Unfornately, I have seen firsthand how difficult having ADHD can be. It not only creates limitations in school but also can strain a person's potential for employment or hinder the ability to efficiently get the job done once they gain employment. Significant problems that can arise are the ability to stay on tasks and complete projects that critical deadlines, hardship on communication barriers and the inability to stay on schedule with meetings and/or deadlines.
Shaine,
That's an interesting insight -- that the school environment offers more changes in focus/concentration that may work to the benefit of the student with ADHD than does the work environment. The trick for the worker with ADHD, then, might be to build in breaks, or to do pieces of several tasks sequentially and then circle back around to them, rather than doing one thing from start to finish before looking at something new. Good idea!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Students with ADHD have a hard time concentrating on a specific task for a longer length of time. When working this is most likely a issue that occurs more often than in our classrooms because of the fact there may not be many different tasks for them to do. In other words it would be better if there working environment had change that happened in a timely manner in some way shape or form. This way getting distracted may become harder since you are doing something new here and there.
James,
That's a good run down on the possibilities, James. Not everything will occur for every person with ADHD, but it is a good analysis of what MIGHT occur.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Thee functional limitations created by disability do not stop being a problem when the student leaves the classroom. They are a constant for the student, and impact on all activities. For instance, I do suppose the functional limitations created by significant problems with ADHD might impact on a student's employment experience by they forget to be on time for thier job and lsing focus attention on organizing and completing a task. In addition, they will blurt out something which they do not mean that could hurt somebody's fellings. They could be very imaptient by they want to get through a task fast instead of taking their time and go slowly with it.
Gayle,
I like the idea of finding accommodations for students at the college level that will help them learn how to manage their disability in other settings as well. Student development is not mandated by law, but I agree that it should be considered an educational imperative.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Significantly.
Much of our successful employment depends on skills that are elusive to individuals that have ADHD-
-the ability to focus on tasks at hand,
-the ability to perform under non-optimal conditions that include distractions, interruptions, and often chaos,
- organizational and time management skills.
I would think that effective accommodations would not only address the primary functional limitation, but also would assist the student in discovering what accommodations may be most useful to him or her in other environments as well.
Michael ,
So long as you are careful not to generalize (and assume that ALL students with the diagnosis will experience the same range and significance of symptoms), I think you have done a masterful job of outlining some of the challenges that folks with ADD/ADHD may face on the job.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Yes, the significant problems that are created from ADHD would definitely impact a student’s employment experience. The lack of focus on projects, delays in deadlines, and being easily distracted would limit productive in the work place. If an employee has ADHD, they should seek out the means to be able to be successful in the working environment. This means looking into strategies and technologies that would allow them to be successful. They need to look at things other than medicine because medicine can only take you so far in the process. Looking at the overall picture and not the pieces of the puzzle could make a student with ADHD successful in the work place.
Erin,
That's why we hope that students will learn coping strategies while they are in school that will allow them to better self-manage their symptoms. While we don't deny their legitimate need and right to accommodation, it is always hoped that students can find a way to be independent as much as possible -- even if that means that they get better at self-advocacy and are prepared to tell others what accommodations they need (instead of our determining that for them).
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I think organization of thoughts and time is a huge issue for a student with ADHD. Therefore, trying to set up interviews or even figuring out how to search for employment would be a huge issue. If the student gained employment, I think keeping the job would be difficult if they can't stay on track with ideas or tasks.
Brent,
We ARE still talking about individuals with ADHD, right? Your description sounds like the problems faced by a whole lot of employees. (GRIN) I am teasing -- you are correct. All of these issues which may, in fact, present challenges to any employee are exacerbated when someone has ADHD that makes typical coping strategies all the more difficult to implement.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
The problems that ADHD students have at school do not differ much from the problems they deal with at work. It very much depends on the severity of the ADHD for how severe the problems may be.
Generally getting to work on time and managing time at work is a problem. Staying organized and paying attention to details can also be issues. Conversing with bosses and employees over work tasks and directions can pose problems. Just handling emotions especially during times of stress can be problematic at work.
Butch,
Very true. We always hope that while a student is still in school, he/she will develop personal strategies that will allow for more efficient management of their disability while on the job (such as the use of day planners, lists, and written reminders).
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Difficulty with completing tasks and remembering details could be difficult. The individual with ADHD could also have difficulty in social situations.
Jeffery,
Your right -- all these issues that plague students in the classroom could certainly be a problem for students on the job. The question that arises, then, is whether these same issues play out differently in the world of work. Are there self-accommodations that will allow students to minimize the impact of their disability? Are there ways of organizing their work lives to maximize they productivity? We hope so.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Difficulty taking instruction, difficulty remember details, issues with focusing, even on a menial task. Problems finishing things. There can be a good deal of issues
If a student has made it thus far as an adult they tend to know how to work around their disability. They want to go to school to gain more skills. Sometimes a person with ADHD has an excellant ability to milty task so it really depends on the person and program or form of employment they are trying to pursue. Its just a matter of finding the best fit for that specific student.
Nicholas,
I like this approach. It acknowledges the basic skills and abilities of the student, and encourages him/her to learn to build on those strengths in positive ways, so that they can be independent and fully functioning in other settings.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Nicholas,
I think you made a huge (and not necessarily true) leap in assuming that students with ADHD are (a) receiving extensive accommodations in college that will not be available to them in the world of work, (b) would NEED the same accommodations in the world of work that they need in college, and (c) would not be able to hold a job without these accommodations. Does ADHD impact on all areas of their life, not just the classroom? Absolutely. But it manifests itself differently in different activities, and the world of work often offers opportunities to manipulate circumstances (from work hours to work environment) that may not be possible in the group classroom or laboratory setting. It sounds as though you are thinking of accommodations as a crutch that allows these students to limp through school. Remember that is not the intent. The intent is to allow them to have an equal chance to show, while in school, if they have mastered the same skills as their classmates. If they have, then their chances of demonstrating that same level of competency in the world of work seem pretty good.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
