TYSHON,
You make it sound as though ADHD is a disease that infects the individual and causes them to engage in bad behavior. Not all students with ADHD have the same degree of difficulty in monitoring their behavior, and many find that the problem impacts only on their and their ability to concentrate on things. ADHD is a problem in attention, not in behavior.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
ADHD is a condition that feeds the person most desired thing to do to make them act out at home, school, church or whereever, such playing in class, talking uncontrollably, or even fighting out of being discipline for something simple.
Kevin,
Did you know that both Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg have described their school history in just that way? They both have ADHD, and they were both known as the class clowns because it gave them a chance to be noticed for something positive, rather than negative. I can't think of two more creative talents than the two of them!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Also, too...those with ADHD can also be some of the more creative people around. So, an instructor seeing such in a student with ADHD should be advising to aim for a career which complements that student's particular area of creativity.
In broadcasting, for example, quite a few DJ's acknowledge their past with ADHD. (Many were the "class clowns" who were later discovered to have ADHD.) Obviously, this doesn't apply to every individual, but I think the general point is clear.
Delmar,
That's a very interesting perspective. I like the idea of trying to help a student with a (potential) limitation find a way to make it work for them.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
It will affect each person and each job differently. If the person with ADHD is in a job that is a ever changing environment then I think he/she will do just fine. Make there weakness a strength. If the person is in a very mundane job it will be very difficult for them and most likely the will either quit, get fire or both. I think a person should now their weakness and try to turn them into strength.
Joseph,
Whoa. Wait. Back up. I think you have a very different understanding of the kind of support that is needed, much less available, to most students with disabilities. Generally, the only students with disabilities who have "paid assistance" on an ongoing basis would be those with significant physical limitations who need personal care attendants. But blind students, deaf students, students with learning disabilities, and the rest? They don't have anyone who stays with them all the time and helps them cope with their disability-related needs. They learn to cope on their own, with the support provided by the appropriate accommodations that are available under the law.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
students with disabilities will always have assistance. They get paid for it. There is no special treatment, because they have such said assistance. They are to be treated no matter what their disability and the assistance is responsible to susitate what needs or handicapps are needed. As an instructor I can not act or treat them any differently.
Jessica,
Everything you say is very plausible, Jessica, and would certainly be something to be concerned about. However, I would encourage you to remember that not all students with ADHD have either the same difficulties or the same level of difficulty. Some individuals with ADHD *do* have trouble relating socially. Others are absolutely charming and at their very best in social situations, and only have problems in more structured settings. Being aware of the functional limitations of THIS student with the disability is more important than knowing the general characteristics of the disability.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
A student or worker with ADHD will have issues on different levels. If the job involves helping customers, there's a chance for issues if the worker has problems socially. Other problems might also arise between employees especially if there is any amount of stress involved with the job. Some employers may not have patience with someone with ADHD and just think they are rude or confrontational.
That is a pretty inflexible approach to all this, Danielle. It seems to translate to "they should suck it up and work a little harder." There are many people with ADHD who are excellent and successful workers. Some learn terrific coping strategies, and some gravitate to fields where their disability doesn't prevent a barrier to success.
They're employment experience will be greatly affected. In pretty much evey career, you need to stay on task, and you will have deadlines, or general expectations. Hopefully, with the combination of personal preserverence and a medical regimin the individual can find their productive medium.
Donna,
You have just hit on an important element of student development that is all too frequently overlooked. While the student is in the postsecondary setting, we provide a kind of "safety net" by having someone assigned to make sure the student is receiving equal access. What too often happens, though, is that we are not as good (or don't take the time) to make sure that students learn how to manage their disability-related needs on their own while we are still around to help. The disability won't go away when they move on to the world of work. Logically, the accommodations need to move on with them... but they have to learn how to ask for them, because in the world of work no one is going to come looking to help. We always encourage disability service providers to think of student development as an important adjunct to what they do. If I am still providing the same level of support to a graduating senior as I provided to that student when they walked through my doors as a first semester freshman, something is wrong with the system!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
As someone who has an ADHD individual in my family, I see that sometimes his inability to focus or pay attention to detail has made keeping a job difficult in the past. You won't find a harder worker than him, but if an employer does not have an understanding of the ramifications of the functional limitations his ADHD may present, then there could be difficulty in the employment experience. However, as a manager, I do not always know if someone has ADHD unless of course I just presume from their actions...never a good idea, of course. I think if someone is a good worker, completes the job satisfactorily and maybe needs assistance in focusing on details, etc. I would try to find a way to assist in this regard. Perhaps sending reminders, or provide checklists...obviously I would need to know more about the best way to approach and assist the employee with this functional limitation, but if I saw 100% effort, then I certainly would support them in any way I could to make their employment experience a good one!
Eric,
But isn't that true of EVERY student? That they MIGHT have difficulty and struggle with how to manage new tasks and new responsibilities? Beware of overgeneralizing the problems for students with any type of disability, but especially ADHD. They are tremendously varied in their skills, their coping strategies, and their interests. Being aware of how their disability impacts on them could be helpful in determining compensation strategies, but it doesn't necessarily mean that they cannot or will not be successful.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I think a student could have a difficult time working in fields that have great detail within in the job. At times in the new position, the student would be successful, but could struggle with complicated tasks. This could hinder the student long-term employability.
Ah! I understand now. Thanks for the clarification. Let me throw in a bit of trivia, though, that might be of interest. You are right -- we hope that everyone will find a situation in life that is of interest to them, for that is what makes it worthwhile to work to excel in that field. But research has shown that, at least in the case of LD students, they tend to choose their majors (and, by extension, their career path, based on things that CAN'T do well, instead of things they CAN do well. They look over the options before them and say, "I can't do that... I can't do that... I can't do that... hmmm... I can't see anything I can't do there, so that's what I'll go for!" It is too bad, as it doesn't give the same will to succeed if the interest level really isn't high. People with disabilities often have the interest WITHOUT the skill set. Some will succeed and some will not. I suppose that is true of us all! (Smile)
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I guess I wasn't clear in my presentation. I was not suggesting that every individual with ADHD would have all those symptoms. I was merely saying that those are the most common symptoms that an individual could present with either one or more of them. Given the list of symptoms certain jobs or careers would not be as supportive as others. As is true of any individual. We all have our strengths and weaknesses that make us unique and suited for one job situation over another. I was in no way implying any stereotype. The ultimate aim for ANY individual with or without a functional disability is to find situations in life that fit our skill set and interest level.
You have made some pretty significant assumptions here, Michele. The symptoms you describe are, indeed, related to ADHD. But not all students with ADHD experience all these symptoms, not all students with ADHD experience the same level of disruption from each of these symptoms, and you haven't given them much credit for learning to mitigate the impact of their disability. People with disabilities are too often limited by someone else's stereotypes. The functional limitations COULD impact in this way -- but there is nothing to suggest that they WOULD. Concentrate on individual circumstances, rather than generalities.
Jane Jarrow
The functional limitations created by ADHD would impact a student's employment experience because ADHD presents with symptoms such as being easily distracted,missing details, forgetting things in addition to having difficulty focusing on one task at a time. This list of symptoms plus the fact that sometimes the person is not able to follow directions in a logical sequenced order, could limit the types of employment opportunities available after graduating. Jobs that require attention to detail such as accounting or research would prove to be an incompatible environment. Positions in the creative fields might be more suited to a person with ADHD.
