SELF-ADVOCACY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH ADHD
by Dr. Liz, October 1, 2021
Students with ADHD and/or learning disabilities (LD) are supported through high school
via Individual Education Program (IEPs) and accompanying accommodations which guarantee
academic success. But once a student enrolls in college, there is no team to support them
and no guarantee of academic success. It is up to the student to seek out help, provide
documentation of a disability, get approved, and then receive accommodations. College students
with disabilities need self-advocacy skills to ask for the help they need to receive equal
access to educational resources. Self-advocacy for students with ADHD has been shown to be
an important factor in determining persistence to graduate.
What is Self-Advocacy?
Self-advocacy can be thought of as “knowing yourself, knowing what you need, and knowing how to get it.” Students become self-advocates when they demonstrate an understanding of their disability, are aware of their legal rights, and demonstrate competence in communicating those rights and needs to those in positions of authority.
Why is Self-Advocacy Important?
College students with ADHD are already at a disadvantage when compared to their non-ADHD peers. They must manage their time and stay organized without parents or teachers supporting them. Like other students, they must manage distractions, deal with more independence, manage daily routines, and make new friends. But many students with ADHD have other co-conditions as well, like learning disabilities, anxiety, and depression that can make college life more difficult if not handled carefully. Studies show that college students with ADHD have lower grade-point averages (GPAs) and were less likely to persist to graduation. But self-advocacy can make a big difference!
Self-advocacy skills enable students to stand up for themselves and ask for the help they need and deserve. For example, they will feel more comfortable meeting with disability services staff to discuss and receive appropriate academic accommodations. They will feel empowered to talk with their professors to discuss and request accommodations and to ask questions. They will be motivated to explore the services available to them on campus like writing centers, tutoring services, and other academic support services. They may decide to seek out an ADHD coach to help them overcome obstacles and make positive changes in their lives.
An Example of Self-Advocacy
By the time you get to college, you probably have an idea of your academic strengths and
weaknesses. If you struggle with concentrating during exams, for example, and your History
course syllabus says there will be several exams over the semester, you need to realize that
some support is going to come in handy to do well on those exams. This is where self-advocacy
comes into play! You understand that every cough, sneeze, or pencil drop in the room can distract
you and it will be challenging to refocus on your exam. You know that if you take the exam in a
less distracting place, it will be easier to concentrate. You communicate that need to disability
services staff, and they provide you with an accommodation for a quiet, distraction-free location
for exams, and a form to give your professor that says so. You knew what you needed, asked for it,
and it was given to you. Self-advocacy at work!
Ways to Practice Self-Advocacy
Self-advocacy is hard. Through high school there was a team of people supporting you – parents,
teachers, and maybe tutors, special education staff, advocates, etc. In college it is now up to you
whether to disclose your disability and ask for the help you need – no one will search you out to
see if you want help. But practicing self-advocacy skills can help make them become a habit. Here
are a few skills things to practice:
- Know the name and description of your diagnosis. Is your ADHD Inattentive, Hyperactive-Impulsive, or Combined type? Be able to explain your symptoms and give examples of how they affect your academics and social life. Know the name(s) of any medications you take and how they affect you.
- Learn your legal rights. Research the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to know what you are entitled to, and what to do if you are denied your rights.
- Be able to explain strategies and accommodations that have worked for you and those that have not. This will help in your discussions with disability services staff when requesting accommodations.
Start Self-advocating now!
Self-advocacy skills are important for college students with ADHD. They can help you stand up for
yourself, talk to disability services staff about your needs, talk to your professors to receive
your approved accommodations, and thereby be more successful academically and socially. You can
learn self-advocacy skills and practice them to become more confident. These skills can help you
find new solutions to overcome your challenges, and help you own your learning style and experiences.
Self-advocacy skills will help you become more independent and in charge of your own life in college
and beyond. Empower yourself!
The more you know about ADHD and how it affects you, the more equipped you are to address your challenges and overcome your barriers. Go learn things!
Specific questions and topic suggestions can be emailed to questions@ADHDinCollege.com.