NewIdeas.net has been a leader in providing information on ADD ADHD to parents and teachers since we first hand-coded the site back in 1995. Now we have more than 150 pages of information to offer. NewIdeas.net is a part of the greater ADD ADHD Information Library's family of websites, which also include: ADDinSchool.com and ADD-Products.com, among many others. Each year we host over 500,000 unique visitors who want to learn more about attention deficit disorder.

This year, 2007, we have completely reorganized the site and updated the information, adding many new articles and sections. Using "Drupal" as our CMS, we have created different sections or categories called "books" to organize the information better.

Our clinical director and editor is Dr. Douglas Cowan, who has lots of experience helping those with ADHD. Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a semi-retired Family Therapist, writer, hospital program administrator, and researcher who has helped over 1,000 ADHD children and their families to be more successful since 1986.

Douglas Cowan has the following educational background:

* Doctorate in Psychology;
* Masters of Science Degree in Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy;
* Bachelors Degree in Philosophy and Religion;

Dr. Cowan was in private practice from 1986 through 2002, with most of his work focused on ADHD. He has become very familiar with a variety of "alternative" or "additional treatments" for ADHD, including counseling interventions, diet interventions, amino acids, essential fatty acids, and eeg biofeedback training. He also is familiar with a variety of medications used in the treatment of ADHD, and has provided lectures to pediatricians and family practice physicians on best use standards for these medications.

In 1996 Dr. Cowan was approached by Gregory Young, Ph.D.,Oxon., then President of VAXA International, then in San Diego, CA, to study the effectiveness of their current formula of Attend. Following that project, Dr. Young asked him to study the effectiveness of a new formula that was being considered for production, to replace the product formula on the market at that time. This study was completed in 1997.

Dr. Cowan received no compensation for either study.

Impressed by the possibilities of the internet, and the new formula of Attend, Dr. Cowan approached VAXA in 1998 to market the product online. Up until then the product was only available in health food stores, health practitioners, or by sales agents. Dr. Cowan recommends VAXA products, along with other types of "alternative treatments" for ADHD, and receives a sales commission when someone purchases product through his web sites.

Dr. Cowan is also behind VAXA changing the money back guarantee on Attend from the industry standard 30 days, to a full 365 day satisfaction guarantee. This allows families to try Attend and its specific treatment strategies (designed by Dr. Cowan) for several months to see if the products will work or not for their family, without concern for spending money on a treatment that might not be successful for their situation.

Dr. Cowan is currently serving, without compensation, on the following Boards:

* Member, Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL.
* President, Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM radio in central California.
* Member, Board of Directors, Outpost Ministries, Pixabaj, Guatemala.

Now as Pastor of Family Ministries at a church in central California, Dr. Cowan continues to help married couples, families, teenagers, and children by strengthening their communication skills, providing valuable insights on how to solve problems, and by leading retreats and seminars.

His newest project is "Navigating in the New World," a six-week seminar series and digital workbook for parents and teenagers, helping both to focus on the skills needed for success in marriage, family, and careers.

Dr. Cowan also leads teams of construction and relief workers to various sites throughout the year. In 2006 Dr. Cowan either sent, or led, relief teams to:

* February 2006: D'Iberville and Biloxi, MS, to work on homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina
* March 2006: Pixabaj, Guatemala, building the roof for a school in this remote Mayan Indian village
* May 2006: New Orleans, LA, to work on churches damaged by Hurricane Katrina
* July 2006: Tijuana, Mexico, to build a house or two (we've built 14 already with AMOR Ministries)
* November 2006: Pixabaj, Guatemala, finish the school construction so school can open in Jan '07.

In 2007 Cowan sent or led teams on the following projects:
* January and April: To Pixabaj for more construction and to see the opening of the school with its first 130 students;
* June: Mexico to build two more houses (#'s 16 and 17)
* September: Back to Guatemala

In 2008 Dr. Cowan's schedule includes:
* February: Marriage Retreat in Ventura, CA
* March: Team to Guatemala. There are now 260 students enrolled in the school!
* June: Team to Mexico to build house #18
* September: School Board meeting, somewhere in the western hemisphere
* Fall 08: Lay Chaplain training courses
* October: Navigating in the New World class, Tehachapi

And, Dr. Cowan personally adds, "I would rather be coaching baseball. If you know of any openings at some small college somewhere in California, let me know..."

Be sure to visit the ADHD Information sites, and subscribe to Dr. Cowan's weekly ADHD Newsletter, delivered to you free via email. The newsletter provides dozens of articles each year for parents and teachers of ADHD children and related topics.