Does the school make thins easier for students with ADD/HD?

I believe I may have ADD/HD and I'm currently struggling with some courses in school.

Does anyone know what the probability is that if I did have ADD/HD my work would be made easier in those courses?

Any input would be much appreciated.

They won't ever make your work easier, they might offer you extra help with it though.

The type and issues factor in there, I am hyper and can't sit still but the accomodation lady wouldn't allow me to leave early or get up and walk around extra breaks etc.

You are legally entitled to accommodations from the school but you must provide them with documentation from a qualified diagnostician.

I am planning on trying a few classes part time this year...I'll pop back and check..

I will be allowed some accomodations. I don't have problems with tests or anything, so I won't be using those. However, I would like to get audio recordings of my classes because my main problem in school is that I will zone out and miss large chunks of what is said (although I'm much better now that I'm medicated). Also, I will probably use some of the tutors that the school offers because it can't hurt.

I just spoke with the learning center at my college and her words were. "We can't give you any short cuts, but we can even the plying field".

What, exactly are you suggesting, when you say 'my work would be made easier' ?




Does anyone know what the probability is that if I did have ADD/HD my work would be made easier in those courses?

I don't understand what you are asking about Parsimony? Your course work wont be any easier with the ADHD dx. I have an Aspie dx and my work is at the same difficulty level as everybody elses. One thing I do have different is extended time on tests and seperate location. But I have to give the school the appropriate paperwork to get those accomodations. One thing I know that is different is that w/o a dx they will get you to take 15-17 credits a semester. With the dx you can get away with only 12 a semester. 12 is the minimum to have full time status but here in my handbook it says 16 must be taken every semester to graduate in 4 years. So if you take 12 you graduate a year or two later. As long as you can afford it (w/ financial aid), and get the degree, you can say the extra years were worth it. Doing the best I can with what I know. I hope this helps.

Andy.

That's why I was asking the question.

But I wanted to hear the answer from Par. (0;

The whole idea of getting "help" is tough for me. It brings back memories of the SPED. teacher coming to the classroom door and asking for me to follow her to the mentally disabled room.

oddjobace, I'm sorry you have bad memories of SPED. Did it help you with schoolwork?

oddjobace, I'm sorry you have bad memories of SPED. Did it help you with schoolwork?
It goes back to a time that was very differant from now. If you are asking if they did my homework for me? then the answer is yes it got me through school. Did it ruin My self emage and cause all sort of personal issues? Yes again.

I forgive them for doing what they believed was the right thing to do at the time.

People with accommodation work or task for the classes doesnt get easire per se, it is just the accommodations help the person with disability , like more time for test, handouts from the teacher, or powerpoint notes.

I have to work twice as hard
but because of the accommodations I recieve
the teacher know I learn differently from the other
students.

Teacher want you to learn and be able to accomplilsh your
goal to the best of your ability so that is why the law derived
these accommodations, to help the studen with a dis + ability
excel in there educational / job endevor.

That was very well put, auntchris! :)

I think what you say about learning differently from the other students is vital.

Accomodations can help those who learn differently from the 'norm' to excel att their studies.

Thank you ClearConfusion.

I know college isnt easy, but with the accommodation
it makes life a little easier.

I am glad I could help.

I work at a University and yes, colleges will provide assistance for persons with diagnosed conditions that impede learning. However - you must tell the school at the start of the semester (you can't flunk a course and then say, "oops, not my fault!") and the accomodation will be reasonable for the diagnosis. For example, the work will be the same, but the school might provide a tutor, a quiet room for testing, extra time with tests, etc. By the way, the school decides what "reasonable" is - not you and not your doctor. The best thing you can do right now is to talk to your Dean or Academic Advisor.

Thanks Clear confusion.

I try to make thinks sweet yet simple. That way I understand what I am reading too.

Forgive my spelling of grammer, its late and I do not have time to edit this.

ADD / LD services and accomodations provided by colleges does not make college easier for individuals with LD / ADD than for those without any type of disability. Accomodations provided cannot change the essential nature or work required of a course. Accomodations only serve to level the playing field. Colleges and schools would not provide them, if the student did not have a valid disability that placed them at a disadvantage without them. One of the examples that my school's LD director likes to use is extended time, for the majority regular students if you give them more time its does not significantly improve their scores. Because for most students with the extra-time is not going to increase what information they know or their ability to express it. However, for students with disabilities their testing results which were signifcantly poorly than the regular students without the extended time. Though, with the extended time the disabled students scores were on equally on par as their non-disabled peers. The extended time make a vital difference for students with slower processing and focusing difficulties (ADD). The school is just providing the services that are needed for the student to demonstrate what they know. The same can be said about other accomodations, such a word processor or quiet testing environments. Without these accomodations, disabled students can be placed at a disadvantage. Though most students would say that they would do better in a quieter setting, for some students noise and busy environments are more of a distraction for some than others. The quiet space is essential for me, because of a type of auditory processing disorder, which makes it difficult for me to discriminate and push out background noise. I am more sensitive (I do not have better hearing, but something as simple as someone tapping a pencil or the multiple shulfling of paper ccan drive me crazy) to noise than most people, and its gets more complicated when you add ADD / LD in combination with it. Also, the time that a student has to put into their work and working with the support center for their accomodations is not also fun. I have to spend more time studying, taking test, and in tutoring than most of my non-disabled peers. And when I took my SATs with double time, which I needed and used all of it I missed one of my favorite weekend trips that I didn't have the oppurtunity to go on again for another two months. Weekend outings were a big deal when you went to boarding school in the middle of no where.

I am not saying all of this to feel speical or to go on a poor me rant. I am just trying to clarify the struggle that college and academics can be like, even with accomodation. Misconceptions about disabilities, especially LD and ADD as you can tell easily get more talking. However, I aplaud your willingness to ask your questions. Also, I recognize my experience is not the norm even among other students with LD / ADD for I have three separate disorders and am on the more severe end of the LD spectrum of severity.

If I was to say if there was any advantage of all at being LD / ADD or having any other types of disabilities that influence academics its that it makes one learn about yourself and how you learn much earlier than most other people. I believe it has also given me more drive than I may otherwise ever would have had if I wasn't LD / ADD. I also got a more demanding education because public school did not work for me and the only alternative was private school; and the school that I graduted from held me to high expectations. I also took what people said I could not do because of my LD / ADD as a challenge, and I do better than most non-disabled students. LD / ADD can also make or enable you to be more creative in some situations, as well as improve one's advocacy skills. In many ways my LD / ADD forced me to grow up quicker and have a greater self understanding than many others my age. Though this does not mean I have not experienced my share of difficulties that can accompany ADD when trying to make the transition to young adulthood. For one of the other common misconceptions is that LD and ADD only affects school and academics, when in reality it can and often effects all aspects of one's life.