About Disabilities

This section presents an overview of common disability types, including descriptive information, strategies for students, suggested resources, and commonly recommended accommodations.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, and Deaf-Blind
Learning Disabilities
Mobility Impairments
Psychiatric Disabilities
Systemic Disabilities
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Visual Impairments
• Cerebral Palsy (updated link coming soon)


About Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a persistent pattern of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity manifested in academic, employment, or social situations. In academic and employment settings, ADD may be demonstrated by careless mistakes and disorganized work. Individuals often have difficulty concentrating on and completing tasks, frequently shifting from one uncompleted activity to another. In social situations, inattention may be apparent by frequent shifts in conversation, poor listening comprehension, and not following the details or rules of games and other activities. Symptoms of hyperactivity may take the form of restlessness and difficulty with quiet activities. ADD arises during childhood and is attributed neither to gross neurological, sensory, language, or motor impairment nor to mental retardation or severe emotional disturbance.

Selected resources for students with ADD

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (ChADD)
8181 Professional Place, Suite 201
Landover, MD 20785
Telephone: 800-233-4050
Web: http://www.chadd.org
Information, advocacy, and support groups.

National Attention Deficit Disorder Association
P.O. Box 1303
Northbrook, IL 60065
Web: http://www.add.org
Information and referrals.

Brain SPECT
Web: http://www.brainplace.com
Information and resources.

Suggested reading

• Amen, D. G. 2001. Healing ADD: The Breakthrough Program That Allows You to See and Heal the Six Types of ADD. New York: G. P. Putnam.
• Hallowell, E. M. and J. J. Ratey. 1994. Answers to Distraction. New York: Bantam Books.
• Hallowell, E. M. and J. J. Ratey. 1994. Driven to Distraction. New York: Bantam Books.
• Hallowell, E. M. and J. J. Ratey. 2005. Delivered from Distraction. New York: Ballantine Books.
• Solden, S. 1995. Women with attention deficit disorder. Grass Valley, CA: Underwood Books.

Accommodations commonly used by students with ADD

The following list includes examples of accommodations that are commonly used by students with ADD. Not all students with ADD are eligible to receive all of following listed accommodations, nor are they limited to those listed when receiving accommodations. Eligibility for receiving any kind of accommodation depends upon factors specific to the nature of the student’s disability and the nature of the course in which the accommodations are to be used.
• Taped lectures
• Extensions on papers/projects on a case-by-case basis (as negotiated with the faculty member)
• Extended time (exams)
• Distraction free room (exams)
• Note taker / scribe
(c) 2006 University of Minnesota, Adapted with permission.

 

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