Questions to ask in choosing a college for students with ADHD or LD

• Is the director of the DSS office a specialist in ADHD and/or LD?
• How many students with ADHD and/or LD are registered with the DSS office?
• How long has the support program for students with ADHD or LD existed?
• Is there a formal LD program for students on campus? Must a student make separate application to that program? Is there an extra cost involved?
• Is there a specialist, or are there special services for students with ADHD?
• Is coaching provided for ADHD provided for students?
• Is there a faculty education program to familiarize the faculty with needs of students with ADHD or LD? What is the faculty’s general attitude toward providing accommodations?
• What kinds of accommodations are offered for students with special needs?
• Is there a specialized tutoring program available for students with LD? Are these tutors trained professionals or are they other undergraduates?
• Are there student support groups for students with ADHD and LD?
• Are there seminars or courses for students with ADHD and LD that teach study skills and/or self-advocacy skills?
• How complicated is the procedure a student must follow to obtain alternative testing (extended time, testing in a quiet, non-distracting environment, tests administered by computer)?
• Is there a specialist who teaches planning, organizational, and study skills?
• Is there a physician, closely associated with DSS services, that can provide medication prescription and monitoring for students with ADHD?
• Do students have automatic early registration privileges to allow them to select the courses and professors that they need?
• Does the school offer special academic advising, that takes into account the students strengths and weaknesses, that is offered through the DSS office?
• Does the school help identify faculty members who are knowledgeable about and sympathetic toward ADHD and LD issues?
• What is the attitude of the school toward accommodating a student who is unable to pass math and/or foreign language requirements? Are requirements waived? Must courses be taken and failed before requirements are waived? Or, can requirements be waived on the basis of test results? Are course substitutions allowed?
• Are students who currently receive services through the DSS office available for applicants to talk to?
• Are counselors available on an ongoing basis for ADHD/LD counseling and support?
• Is input from the DSS office allowed as part of the admissions and selection process?

Excerpted and revised from A College Survival Guide for Students with ADD and LD, by Kathleen G. Nadeau, Ph.D.