ADHD glossary · Family perspectives
Availability: say what time and involvement you can offer
Availability describes when, or to what extent, someone is able to take part. In our ordinary coordination example, it is a person's stated offer—not a conclusion drawn from an empty calendar or a quick reply to a message.
General education and practical perspectives. Editorial standards.
Being reachable is not the same as being available for a task. Being free at one time does not mean a person has accepted an invitation. We keep those distinctions visible before assigning work or arranging an event around someone.
An offer with more than a time slot
In a fictional family, a grandparent says, “I can join the school display visit between two and three, but I cannot stay for the setup.” A parent can attend the setup but needs to leave before the later conversation. The teen exhibiting work wants time with friends afterward rather than a full-family afternoon.
Their arrangements can reflect all three statements. The grandparent is not silently placed on the setup list. The parent is not described as uninterested because they must leave. The teen's preference remains part of the plan rather than an unexplained gap in the family schedule.
They ask for the scheduling details relevant to this event rather than an inventory of every other commitment. If a necessary detail is missing, ask about that detail instead of making an assumption.
Separate the parts of the answer
Activity being discussed:
Time I can offer:
Part I am willing to take:
Part I cannot take:
Whether this is confirmed or still tentative:
When I expect to know more, if applicable:
Who should be told if it changes:
“Tentative” is different from “yes.” If another person needs certainty sooner, they can explain the scheduling constraint and ask whether a different arrangement is needed.
What should go on a shared calendar?
Record the agreed event or contribution, not private reasons someone is unavailable. A note saying “not available after three” may be sufficient. Check before adding another person's appointment details merely to explain a gap.
A child can state a preference within the ordinary choices available for an activity. A partner can offer a defined contribution rather than accept an entire project. A helper outside the household can clarify contact hours without becoming an always-on service.
Changes are information, not automatic blame
If availability changes, name the effect on the shared arrangement and decide what happens next. The earlier offer should not become an unlimited commitment. This page does not interpret employment availability, custody schedules, care responsibilities, or legal obligations. It is a format for making an everyday participation offer explicit.
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