An article in the Education section of the New York Times by Tara Parker Pope is a must read for parents of ADHD students headed to college, and for the ADHD student as well. Planning ahead is the theme of this article, entitled Stepping Up to the Challenge.
For parents of ADHD students, you know what a challenge it is to keep your student focused on their schoolwork. Whether or not your child takes medication, it is a 24 hour job to stay on top of your child’s schedule and school work. The Journal of Pediatric Nursing (according to the article in the NYT) “published a report in which college students with A.D.H.D. recounted the role family members played in their academic success in high school. Mothers made flash cards, gave them books on tape, proofread papers and helped them prioritize. Even school friends would tap them in class if they “zoned out.” As a mother with ADHD with an ADHD child and an ADD child, I can attest to the amount of support these children need. Going off to college means leaving their support system which consists of parents, siblings, friends and teachers. In some cases, it means leaving a specialized school for students with learning disabilities. In any case, it is wise to take many issues into consideration.
If a student is on medication, your doctor should be consulted before going off to college. College schedules are very dissimilar to high school schedules and one must plan accordingly. Also, you’ll have to consider where your student will refill prescriptions, or will you send them? Plan ahead!
When making that final decision about where to attend, consider the amount of support the student has needed through high school. College can be a very challenging environment, and a student who needs significant learning support will be better off with a college that has a comprehensive program for learning different students. All colleges have to offer certain accommodations, but these supports differ from college to college. Be sure you know what you need and plan accordingly!
