The Kentucky's Office for the Americans with Disabilities Act points out that 3 percent to 5 percent of children in school have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. The disorder can affect a child's attention, behavior or both, which may cause problems in school. If a child has severe enough symptoms, he may require education accommodations.
Symptoms
Several of the ADHD symptoms can cause problems in school. For example, inattention symptoms of ADHD include making careless mistakes on homework and having trouble paying attention during class. The MayoClinic.com notes that children with ADHD may not finish their homework or may try to avoid it. Organization and forgetfulness are problems with ADHD, with patients losing items that they need for school, such as books.
The hyperactive and impulsive symptoms can also affect patients' education. For example, patients may leave their seat while in class, and may run or climb on things at inappropriate times. Children with ADHD may talk excessively and interrupt others when they are talking. ADHD can also cause patients to blurt out answers before the teacher finishes asking the question.
Educational Services
Children with severe ADHD that affects their school performance may qualify for certain educational services. Two programs exist for ADHD: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, abbreviated as IDEA, and Section 504. IDEA is the more stringent of the two programs. The U.S. Department of Education explains that IDEA provides funding for special education programs, while Section 504 makes sure that a child receives an appropriate education, whether he attends regular or special education classes. Children who do not qualify for IDEA may qualify for Section 504.
Individualized Education Program
If a child qualifies for IDEA, she will get an individualized education program. The U.S. Department of Education notes that the individualized education program uses the results from a psychologist's or physician's evaluation of the child, which shows the severity of the ADHD and why the child needs help in school. The individualized education program contains goals for the child to meet. The parents are involved during the planning and carrying out of the individualized education program. Section 504 does not require an individualized education program, but it must provide educational services that the child specifically needs.
Assistive Technology
Some ADHD patients may benefit from assistive technologies that can help in the classroom. For example, if organization is a problem for a student, Michigan State University recommends an electronic organizer, which will produce reminders and alarms for upcoming events and assignments. Computer programs, which can focus on a specific subject such as math, can help with sustaining attention and reducing impulsive behaviors. Individual alarms can help children to stay on schedule.
Classroom Adaptation
Teachers can make certain adaptations in the classroom to help ADHD students succeed in school. For example, the teacher can make and post a schedule for a child, which shows him when his activities are and what he needs to do each day. Each activity should have a set time, with a break between each one, which can help with hyperactivity. Teachers can reduce distractions by giving the child a quiet work space. The Kentucky's Office for the Americans with Disabilities suggests that teachers give instructions both verbally and visually, which can help the child process the information. Teachers and parents can set up a reward system, in which the child receives a reward of his choice when he has an improvement in grades or behavior.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) -- Symptoms
- Michigan State University: Assistive Technology for Self-Managing Behavior for Those with ADHD
- Kentucky's Office for the Americans with Disabilities Act: Definition and Accommodations for ADHD
- US Department of Education: Identifying and Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
