My DD has moderate to severe ADHD. This diagnosis was made at different testing centers when she was tested at ages 6, 9, 15 and 18 (last one was though the college she attends). We’ve never registered this as a disability for her. The college she attends is encouraging her to do so. Grade wise, she pulls Bs, so I think she accomodates wells, but she has been under a lot of stress and frustration. What are the pros and cons are registering the student’s ADHD as a disability with the college?
If you don’t get it on the books, if you suddenly need an accommodation, you might have to wait for weeks for it to take effect. Colleges are not obliged to apply accommodations retroactively; instructors make that call, and they are not equally nice.
If you get it on the books from the start, you can “activate” it immediately, starting in week six, say, if that’s when you need it.
I frequently have students who hand me a list of accommodations on Day One. Then they pick and choose when they want to use them during the semester. Not using it for Test A doesn’t mean they can’t use it for Test B. So I often have kids say, No, I don’t want isolated testing this time. (Which makes my life easier.) And if they want it the next time, OK. I must comply.
The only downside I see is that an instructor who sees the list of accommodations may develop an unconscious attitude toward a student. Not a problem mostly, but maybe a problem in the major – when it comes to special stuff, like being a candidate for lab supervisor, or getting job recommendations.
So I’ve had students who selectively give instructors their list of accommodations.
But you can’t do that if you don’t do the paperwork up front.
Thanks WasatchWriter, that is helpful. Her need presents most with Math and math tests. But interesting, she took a a theatre elective this semester and was dinged for deficient ushering skills - inability to stand in place without distraction for an hour. I suggested she go speak with the professor privately about the college diagnosis - completely understand that it isn’t typically applied retroactively. Given my intimate view of her personal struggles from a very young age, I kind of see it as a positive disclosure on a job application - it is what it is. She need to be in a job that she can do notwithstanding her obstacles.
It seems to me that it would only be to your child’s benefit to register her disabilities. My sister-in-law’s daughter didn’t advocate for herself. She struggled mightily with studying, got poor grades and eventually dropped out of college. The story has a happy ending. After taking a year off she got her act together, enrolled in another college, did advocate for herself getting the accommodations she needed and graduated. She has a career now and doing quite well in general.
Another parent agreeing that is useful to register and get paperwork cleared in advance so that, if the need arises in the future, everything is in place. My own kid registered with the disability services office as a safety net if he needed it, but has never actually requested an accommodation for a class. Having registered with the office, he was able to get time management and organization workshops and one-on-one meetings to help him through some bumpy spots.
Good luck to your daughter!
What is the downside to registering? It’s on file in case she needs it. If she needed glasses to focus, should she stop using them in college?
If your D has updated testing and qualifies for an accommodation I would register regardless of if she uses it or not. This way it is available if needed.
Echoing all the above and also that registering can bring resources such as one on one time management, extra advising and so on.
Remind her that the decision to sign up and the decision to use accomodations are two separate decisions and they don’t have to happen at the same time…but of course signing up happens first. Challenging class assignments seem to come out of nowhere…like the ushering grade you mentioned. Math might be fine, but who knows what else might pop up??
Is the downside having it in writing and in the college record? Is ADHD a disability that must be accommodated under the ADA or is it something that could keep her from getting a job? Not sure a job will be willing to guarantee a quiet environment (with all of the open concept offices) or extra time for an assignment. What are the accommodations the school thinks will help her and what does she think? Is she on meds?
Many people with ADHD choose a job that allows them to manage and compensate for their disability. Flex time, taking work home because the office was too distracting, the right kind of job, can all be found. I am in the minority here, but if she is doing OK, not sure what the accommodations will accomplish at this point in her school career since they may not follow into the work world. Perhaps a coach or counseling would be of more help than accommodations in the classroom. That being said, if she is being really stressed out over the issue, starts doing poorly, and there are some accommodations that would really make a difference, then of course she should register.
As mentioned above, companies of greater than 50 employees follow ADA guidelines as long as the person can perform the essential functions of their job. They cann’t ask someone about a disability as part of the application [process. That’s not legal.