If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, it has likely been a long and arduous path. Finally, the frustrations of behavioral and academic troubles have been identified at the source. You, your child, the teachers, and the school system can now move forward with accommodations that will help your child reach his fullest potential.
Here’s a sampling of the wide variety of school accommodations you may receive, depending on your child’s individual profile.
To Increase Focus
Fidgety, restless kids need a little extra help focusing on the tasks at hand. These may include:
- Seating him at the front of the classroom
- Setting a timer for short intervals during a long assignment and having the child show the work after each interval
- Calling on the child to participate in discussions and having him help collect papers, etc., to give him an opportunity to talk and move about
- Allowing child to use a fidget spinner or other device to channel energy and increase focus
- Developing verbal and physical cues, like a tap on the desk, to remind the child to get back on task
To Keep Homework Assignments On Track
Some kids with ADHD have difficulty organizing and keeping track of projects and homework. To help them develop these skills, accommodations include:
- Offering the child a second set of textbooks to be kept at home, minimizing the chance of forgetting a book
- Monitoring of assignment books to ensure that every homework and project deadline is included
- Allowing the child to use their phone or another alternative method to keep track of assignments
To Reduce Disruptive Behaviors
In the case of disruptive behaviors, the following accommodations may be offered:
- Teachers may be asked to choose their battles by ignoring minor outbursts
- Communication lines may be opened between parents and teachers to coordinate behavior modification efforts
- In case of an eruption of a disruptive behavior, the child will be brought to a pre-arranged place where he or she will have an opportunity to calm down
To Improve Academic Performance
Many children with ADHD have specific struggles with complex, multi-stage projects as well as specific subjects such as writing or math. Depending on your child’s individual profile, these accommodations may be available:
- Extra time will be allowed to complete classroom work
- Longer, more complex assignments will be broken up into smaller units with specific deadlines
- Written, verbal and/or visual instructions will be given to accommodate your child’s particular learning style
- Children who struggle with writing assignments may be able to print rather than use cursive, use a computer as well as spell-check and grammar-checking software, and may be given the option to present the assignment verbally rather than in written form.
- Children who struggle with math may be given extended time for tests and assignments, have the homework problems pre-written for them, and be allowed to use a calculator
ADHD is a challenge, but these tried-and-true accommodations can do wonders to provide every child with the best education possible.