Petition for Considered Changes Regarding ACO Certification

In light of ACO’s initial response to our petition and their motivation to engage in a meaningful dialogue between the PAAC and ACO boards, we are optimistic over the possibilities of a new tomorrow in a more unified and stronger coaching community. In the spirit in which the ACO came to us, we are reciprocating by taking down the petition at this time as a gesture of good faith. As Joyce indicated, PAAC and ACO will work together to keep our ADHD coach community informed about our progress in getting the concerns listed in the petition addressed. Barbara Luther, PAAC board president

I have deep concerns about adding another certification to the alphabet soup of certifications out there. Also, I am not sure that an ACO certification makes sense when ICF and PAAC are already certifying bodies.

Hi. This is a test to see if I signed up and how this is appearing. Thanks

I do have reservations about the ACO being looked at as a certifying group. I wish there was a word that distinguished this kind of certification from that of a body that looks more closely at coaching certification.

Regarding the recently circulated PAAC petition, we are happy that so many ADHD coaches are active participants in our profession and took the time to sign the petition. We have read the petition and the comments and we want you to know that we understand the concerns but that the concerns expressed in the petition are based in part on misunderstandings. Rest assured that the ACO has never certified ADHD Coaches and never will. We are taking this opportunity better communicate with PAAC for the benefit of the ADHD coaching community and the people we serve. After meeting with PAAC to resolve the misunderstanding, we will clearly communicate resolution of this matter in a unified manner. — Joyce Kubik, President, ADHD Coaches Organization

Piya Roy

I agree to support this petition.

I agree with all 3 primary issues stated.

10 years ago Featured

I strongly support this petition and all three issues as stated therein. The enormous number of acronyms already existing are quite confusing, even to ADHD coaches themselves. We don't need more, especially from an organization that is not designed to take on credentialing responsibility. Finally, I believe that accepting IAAC as a certifying body dilutes the credibility of ADHD coaching as a profession, since that credential is no longer "alive" in the sense of mandating ongoing continuing education. ICF and PAAC are sufficient and clear and their standards are high. I appreciate your good intentions, but it's time to let this idea of an ACO credential go.

Australia

I fully agree & support our petition in order to protect not only our profession but also the ADHD people we coach by integrity & commitment

Keep it simple, folks.

The rationale behind this petition makes clear and good sense.

10 years ago Featured

I agree. You cannot recognize the credentials of a certifying body that no longer exists. A certifying body that no longer exists cannot ensure that its members are continuing to practice, follow ethical guidelines, or are engaged in their continuing education. In addition, having witnessed what is required for certification as a coach, I want to protect the integrity of my and my colleagues credentials and the past and continued investment in our profession as ADHD coaches.

I agree with the statements made in this petition

I truly value all the hard work PAAC has put into establishing a highly professional ADHD Coach credentialing organization for trained ADHD Coaches worldwide. The ACO is a membership organization, which I believe ought to be fully supporting PAAC as the ONLY ADHD credentialing organization. I also believe in the power of collaboration between the ACO and PAAC. Collaboration between the organizations will make the ADHD Coaching community stronger. Using the term “Certified” needs to be simple, clear and understandable, not just for the ADHD Coaches on their path to get credentialed, but also to gain the acknowledgement and respect from the professional healthcare community. Furthermore, it has to be very clear and simple for our clients to know what to look for before hiring an ADHD Coach. We need to be very protective of our ADHD Clients as well as our profession. In Denmark, coaches call themselves Certified ADHD Coaches without having any formal ADHD Coach training. In many cases they are doing more harm than good. As a Professional Member of the ACO, I need the support from both organizations in order to promote and educate ADHD Coaching as a profession, with a very strong foundation. Therefore, I fully support this petition and hope the ACO understand the importance of collaboration.

10 years ago Featured

I have worked hard to gain a credential with the ICF which is the leading coach organisation, and PAAC, which has competencies aligned with the ICF, but through an ADHD lens. Please support the established credentialling systems in order to provide more credibility for ADHD coaches.

I am a proud Professional Certified ADHD Coach and fully support to protect the integrity of the ADHD Coaching Profession.

I believe that certification is extremely important. The industry as a whole should be aligned and leaders in coaching organizations should be certified to model this behavior.

10 years ago Featured

ACO's current vetting system offers authentic acknowledgement of the training and certification ADHD coaches bring to their membership. But by ACO's logic regarding this new proposal, any organization displaying lists of ADHD coaches, could come up with an internal qualifying checklist for an invented "certification", and tack it onto their name. Such an act undermines the legitimacy of ADHD Coaching as a profession, and the ACO itself.