He had trouble focusing, to a point that was scary sometimes...

He is in his mid 20's now, and still takes ritalin.

I have met many people with ADD/ADHD.

The first was a co-worker, in his early 30's, when my son was still pre-teen.

I know the controversy surrounding the use of ritalin to treat ADD/ADHD, and the over-prescription of this medication.

But meeting this person, a well adjusted fully functional human being, who had also taken ritalin for a lifetime, gave me some relief from my fears.

If my son turned out as well adjusted as this man, then I would feel I made the right choice for my son.

One thing I have learned, being among people with ADD/ADHD, some of them my bosses, is that they have an uncanny ability to respond well in crisis situations.

When there is an emergency, and seconds count, I hope to God there is a person with ADD/ADHD to take charge and make decisions.

What I have learned is that these are highly intelligent, highly capable individuals who live in the moment.

These are people who live, not in the past, not in the future, but in the very moment. Their scope of attention is narrow; it is only the present. But when the present is the most important moment in the world, there is no better person to handle the situation than a person with ADD/ADHD.

If you want a good fighter pilot, with situational awareness, get a person with ADD/ADHD.

If you want an officer that makes the right call in the middle of a firefight, get a person with ADD/ADHD.

If you want a fireman that can make life or death decisions, whether to go into a burning building or not, get a person with ADD/ADHD.

My son is a nurse now. He has the reputation of making the most rapid response calls of any nurse on the floor.

All of them, the right call.

All of them saved a life.

Is ADD/ADHD a disability?

In my honest opinion, no.

Not if your life is on the line.