Add/adhd

decadence · #1 10-20-2003, 12:29 AM

Radndomly interested, outside of drugs (Ritalin, Adderall or whatever else there is for this condition) what are some of the initiatives usually used for sufferers in college/university (some sort of special or personal tutoring, or whatever it might be?)

I.e. what initiatives and recommendations are colleges urged to put into practice for their ADD students.

kappaloo · #2 10-20-2003, 12:59 AM

The one thing my university does a lot is offer these students the ability to write their exams outside of the normal area (eg the PAC with like 1000 of your closest friends writing with you) in an area set up to minimize distractions.

Also, in these areas (since they are the only ones writing there) studentss are allowed to get up and walk around if they feel the need to, I think.

Also available are councellors who can assess and advices these students.

There are probably other considerations too. I don't have ADD so I don't usually have much to do with the Services for Students with Disabilities area.

Kevin · #3 10-20-2003, 01:07 AM

I have what most would consider to be pretty severe ADHD. I decided a long time ago that medication was a crutch and I had to learn to cope with the problem.

I've done fine... Ever since I made this decision, I haven't really needed any extra help. I also have a few other LD's. Again.. I coped.

I'm of the opinion that medication is NOT the answer... and really.. the real world doesn't give you extra time for being ADHD. Why should school?

bethany1982 · #4 10-20-2003, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake
I have what most would consider to be pretty severe ADHD. I decided a long time ago that medication was a crutch and I had to learn to cope with the problem.

I've done fine... Ever since I made this decision, I haven't really needed any extra help. I also have a few other LD's. Again.. I coped.

I'm of the opinion that medication is NOT the answer... and really.. the real world doesn't give you extra time for being ADHD. Why should school?

In a world where so many want special treatment for one thing or another, I really applaud your position.

Kevin · #5 10-20-2003, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bethany1982
In a world where so many want special treatment for one thing or another, I really applaud your position.

"Equal opportunity" is a load of BS when it comes to LD's. The real world doesn't afford it, why should anyone else? Imagine asking your boss for extra time on a project because you're ADHD! Maybe that's covered under the Americans w/ Disabilities Act? I can't wait 'til someone sues for that

I'm of the opinion that if you treat a kid differently and not teach them to cope, you're hurting them more than helping them.

I always thought it was funny in high school that I still had to check in with the LD lab folks while I was in AP/Honors classes

I realize this is more common now, but it wasn't when I was in HS. For me, this was more of a pain than anything else.

When I went to college, I never bothered informing anyone of any of my supposed shortcomings. I made it just fine.

GeekyPenguin · #6 10-20-2003, 02:10 AM

ktsnake, I totally agree with everything you're saying. I have ADHD and am dyslexic. Just because my school will give me extra time for something doesn't mean that a Senator will when I'm trying to lobby him. I didn't get diagnosed with either of these until late in life so I've always learned to cope.

kappaloo · #7 10-20-2003, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake
I'm of the opinion that if you treat a kid differently and not teach them to cope, you're hurting them more than helping them.

First of all... congrats.

I agree... we must always think of whether what we are doing is helping or hurting. But not all "special privledges" are hurting. After all, when in the real world are you going to be working in a open room with 1000 other people working with no talking? Sometimes the situations are particular to education alone. Sometimes 'treating a kid differently' is teaching him how to cope. EG - allowing them to write a test in an area that minimizes distractions or working with a severe dyslexic to teach them how to overcome the scrambling of the letters.

eta: did you know that your optomistrist (sp?) can often tell if you're dyselxic? I know of some one who never knew untill his eye doctor told him that he should get it checked.

Kevin · #8 10-20-2003, 02:41 AM

What's bad is the crap they're teaching our educators. People with LD's should learn differently...

That's totally the wrong approach!

They just need to learn to cope. It can be done. If they can't surmount their challenges, I hate to sound crass, but not everyone's meant for college.

aephi alum · #9 10-20-2003, 09:15 AM

ktsnake, on this at least, we can agree.

And I applaud you for working through your problem rather than popping a pill.

I used to help out with a religious school program that met after school, and we had a number of ADD/ADHD sufferers among the students, most of whom were on Ritalin etc. These parents were faced with a tough choice: to have their child's school nurse give them a dose at the end of the school day, or not. If they didn't get a dose, their dose(s) from earlier in the day would just be wearing off when they got to religious school, and they wouldn't be able to sit still for their lessons. If they did get a dose, they just sat there like zombies.

