@taverngirl @BktoNJ Re: disabilities in colleges: as a college professor, I am required to accommodate any student who comes to me with documentation from the disability services office. Most of the time, it’s extended time for exams, administered in their office. The student has to give me a form for each exam at least a week in advance. So, if a student struggles with EF skills, this is where they drop the ball and the next thing I know, I get a frantic email from the student about the exam a day before the exam. I am a softie, and bail them out but many professors won’t do that. Also, colleges hire a lot of adjunct faculty, and students have told me they had to inform the adjunct about the process (!)
We cannot ask what the disability is. Students who are successful are the ones who consciously stay organized and meet with me in my office. Counterintuitive as it may be - the best solution for a student with ADHD is more organization. Yes, more than than the typical student. However, if the student is fully on board with all that, it really does work, as evidenced by my own kid and students. I also advise a lighter course load, but one has to be careful. If they fall below 12 credit hours, they may lose financial aid. With my own kid, I advise 15 credit hours, so even if he drops a 3 credit course, he can still be fulltime. Some DSS offices will help them out with advice and others won’t. Also, staffing at these offices runs lean, and the person managing the office is what makes or breaks the office most of the time. The person running the DSS at my son’s uni met with us prior to start of school and also responded promptly to all my emails. Each university varies with their documentation requirements and level of support. My kid’s neuropsych eval was a year old when he applied for college, and they were fine with it.
Now for the students with ADHD who think they can coast their way through: this is not possible even at my not so rigorous university. Need to show up to class on time, due dates have to be met, exams have to be scheduled, etc. Students who have not addressed their EF skills are much more in danger of failing. I sadly see that too. Google “time blindness” for ADHD sufferers. It’s a huge deal.