Read Time: 4 minutes
Today I will teach you how to support your student with ADHD in their transition to college.
Taking action around the recommended steps will increase the chance of your student staying enrolled in and graduating college.
The key steps I will walk you through include how to:
Talk to your child about playing an active role in their college experience
Build routine now, so things run smoothly when your student moves out
Choose a program with robust supports for students with ADHD
Unfortunately, many parents do not plan effectively for this major shift and as a result, students with ADHD drop out at higher rates than their neurotypical peers.
Follow these steps to ensure your student succeeds and doesn't fall victim to the transition turmoil.
Why do students with ADHD drop out of college?
There are many reasons students with ADHD drop out of college after their first year. Here are some of the big ones:
Parents do not understand privacy laws and are not prepared for the loss of access to information and communication that occurs when their child turns 18
Students struggle to maintain a daily routine when they have been used to parents acting as their frontal lobe during high school
Students do not use accommodations or access them due to a lack of knowledge or embarrassment
Parents, by following these three steps, you can ensure a smooth transition to college.
Step 1: Talk with your child about your level of involvement
My colleague Christine of EF Ninja told me a cautionary tale about a parent whose child got alcohol poisoning while on campus, but because of privacy laws, the campus was unable to provide details or information for the parent to support their student.
What a nightmare!
Luckily, companies like Mama Bear have created affordable documents so that you can help your college-age student in an emergency.
But since you are a proactive parent, it doesn’t have to be an emergency, it can also be around helping them:
Arrange campus healthcare
Establish student housing
Reviewing portals so they can communicate with teachers
To set this up, sit with your child and ask them if they would like you to help them through the college transition process.
Let them know that by law you are unable to speak on their behalf unless they grant you power of attorney, but if they are open to it, you can work together to set that up for a limited time period.
By involving them in the process, they will have the chance to take executive ownership and build those EF skills.
If you are not sure about how to have this conversation, consider trying out our Family Team process as a structured approach for a conversation like this.
If you decide not to use Mama Bear above, work with your student to sign a written consent form on behalf of their parents and make it as broad as possible, like this:
"All categories of my educational records can be shared with my parents."
Learn more about that from this article.
Step 2: Set up a weekly routine
So many students enter college used to having home-cooked meals, their laundry done, and parents acting as their frontal lobe.
So how do you prepare them for this transition?
The secret is in building resilience through incremental shifts.
By providing them with opportunities to “fail forward” they will learn new skills and grow.
Parents here are some things you can do in the meantime, to prepare them for this shift:
Sit with them each Sunday and have them plan out their weekly activities
Block out time for studying, chores, meal prep, and extra curriculars
Teach them how to set up a budget
Above all, don't do everything for them -- give them just enough support to move forward.
If this sounds overwhelming, remember these are all things a skilled executive function coach is trained and practiced in teaching!
Step 3: Identify appropriate supports and accommodations
Many parents and students do not realize that the 504 or IEP plan does not travel to college.
However, many campuses have disability resource departments that support students with ADHD.
There are many benefits that can be unlocked from working with disability resources department which include:
Early registration access
Longer time on tests
Being excused for tardiness
Receive audio and visual recordings of a lecture
An advocate to resolve issues with professors, if needed
How parents can help:
Investigate and evaluate support centers at different colleges in advance.
Inquire about the process for accessing accommodations and the necessary documentation.
Reach out to colleges to gather information on disability programs, including pre-college or summer initiatives.
Explore available interventions, services, treatments, coaching, skill-building groups, counseling, and other supports for students.
Confirm the required documentation for health services to prescribe ADHD medication and provide treatment.
Bonus: Notable programs with disability resources
Conclusion
The transition to college is no joke.
It takes preparation, focus and a can-do attitude. Some of the barriers that will come up are:
Privacy laws and a loss of communication and monitoring make it difficult for parents to help
Students struggle to maintain a daily routine without the structure of the home
Students do not use accommodations or access them
Use this guide to take proactive steps each week, setting your child up for a successful college experience. Good luck!
Check out these helpful resources for more ideas
About the author
Sean G. McCormick is a former public school special education teacher who founded Executive Function Specialists to ensure all students with ADHD and Autism have access to high-quality online executive function coaching services.
With this mission in mind, he then founded the Executive Function Coaching Academy which trains schools, educators, and individuals to learn the key approaches to improve executive function skills for students.
He is also the co-founder of UpSkill Specialists, a business with a mission to provide adults with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder, access to high-quality executive function coaching services that can be accessed through Self-Determination funding.