Attention Deficit Disorder/ Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder

Eligibility Requirements

Services 

ADHD Verification Form (pdf)

Eligibility Requirements

Students requesting services and accommodations for ADD/ADHD must present documentation that establishes that the person has a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, "an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities." This documentation requirement has been established to insure that students are provided with the services and accommodations that are needed to have an equitable educational opportunity at Ohio University. 

Disability documentation must be current, in most cases within the last three years. Professionals conducting assessments must be qualified to diagnose a full range of psychiatric disorders. The name, title, and professional credentials of the evaluator must be clearly stated in the documentation. 

Documentation of ADHD/ADD must be a comprehensive assessment that includes the following information:

Evidence of early impairment: ADHD/ADD is first exhibited in childhood, although it may not have been formally diagnosed. Documentation must contain historical information that establishes symptoms of ADHD/ADD that manifested themselves in more than one setting during childhood and adolescence through the use of parents' and teachers' comments, academic performance, and past psycho-educational testing.

Explanation of current symptoms: Documentation must provide evidence of ongoing impulsive or inattentive behaviors that significantly impair functioning. According to the DSM IV, "the essential feature of ADHD is a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development." A diagnostic report should include a review and discussion of the DSM IV criteria for ADHD as it relates to the student, both currently and historically by specifying which symptoms are present.

Documentation must include a specific diagnosis: The diagnostician should use direct language in the diagnosis of ADHD/ADD, avoiding the use of terms such as "suggests" or "is indicative of." Individuals who report only problems with organization, test anxiety, memory or concentration in select situations do not fit the prescribed diagnostic criteria for ADHD/ADD. Given that many individuals benefit from prescribed medications and therapies, the use of medication does not confirm a diagnosis, nor does it support or negate the need for accommodation.

Recommendations for accommodations: The diagnostic report must include specific recommendations for accommodations that are appropriate and reasonable in a post-secondary setting. An explanation as to why each accommodation is recommended must be provided and should correlate with specific functional limitations determined through the interview, observation and/or testing. Secondary school plans such as IEP or 504 plans are insufficient documentation of ADHD/ADD but can be included with the comprehensive diagnostic evaluation to provide information about prior accommodations and auxiliary aids.

Prior history of accommodation without a demonstration of current need does not warrant the provision of like accommodations. 

It is the responsibility of the student requesting accommodations to present documentation to Disability Services in a timely manner. Specific accommodations and services are determined on an individual basis. 

Services

Registration:

• priority registration
• academic advising
  

General:

• liaison with faculty regarding academic adjustments
• referral and liaison with university departments in coordinating services

Academic Support:

• peer tutoring referral (four hours per course per week) at the Academic Advancement Center
• assistance with computer skills at the Academic Advancement Center
• course credit through University College for classes listed below:
• • UC 110 - Learning Strategies
  • UC 112 - College Reading Skills
  • UC 114 - College Reading and Study Skills
• UC 115 - University Experience (Fall Quarter only)
  

• applications and eligibility information for the College Adjustment Program (CAP) available through the Academic Advancement Center

Auxiliary Aids:

• use of tape recorder on a first-come basis

• counseling available at Counseling and Psychological Services to assist in issues of self-esteem, time management, exam anxiety, etc.

Psychological and Social Work Clinic:

• Porter Hall Room 002; Tel: (740) 593-0902
•   www.psych.ohiou.edu/clinic.htm
• The clinic offer an array of services, including intelligence and neuropsychological assessment, psychological testing, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder assessments, and learning disability assessment. Graduate student clinicians under the direct supervision of licensed psychologist faculty members provide these services.