Be Proactive To Develop Habits of Success

ADHD is often lumped in with the ‘hidden disabilities’. It is not easily detected by others, and the difficulties that come with it can therefore be dismissed or ignored. Even students who have found ways to manage their disability well should prepare in advance for the changes that will come with college life.

Some aspects of college life are well-suited to students with ADHD. College offers more choice in classes, less time in the classroom, and more opportunity to manage their environment to what’s best for them. However, this additional flexibility and freedom can be the very thing that causes interference if not approached with a plan. The expectations in college rely heavily on one’s ability to manage due dates, deadlines, time management, and effectively study. Students with ADHD can lag in the development of these skills by several years compared to their peer group. It can be helpful for families to support the student in a proactive way prior to their leaving for college.

Students with ADHD will want to practice the habits for success well before they attempt college. To do this, they will need a strong support system that helps a student learn the necessary routines and skills before they are expected to do it on their own. Additionally, students that have an understanding of their disability, the impacts it has, and how they can access support are much more likely to recognize when they need help. Some accommodations received in high school may also be available at the college level, so contacting Disability Services is an important first step to taking classes. Self-advocacy skills developed prior to college will lead to more follow through for these services in higher education. Students should be encouraged to create a new support network on their college campus early on so that if extra help is needed, they know just where to go. This will help them implement a plan to address things before there is failure. It’s helpful to remind students that needing help isn’t a sign of failure- the responsible student recognizes when they need support and seeks it out from the available resources. The support provided in this way doesn’t take away from any of the actual learning and work to be done. It just helps to work around the obstacles.