About ADHD and IEP Accommodations

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects a student's ability to focus, control impulses, and regulate activity levels. In school, this can look like difficulty staying on task, trouble following multi-step directions, impulsive blurting, fidgeting, or struggling to organize materials and assignments.

Students with ADHD often qualify for an IEP under "Other Health Impairment" or a 504 Plan. The most effective accommodations target the specific executive functioning challenges your child faces. Extended time, preferential seating, and movement breaks are common starting points, but the best IEPs go deeper with organizational supports, check-ins, and clear routines.

When advocating for your child with ADHD, focus on what they need to access instruction, not on behavior alone. Many accommodations for ADHD are simple to implement and make a significant difference: a checklist taped to the desk, a 5-minute warning before transitions, or permission to use a fidget tool during instruction.