Disclose His ADHD: Yes or No?

Q: When applying to college, should my son disclose his ADHD diagnosis? He has done well in high school without accommodations. Won't disclosure be viewed as an excuse?

by Patricia Quinn, M.D.

Having your son disclose that he has ADHD, and helping him develop self-advocacy skills to get the support he needs, are keys to success at college with attention deficit.

Using resources on campus is not an excuse, but rather a demonstration of his determination to be successful. Colleges are looking for that kind of can-do attitude.

In addition to disclosing ADHD on college applications, I recommend that high school students write about their disabilities in their college essays, and request an interview to discuss these issues at their first-choice schools. This will allow the student to explain past performance and to outline his plans for the future.

is a developmental pediatrician and coauthor of On Your Own: A College Readiness Guide for Teens with ADHD/LD