20+ ADHD Accommodations That Work

ADHD students can benefit greatly from the right school accommodations. Here, learn about some specific academic accommodations and how they can benefit your child with attention deficit disorder or learning disabilities.

by Bob Seay

ADHD children often benefit from special academic accommodations established by teachers and parents who spend thoughtful time pinpointing problematic ADHD symptoms, and then devising classroom accommodations that help solve those problems.

Following is a list of common challenges faced by ADHD students, and the accommodations that can help bring success at school.

Classroom Setup

If your child: Is easily distracted by classroom activity or by activity visible through door or windows

Try: Seating the student front and center, away from distractions

If your child: Acts out in class to gain negative attention

Try: Seating the student near a good role model

If your child: Is unaware of personal space; reaches across desks to talk to or touch other students

Try: Increasing distance between desks

Next: Assignments...

Assignments

Assignments

If your child: Is unable to complete work within given time

Try: Allowing extra time to complete assigned work

If your child: Does well at the beginning of an assignment but quality of work decreases toward the end

Try: Breaking long assignments into smaller parts; shorten assignments or work periods

If your child: Has difficulty following instructions

Try: Pairing written instructions with oral instructions

Next: Distractibility...

Distractibility

Distractibility

If your child: Is unable to keep up during classroom discussions and/or note taking

Try: Providing peer assistance in note taking and ask student questions to encourage participation in discussions

If your child: Complains that lessons are "boring"

Try: Seeking to involve student in lesson presentation

If your child: Is easily distracted

Try: Cuing your student to stay on task with a private signal

If your child: Turns in work with careless mistakes

Try: Scheduling five-minute period to check over work before turning in homework or tests

Next: Behavior...

Behavior

Behavior

If your child: Is constantly engaging in attention-getting behavior

Try: Ignoring minor inappropriate behavior

If your child: Fails to "see the point" of a lesson or activity

Try: Increasing immediacy of rewards and consequences

If your child: Blurts out answers or interrupts others

Try: Acknowledging correct answers only when hand is raised and student is called upon

If your child: Needs reinforcement

Try: Sending daily/weekly progress reports home

If your child: Needs long-term help with improving behavior

Try: Setting up behavior contract

Next: Organization/Planning...

Organization/Planning

Organization/Planning

If your child: Can't keep track of papers

Try: Recommending binders with dividers and folders

If your child: Has trouble remembering homework assignments

Try: Providing student with assignment book; supervise writing down of assignments

If your child: Loses books

Try: Allowing the student to keep set of books at home

If your child: Is restlessness and needs to move around

Try: Allowing the student to run errands or to stand at times while working

If your child: Has difficulty focusing for long periods of time

Try: Providing short breaks between assignments

Next: Moods/Socialization...

Moods/Socialization

Moods/Socialization

If your child: Is unclear as to appropriate social behaviors

Try: Setting up social-behavior goals with student and implement a reward program

If your child: Does not work well with others

Try: Encouraging cooperative learning tasks

If your child: Is not respected by peers

Try: Assigning special responsibilities to the student in presence of peer group

If your child: Has low self-confidence

Try: Complimenting positive behavior and work; give student opportunity to act in leadership role

If your child: Appears lonely or withdrawn

Try: Encouraging social interactions with classmates; plan teacher-directed group activities

If your child: Is easily frustrated

Try: Acknowledging appropriate behavior and good work frequently

If your child: Is easily angered

Try: Encouraging the student to walk away from angering situations; spend time talking to student

More on ADHD in School

ADHD at School eBook

ADHD Meds at School

Determining a Child's Learning Style

Better Parent-Teacher Relationships

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