ADHD Back to School Resources
Students with ADHD are back in school this month or the next. These resources provide information to help them do better in school.
Toolkits and Resource Sheets
- ADHD and School: A Toolkit for Parents (PDF)
This toolkit for parents provides strategies to help with school success. It includes resources tailored to ADHD struggles, such as how to create routines, how to set up a homework station, and how to structure home-school communication. Additional resources include customizable charts, a sample letter requesting special education services, an information card for teachers on ADHD, and information on the rights of students with ADHD from the US Office for Civil Rights. - ADHD and School During a Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for students, parents, and teachers as they transition from one learning environment to another. Find resources in this toolkit to help students succeed during this stressful time. - Students’ Educational Rights and Sample Letter to Request Educational Evaluation
Federal law guarantees a free and appropriate public education to eligible students with disabilities, allowing them to receive services or accommodations in school. - Types of Education Plans and Accommodations:
- Tips for Working with the School
Tips and ideas for working with the school’s education team members. - Tips for Talking to Teachers about ADHD
How to build a good relationship with your child’s teacher. - Homework Help for ADHD
Homework time can be improved with a few additions to your routine. - School and Home Communication Plan
Communication with your child’s teacher and education team takes a coordinated effort. Here’s some ideas on creating a communication plan. - School Interventions
Educational accommodations plans and school-based interventions can help your child be successful.
Articles
- Key School Issues for Students with ADHD
This article addresses things that can be done to assist children who are still fully or partially attending school in a remote learning environment, ways to ease the transition back to inperson instruction, and ways to seek extra help from the schools for services that were lost during the period of remote instruction. - New Home, New School—What About My Child’s Accommodations?
When your child is enrolling in a new school, what do you need to do to make sure the IEP or 504 plan is still effective? - School-Based Services for Children with ADHD
School-based interventions are helpful for children with ADHD. These studies help us to understand which students may be more likely to get the services they need and which students may be at greater risk for missing out on school-based services. - Fearless Advocacy: Pro Tips for School Team Meetings
For most parents, school team meetings provoke dread, anxiety, and frustration—especially when you’re still new at this. I’ve written this article to include some practical tips for becoming a “fearless advocate.” - Home-School Collaboration: It’s Important for Children with ADHD
Parent-teacher collaboration for children with ADHD can be challenging—but it’s important. Research shows that teachers and parents need to spend more time and energy when supporting children who have ADHD. - Prepare Your Teen for Success in High School
The transition to high school is a big one for any student but if ADHD symptoms have been most obvious in your child’s struggles with organization and time management, the effect of starting ninth grade is likely to be magnified. - Help Teens Get Organized for School
Teens with ADHD may not know how to get and stay organized. Being organized in high school is just tough to do, especially when ADHD complicates things. - How Can I Get My Child to Read for Pleasure?
Here are some tips to help reluctant readers settle down with a book. - Homework in the Era of the Online Grade Portal
More and more schools are providing parents with 24/7 online access to their child’s grades. There are many positives to this. It can help parents catch issues early on and assist their child in fixing things.
Podcasts
- Supporting My Child with ADHD at School
You want to make sure your child with ADHD has all the necessary tools to succeed in the classroom. It’s crucial that you establish good communication with your child’s teacher at the beginning of the school year to ensure a smooth and successful term. This role-playing episode features Laci Culbreth, head of School at Chatham Academy, and Jami Demuth, CHADD’s Midwest regional manager. You will learn the importance of establishing good communication with your child’s teachers, getting school support for your child’s learning challenges, asking for accommodations, creating a support network, and much more. - How to select the best school accommodations for Your Child
Jennifer Engel Fisher discusses accommodations that work for ADHD and how to tailor accommodations to the behaviors and needs of your child. You’ll learn what your role is in monitoring your child’s accommodations and identify ways to track if certain ones are helping. You child’s role is just as important as your role, so we’ll also discuss strategies to help your child self-advocate. - Navigating College with ADHD, Preparing for Success
For students with ADHD, the transition from high school to college is a time for them to show their independence and not rely much on their parents' support. But college is dramatically different than high school. With increased academic demands, differences in teaching methods and grading procedures, and fewer available accommodations and supports, many students with ADHD soon find themselves falling behind. Judy Bass, a certified educational planner, talks about the learning supports and interventions that help students who learn differently to succeed in college.
Webcasts
- Ask The Expert: Improve Homework Time with Strategies That Work For ADHD
This presentation will look at the challenges that children and parents face in managing homework. Discover strategies that work, allowing you to reduce the daily stress of homework battles. - Ask The Expert: How to Select the Best School Accommodations for Your Child with ADHD
Many children with ADHD are eligible for a 504 Plan or IEP, which details their accommodations. But what accommodations really work for ADHD? And how do you determine if a recommended accommodation is right for your child? - Mornings Matter with ADHD
ADHD symptoms are always with us–from the moment we wake up until the moment we fall asleep. Mornings can be especially challenging for people and families living with ADHD. But mornings matter–a good one can set us up for a great day, and a bad one can ruin the day–so it’s important to give mornings the attention they deserve. - Homework Solutions for Your Middle or High School Student
Executive function skills, including time management, take time to learn. Once a student develops systems that work for them, these strategies can help them succeed in middle school, high school, and beyond. In this webinar, Ann Dolin, MEd, will discuss how you can help your middle schooler or high schooler develop those critical executive function skills this school year. - Communicating with Your Child’s Teacher | Two-Part Series for Parents
- Session 1: Let Me Introduce You to My Child
Your child’s ADHD doesn’t necessarily have to interfere with their education, performance, or peer relationships. By collaborating with your child’s teachers on their academic achievements, and by helping with homework and studying, you can make your child’s learning experience a gratifying one. - Session 2: Supporting Your Child at School.
Asking how you can help shows that you want to partner with the teacher to make sure everybody has a good year. It can make teachers feel supported and reassure them that you’re available for further communication. Teachers who feel supported may be more likely to reach out to you before a problem becomes large and unmanageable.
- Session 1: Let Me Introduce You to My Child