I'm not a doctor, but I believe many of these kids were overmedicated. So when the drugs wore off, they exhibited their symptoms a lot more markedly than they might have if they had not been medicated in the first place (or received a lower dose) and had to deal with those symptoms on a minute-by-minute basis.

Sometimes I think the kids are medicated just to make things easier on their parents and teachers.

decadence · #10 10-20-2003, 09:21 AM

Thanks but to re-jig back on topic

, outside of medication which it was suggested above by GC'ers is a crutch; what other strategies are there? Extra time in exams being one.

Lisa Fishman · #11 10-20-2003, 09:49 AM

I don't know how it is in other states, but in Alabama all state colleges and universities are required to have some form of accomidation for LD and ADD/ADD-H students. This usually comes in the form of tudoring. Many private colleges offer this to LD and ADD students for a fee. My feeling on tudoring is, if it helps you then take advantage of it. As for extra time on exams, that helped me as well. Another thing that does help is to take smaller class loads. I got through school, yes it took me a little longer and yes, it was difficult at times. I got through it and graduated. College graduation was definatelly a great achievement for me. My problem was several specific learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder, the inattentive kind. So, I think in my case for the ADD problem a medication was a definate neccesitiy. I have to disagree with several of you and say that sometimes medication is absolutely nesessary because, though I am not in school anymore the ADD problem will ALWAYS exisit wheather or not I'm in school or not. If medication is not taken, the ADD appears.

aephi alum · #12 10-20-2003, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by decadence
Thanks but to re-jig back on topic , outside of medication which it was suggested above by GC'ers is a crutch; what other strategies are there? Extra time in exams being one.

Hey, I'll hijack a thread if I feel like it

I honestly don't know what accommodations my school makes. I believe people could ask to take tests in separate rooms, and of course they could always seat themselves in the main exam room in an area where distractions would be minimized, but I think that was it - no extra time.

Cluey · #13 10-20-2003, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake
I'm of the opinion that medication is NOT the answer... and really.. the real world doesn't give you extra time for being ADHD. Why should school?

You hit the nail right on the head. As an educator, I have to say at some point you need to develop the coping strategies to be successful well after school is over.

This is just another reason why I love working at a private school where we do not make accomodations

BTW, I was never tested, but I am sure I would be ADHD. My mother didn't want me labeled as such, though, and I thank her for that.

lovelyivy84 · #14 10-20-2003, 03:42 PM

One of my line sisters was in the same boat.

Her mother just worked with her intensively. There was no need to medicate, they just needed to upt in extra work at home and school.

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake
I have what most would consider to be pretty severe ADHD. I decided a long time ago that medication was a crutch and I had to learn to cope with the problem.

I've done fine... Ever since I made this decision, I haven't really needed any extra help. I also have a few other LD's. Again.. I coped.

I'm of the opinion that medication is NOT the answer... and really.. the real world doesn't give you extra time for being ADHD. Why should school?

Dionysus · #15 10-20-2003, 06:34 PM

I agree with everyone who posted here, to a certain degree.

I agree with some that accommodations for AD/HD is a no-no. Eventhough this is protected under the ADA and you can technically receive accommodations on the job, however giving accommodations on the job for this is a very rare practice (from what I've heard). Even mentioning that you have the condition can be a bad move. Many employers perceive it as a liability. Technically they cannot fire you if you reveal this about yourself on the job, but as you know employers can find anything as an excuse to get rid of you.

Because of this, I think giving students, especially college students, accommodations will hurt more than help. It will give them the belief that the workplace will accommodate them like the schools. And, there comes the stigma and the stereotypes. Many people do believe that students who use accommodations are not capable.

I also agree with Lisa Fishman that in SOME cases medication is a necessity and is not a crutch. The condition is pretty complex; "learning how to cope" is not always sufficient. Telling a person who has trouble focusing to try harder is kind of like telling person who has bad vision to squint and telling them that wearing eyeglasses is a crutch. IF you have a genuine case, you have a chemical imbalance that prevents you from focusing, not a lack of willpower. Medication helps to get those chemicals in gear. Medication has been proven to help the majority of those with AD/HD temporarily. The only concern I have with usage of medication is unknown long-term effects.