If you have a child with ADHD or a learning disability, it doesn’t mean they can’t get the most out of a collegiate experience.
Today, colleges across the country have put different accommodations in place to help students with disabilities and other learning issues. This makes it easier for everyone to get the college education they desire.
Because of these accommodations, more students with ADHD are getting a postsecondary education than ever before.
So, what are some of the advancements and accommodations that have been put in place for young adults with learning disabilities?
Accommodations in the Classroom
If your child is accepted to a college or university, you’ll likely have to register with a specific office on campus designed to provide special services for them. This office will determine your child’s eligibility and let you know how they can help them throughout their college career.
There are many different types of learning disabilities. That is why it’s so important for colleges to take on each student’s needs individually.
For example, your child’s disability might affect the way they speak. Or it might affect how they listen, read, write, or reason. Young adults who deal with certain types of learning challenges, and even ADHD, may also have some difficulty when it comes to learning at the same pace as other students.
Accommodations need to be made in the classroom, with professors, and perhaps even during exams.
Classroom accommodations for a student with ADHD or another learning disability include:
- Allowing the student to audio record each day’s lesson/lecture
- Giving the student more time to complete assignments in class
- Providing the student with a copy of the lecture notes
- Helping the student to stay organized with their assignments and giving them a timeline
Accommodations for Exams
College exams can be stressful for anyone. But for a student with a learning disability, they can be even harder. Not only are accommodations in the classroom important but giving students with disabilities like ADHD some extra help on tests and exams can make a big difference in their success.
Most of these accommodations are simple to put into place and can greatly impact how well that student does. This includes:
- The allowance of calculators
- The allowance of spell-checking and grammar-checking devices
- Extended time
- Letting the students take the exam in a separate, quiet room
- Option to dictate written essays or answers
Again, the right accommodations need to be met on a student-by-student basis. That’s why it’s so important to get your child the services they need. Don’t just settle for general accommodations that are in place for everyone.
Making Sure Your Student Is Set for Success
When you talk to your student’s college campus about their disability and needs, be sure to help them understand how your child might be different from other students. The more they understand about the type of disability your child is dealing with, the easier it will be for them to make the right accommodations.
It can take a lot of time and effort to make sure your child has the right accommodations set in place for a successful college career. Everyone from specific service centers on campus to your child’s professors and other faculty must be on board. Ensuring that happens, even before the first day of class, is essential for the experience to be a positive one for your child.
If you have a child with ADHD or another learning disability, feel free to contact us for more information and guidance. If they’re headed off to college, having the right resources and being prepared emotionally and mentally can make the transition easier for both of you.
