ADHD and the College Student

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder can, in a percentage of children, continue into adulthood. Yet the ADHD diagnosis does not mean that the child cannot go to college. All throughout his or her education, the ADHD child has learn strategies for learning and behavior that can also be effective in college. Plus, services for the ADHD individual do not end at high school graduation.

Section 504 issued by the Office of Civil Rights requires that all college institutions receiving federal funding accommodate students with disabilities, including ADHD. If ADHD can be demonstrated to interfere with the student's learning disabilities, then the ADHD affected college student is eligible for educational assistance including tutoring and even extended or distraction free accommodation for testing.

There are even scholarships available for students with ADHD. Many of the scholarships are mainly posted as those open for students with disabilities, but ADHD can be considered a disability for those students' whose learning ability is impaired by the disorder. There are a number of scholarship websites and books that can help the student locate the scholarships available and assist in the application process.

ADHD can also be beneficial to college students, because the disorder often provides them with more energy and creativity in the university setting. It is however, very important for the ADHD student to continue to use the learning and structural mechanisms that proved helpful before. Keeping a schedule posted and writing down assignments and due dates are imperative to being successful in college. On the other hand, the ability to be creative and more individual is often rewarded in the higher education setting, so the ADHD affected student may also receive more praise and encouragement than ever before.

In the end, college can be a great experience for the ADHD student. It provides effective challenges for the ADHD student that, when overcome, will help him or her outside of the educational setting, and it opens up new opportunities for learning. Research colleges known for their success with ADHD students and find financial assistance for students wishing to fulfill their college dreams. It really can be done.