ADHD and College

As parents, we always strive to provide the best for our children, making sure they are well prepared to face the many challenges that life presents. Managing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of those challenges that touches nearly 1 in 4 families. Whether you have had many years of experience in managing ADHD with your child, or only a few short months, ADHD is not left at home when your child heads to college. Adapting to life at college is especially difficult for children with ADHD, who often find it challenging to adapt to long lectures, pages and pages of assigned reading, and semester-long group projects. While inattention may have been effectively controlled with medications throughout high school, the extended hours of reading and studying demand that students remain attentive and organized, while simultaneously being creative and clever in their thoughts and writing. The college experience should be one of seeking opportunities and exploring career options. For students with ADHD, the experience is just the opposite, with limited options and dwindling opportunities. While many colleges have services in place to assist students with learning disabilities, a handful rise above the rest in customizing programs and curriculum with the ADHD learner in mind. This guide provides an overview of these colleges, their programs and success stories. Before making your first college visit, make sure you arm yourself with this book, and know the most important questions to ask on the visit. About the Authors Dr. Paul Nevin and Dr. Kerri Nevin are a husband and wife team of Clinical Psychologists who have been working with ADHD children, adolescents and adults for over 20 years. Drs. Paul and Kerri have three boys, one of whom has been diagnosed with ADHD.