Fuller Seminary to Screen ADHD Documentary for Awareness Month

Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena will host a screening of “The Disruptors,” an award-winning documentary about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), on Friday, Oct. 11. The event, organized by the seminary’s Access Services department, is part of ADHD Awareness Month and will last an hour and 30 minutes.

The film provides an inside look at five families living with ADHD and features insights from experts and a small army of high-profile individuals with the condition. It explores how ADHD, when managed effectively, can be leveraged as an asset in achieving success.

The documentary refers to over seven million U.S. children and 23 million adults who are diagnosed with ADHD. The condition affects nearly 10% of children and a growing number of adults, as stated in the film’s synopsis. Notably, one out of four children diagnosed with ADHD do not receive any treatment, and adult ADHD diagnosis rates are rising four times faster than ADHD diagnosis in children.

Studies cited by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have shown varying prevalence rates of ADHD. A population-based study by Rowland et al. (2015) found that 15.5% of elementary school children in grades 1-5 have ADHD, based on teacher ratings and parent interviews of 7,847 children.

For adults, the National Comorbidity Survey Replication reported that 4.4% of U.S. adults aged 18 to 44 have ADHD. Of these, 38% are women and 62% are men, the survey said.

The documentary challenges common misconceptions about ADHD and features interviews with innovators, entrepreneurs, CEOs, Olympic athletes, and award-winning artists who credit their ADHD as a factor in their success. The film also spotlights families navigating the challenges and surprising triumphs of living with ADHD.

“The Disruptors” was produced by Nancy Armstrong, an Emmy-nominated producer and Executive Producer at Happy Warrior Media. Armstrong previously co-founded MAKERS, an award-winning women’s leadership and media platform recognized by Forbes and recipient of the Women’s Media Center Award for its contribution to women, history, and America.

Armstrong began her career as a professional actor and singer, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and received a master’s degree in communications from Boston University.

The screening will take place at Travis Auditorium at Fuller Theological Seminary from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Oct. 11. Admission is free but registration is advised. To reserve your spot, visit this Eventbrite link.