name is William Everett, I’m 30 years old, Deaf, and I have Combined ADHD. I’m also the creator of the Deaf ADHD Journal, a space where I share my experiences and connect with others who face similar challenges.

Growing up, I often struggled to understand myself, why I reacted so strongly to certain things, why I found it so hard to manage my emotions, or why I seemed different from others. For years, I felt confused and overwhelmed.

It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with ADHD that everything started to make sense. Now, I’m on a mission to share, support, and empower others in the Deaf ADHD community.

I grew up in a Deaf family, where my parents often described me as a very hyperactive child, always on the go and full of energy. At school, teachers frequently commented that I wasn’t concentrating or paying enough attention, often labelling me as easily distracted.

By the time I reached secondary school, I started hearing the same feedback repeatedly: I had huge potential, but I needed to “focus more” and “manage my work better.” These comments stuck with me, but no matter how hard I’ve tried, I couldn’t seem to meet their expectations.

I often felt frustrated and disappointed with myself because I had big dreams and goals, but something always seemed to hold me back. I didn’t understand why I struggled so much to stay on top of tasks or manage my emotions effectively.

It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with ADHD that I finally had an explanation for what I had been experiencing all along.

I was 25 when I began to suspect that I might be on the spectrum. At the time, I was at university studying Psychology and Counselling, and during one of our modules on neurodivergence, we covered ADHD. As the information about ADHD was shared, it felt like a lightbulb moment.

Everything I heard resonated deeply as I recognised many of the traits and struggles being described in myself. This realisation sparked a desire to learn more and the more I researched, the more convinced I became. I decided it was time to get assessed.

During this time I unfortunately did not complete the university course as I was not able to focus whilst trying to understand more on what is ADHD, finding resources of where I could get the support. It was an overwhelming time.

I reached out to my GP in Wales, where I was living at the time, and explained my concerns. To my disappointment, I was told there were no Adult ADHD assessors in Wales. The only options available to me were to go private which is something I couldn’t afford or to move back to England, where assessments were more accessible.

Coincidentally, around the time I was debating moving back to England, I made the decision and relocated at 28. Once settled, I registered with a new GP and exercised my right to choose, selecting Psychiatric UK.

After a year and a half of waiting, I was finally assessed for ADHD where then I was diagnosed with Combined ADHD.

As a Deaf person with ADHD, I’ve often struggled to connect with information from hearing companies that provide ADHD pages and websites. While these resources can be helpful, they are typically created from a hearing perspective and fail to consider the unique experiences and challenges faced by Deaf people.

For example, most of the advice provided an easy access to auditory communication, like phone calls, verbal instructions, or podcasts which are tools that are not accessible for the Deaf community.

They rarely address the added barriers we face, such as navigating the hearing world, visual overload, or the lack of culturally relevant support systems.

Deaf culture and society bring unique dynamics that significantly influence how ADHD is experienced and managed. Without acknowledgement of these differences, mainstream resources can feel incomplete and isolating.

This is why creating spaces and resources that are Deaf-centred and culturally aware is so important because it helps bridge the gap and truly supports our community.

When I’ve realised there were no Deaf ADHD pages or any information available in BSL it felt incredibly isolating. I searched for others in the Deaf community with ADHD, hoping to connect and share experiences, but I had no luck.

It was frustrating and disheartening, and I finally thought, “Enough is enough.” Instead of waiting for someone else to take the initiative, I decided to be the one to create a space where Deaf people could access ADHD information in BSL.

That’s how the Deaf ADHD Journal was born. I began sharing my experiences, translating ADHD information into BSL, and diving deeper into researching Deaf ADHD.

The response has been incredible, and I have exciting plans for its future. What started as an Instagram page will eventually grow into something much bigger, with the aim of supporting the Deaf community.

I’m also training to become a Deaf ADHD Coach, which makes this journey even more exciting!

William Everett founded the Deaf ADHD Journal to share his journey and bridge the gap in accessible resources for the Deaf community.

Growing up unaware of his ADHD, William is now dedicated to empowering others through British Sign Language content and desire to become a Deaf ADHD Coach.

Find the Deaf ADHD journal on Instagram @the_deafadhdjournal and on Facebook: The Deaf ADHD Journal