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.