New employment is many times an extension of the educational environment. Students seeking work in their designated field are required to take what they have learned in school and mold it to the new employer's expectations. With this, the student/employee is forced to read and understand procedures, interpret and perform the procedures and their results, and then present a result/product as complete. Most jobs/careers in today's world are not about knowing everything, but being willing to learn new things. That being said, the inevitable requirement to continue to learn will in turn continue to plague the ADHD individual.
Student's with ADHD have a difficult time staying on task, staying focused, and are very impulsive at times. With that being said the student's employment experience will pretty much be the same if they do not find a job that can keep them focused. Due to those type of behaviors where the student talks to much, ignore instructions, or miss deadlines they will need to analyze what they have been successful at and why and bring that to the job market so that they can hold a job because if they don't it puts limitations on the type of jobs that they can do.
It is imperative that we teach our students to self advocate for themselves everywhere they go. Especially as they transfer to the workplace.
By emplowering them how to communicate and decrease the fears of their employers by helping them learn how they may be able to adapt an assignment to meet their employers needs and timelines. Thought they may fear discrimination there is never a reason to lie and no reason to be afraid to be who they are. The disabled have gift to offer us. they are apart of our community. As they open communication and make others feel comfortable in asking questions. We will become better in building relationships.
I totally agree with previous comments regarding the ongoing difficulties former students may encounter as they enter the workforce. It has been my experience that, while we attend to their unique needs through accommodations while a student, we can fall short in helping them prepare to leave us and be successful. I have heard from several such students of the difficulties they experience in the transition to the workforce and believe we could do a better job. For instance, including assistance in preparing a resume, preparing for an interview, knowing what their own responsibilities might be for disclosure or not. Especially important, how they can protect themselves against discrimination in the workplace and disclosure of personal medical information. I know of one such student who, while participating in their first internship, was "let-go," for not meeting the expectations of the employer yet said employer provided no critique of performance until the moment he was let-go. Should the new graduate have disclosed a history of a learning disability? If he had done so, what would have been his chances of having been accepted for the internship? If he had disclosed a learning disability, is the employer obligated to provide extra assistance or time to complete tasks? This former student now believes himself inadequate and is questioning his own capabilities. I'm not sure I know what the answer is but I would suggest, we are not doing enough.
ADHD may impact a students employment on a positive note. They have applied to that job and obtained it so they are interested in the position. This may help them stay focused and be task oriented, depending on the job. Many people want to do better and rise above their disability.
The functional limitations for a student with ADHD might impact their employment experience because they may have problems following policies and procedures. Depending on the type of job enviroment that student is in could pose an unsafe work enviroment not only for themselves but also their cowokers.
I believe it affects them the same way that it does in the classroom. They are easily distracted, cannot process or retain information maybe as effectively as someone without. They may miss deadlines or forget procedures. They may misspeak to their customers or coworkers. I know that ADHD can cause additional anxiety as well because although the acts themselves are not premeditated, some individuals have the self awareness to understand the severity of their disability and the outcomes due to it. I believe we should be sensitive to this disability as more and more people are found to have this challenge.
As they progress on their career course, their ADHD might become increasingly difficult to manage, given the increased responsibilities. Ongoing therapy and counseling can help mitigate these issues.
Crystal,
I completely agree with your assessment.
Sarah Smoger
The functional limitations of a student with ADHD transfer to the work environment in a way that is not only significant but frequently invisible to the employer. We need to empower our students (while we have them in school) to self-advocate and communicate. Challenges such as meeting deadlines, following schedules, and even participating in training may prove challenging to an individual with ADHD. Further, the supervisor of such an employee may interpret these challenges as employee apathy or insubordination. Open communication fosters an environment of initiative and shows employee investment.
It may extremely hard for someone with ADHD to meet deadlines or stay focused in meeting, whether it be in a one-on-one or group setting. It really may even be a challenge for them to maintain the business hours that are put in place.
Latasha,
I agree. I think we are seeing this more and more in general with traditional aged college students entering our institutions.
Sarah Smoger
Catherine,
Absolutely. I'm a very strong advocate of self identification and understanding of one's functional limitations and the impact they may have in both a professional, work and personal/social environments. From there, one can work towards strategies to mitigate those limitations. This takes a certain amount of self-awareness and advocacy.
Sarah Smoger
Jeremy,
Maybe, some with disabilities such as ADHD find work environments or career paths which work "with" or are more "forgiving" in certain areas which might be functional limitations for them.
Sarah Smoger
Julie,
The question is, whose job is that-to provide real world training?
Sarah Smoger
Amanda,
Good thing documentation is typically required to substantiate the need for accommodation!
Sarah Smoger
Robert,
Exactly. This is a great example of how working with college level students to be aware of their functional limitations and how they impact them in a work environment can be the difference in being successful or not.
Sarah Smoger
Joseph,
Probably. Many employers are unaware of their obligations under the ADA and until a complaint is filed, have no real interest or opportunity to make changes.
Sarah Smoger
Chelsea,
Be careful not to put people with a certain diagnosis into a "box". The same diagnosis may create varying functional limitations for several different people.
Sarah Smoger
After the classroom a person with ADHD may have difficulties adjusting to the different atmospheres of the workplace.
