ADHD Awareness & Support at University
Here at BridgeU we look at all the ways we can celebrate diversity and inclusion. In many countries around the world the month of October is recognised as ADHD Awareness Month.
Bringing awareness to a topic is an inclusive way to honour the people in our lives who have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Let’s get into it. 👇
What is ADHD 🧠
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects 4-6% of people and is commonly diagnosed in early childhood. Neurodivergent is a term that identifies a group of people who have neurodevelopmental differences in their brains.
Once stereotypically associated with young people who couldn’t sit still, medical professionals now have an improved understanding of ADHD and its varied impacts on people. Countries that recognise ADHD often classify it as a disability and it can have legal protections at university and in the workplace.
ADHD is often associated with difficulties with some tasks including concentration, prioritisation, and focus, but it’s also a superpower!
Celebrating neurodivergent people 🎉
Neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways. People with ADHD bring high levels of resilience, creativity, energy, and courage.
A neurodiverse classroom or workplace brings numerous solutions and perspectives to challenges and problems we face every day.
Prominent and successful people have publicly shared their diagnosis, including Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, Will.I.Am, and Greta Gerwig.
Support for students at universities 🫶
In the US and UK, ADHD is recognised as a disability and as such has systems of support and protection. But don’t worry, you do not have to report a disability on your application unless you want to.
At US universities, these teams or departments often have the word ‘accommodation’ or ‘accessibility’ in their names. For example, at Marist College, to find support you would contact the Office of Accommodations and Accessibility.
Students can talk with the team at Marist to find out more about the support available for students with ADHD like testing accommodations or referrals to other services on campus like mental health counselling.
You did read that right…in the US accommodations do not refer to housing/dormitories. It is the type of need a student has related to their disability.
In the UK, university departments tend to cover much broader areas of support that include academics and employability, health and wellbeing, financial advice, and disabilities. For example, at Anglia Ruskin University students would look towards the Student Services department to find disability support.
In contrast, Northeastern University London has the Student Support and Development department to provide support in these areas.
Rest assured knowing that university teams are there to support you no matter where you are in your journey. If you need resources on how to get diagnosed or support managing a stressful personal or academic situation, there is a team for everything.
As you add more universities to your shortlist, your Homepage feed will bring you information about your top choices. 😃 Through this you will be able to learn about the types of support each university offers.
Want to find out more about ADHD and Mental Health support at your dream universities? Ask your counsellor to book a demo and access an entire library of content made to get you to the university offer of your dreams. 💭
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