Hi all! I am a family advocate who is currently working on my masters in Adult Education. One of my classes requires me to write a paper showing pros and cons of an Adult Ed issue; and my group picked ADD/ADHD in the adult student. Although we have not actually picked the issue to debate, I was wondering if any of you have thoughts and/or websites to look at. I was thinking along the lines of, as a teacher, strategies for dealing with the ADD Adult Learner, laws and accomodations for the Adult learner, how far should a teacher go to counsel an adult who shows signs of ADD/ADHD? In addition, I would like to have viewpoints from you, the adult learner, and frustrations with taking classes and lack of support from teachers, schools, etc.
Any thoughts or ideas any of you have, I would appreciate. Thanks for letting me post!! :P
Re: Issues on the ADD/ADHD student
“In addition, I would like to have viewpoints from you, the adult learner, and frustrations with taking classes and lack of support from teachers, schools, etc.”
Hi Terri. I’m new to the discussion forum, but I have posted a few times. I’m the frustrated adult learner with ADHD, and I went back to college 2 years ago at age 43. I was diagnosed at 42 and moved to this area because housing costs are lower, and I knew I’d be living on disability. I couldn’t hold a job for 25 years, and I tried college 6 times.
I have a list of problems with the overall “system”, including state laws concerning what is and what is not considered an LD, teachers having no training, lack of tutoring support, etc. Moreover, the ignorance and apathy of the state dept of rehab not only neglected to evaluate my ed plan, they closed my case when I realized I had made the wrong choice.
Vocational rehab agencies are in place to assist disabled persons who want to work and want to become self-supporting, and I am no different. But it seems like I have run into nothing but bad luck. I had no clue what I wanted to do’ but despite having a cognitive disorder that impairs that very function in many, the entire decision making process has fallen on my shoulders. I could pick any career path I wanted and they would say yes because I write well, speak and present well, and I’m smart enough to submit a convincing argument. But actions speak louder than words is an axiom that appears to be totally lost on these agencies. Had they looked at my past academic history, noted that I was living in a homeless shelter, had no success holding jobs for 20+ years, etc., they might have taken a closer look at my choice. I have enormous difficulties with college level math too, and my past school records prove it. Based on what I’ve been unable to do my whole life, there is no logical reason for them to approve my plan. But they did.
When I realized my mistake a couple semesters in, I tried to change my path but found only closed doors. I reached out to rehab for guideance but was told to look to the school for help. They were no better. I came in with documents showing I had been diagnosed with severe ADD and MRELD, a documented learning disability. But they continually told me I did not qualify for LD services because ADD was not an LD. As if I didn’t know that!
I was told by one kind counselor to just go ahead and register for the LD class they have that helps LD students develop success strategies, but I was mysteriously dropped from the class before the semester even started. This happened two semesters ago, and I was well-known by the staff by that time. I’d spent more than a few days battling with them to give me help with organizing my studies and formulating a strategy but it fell on deaf ears. To be honest, I almost feel as if I fall into the “cracks” in the system, or that “grey” area of no-man’s land where no one seems to know how to help me. But I know damn well there are trained personnel who can help me- I just can’t seem to find it in California’s great capital city!
I know you’d like to hear success stories too, but mine so far is not a success. I’m not sure what I’ll do next, but I’d really like to get legal representation to get what I need and to get compensation for all the months and financial agony I’ve gone through from their denial of my requests. Had they done their job the way it’s outlined in the clients information handbook, I’d be well on my way to a degree by now and maybe with $10,000 to $15,000 LESS debt than I have now.
I don’t know how much I can endure, because fighting the system takes enormous courage and energy, not to mention financial resources. The only thing I feel I have on my side is the truth, but I’m gradually realizing that the truth doesn’t amount to much in this world unless you have money. I’ve heard it said that it’s better to be dishonest and rich than honest and poor. Part of me wants to continue fighting, but part of me wants to… oh well, you get the idea.
I hope your search yields valuable information, because I believe this is a cause worth fighting for. I believe there are many people like me who would be doing great things in this world if they were given a chance.
Feel free to PM me if you need exact details. I have dates, names, and numbers… and I’m not afraid to use them! :shock: :lol:
All the best!
Ollin
Re: Issues on the ADD/ADHD student
“In addition, I would like to have viewpoints from you, the adult learner, and frustrations with taking classes and lack of support from teachers, schools, etc.”
Hi Terri. I’m new to the discussion forum, but I have posted a few times. I’m the frustrated adult learner with ADHD, and I went back to college 2 years ago at age 43. I was diagnosed at 42 and moved to this area because housing costs are lower, and I knew I’d be living on disability. I couldn’t hold a job for 25 years, and I tried college 6 times.
I have a list of problems with the overall “system”, including state laws concerning what is and what is not considered an LD, teachers having no training, lack of tutoring support, etc. Moreover, the ignorance and apathy of the state dept of rehab not only neglected to evaluate my ed plan, they closed my case when I realized I had made the wrong choice.
Vocational rehab agencies are in place to assist disabled persons who want to work and want to become self-supporting, and I am no different. But it seems like I have run into nothing but bad luck. I had no clue what I wanted to do’ but despite having a cognitive disorder that impairs that very function in many, the entire decision making process has fallen on my shoulders. I could pick any career path I wanted and they would say yes because I write well, speak and present well, and I’m smart enough to submit a convincing argument. But actions speak louder than words is an axiom that appears to be totally lost on these agencies. Had they looked at my past academic history, noted that I was living in a homeless shelter, had no success holding jobs for 20+ years, etc., they might have taken a closer look at my choice. I have enormous difficulties with college level math too, and my past school records prove it. Based on what I’ve been unable to do my whole life, there is no logical reason for them to approve my plan. But they did.
When I realized my mistake a couple semesters in, I tried to change my path but found only closed doors. I reached out to rehab for guideance but was told to look to the school for help. They were no better. I came in with documents showing I had been diagnosed with severe ADD and MRELD, a documented learning disability. But they continually told me I did not qualify for LD services because ADD was not an LD. As if I didn’t know that!
I was told by one kind counselor to just go ahead and register for the LD class they have that helps LD students develop success strategies, but I was mysteriously dropped from the class before the semester even started. This happened two semesters ago, and I was well-known by the staff by that time. I’d spent more than a few days battling with them to give me help with organizing my studies and formulating a strategy but it fell on deaf ears. To be honest, I almost feel as if I fall into the “cracks” in the system, or that “grey” area of no-man’s land where no one seems to know how to help me. But I know damn well there are trained personnel who can help me- I just can’t seem to find it in California’s great capital city!
I know you’d like to hear success stories too, but mine so far is not a success. I’m not sure what I’ll do next, but I’d really like to get legal representation to get what I need and to get compensation for all the months and financial agony I’ve gone through from their denial of my requests. Had they done their job the way it’s outlined in the clients information handbook, I’d be well on my way to a degree by now and maybe with $10,000 to $15,000 LESS debt than I have now.
I don’t know how much I can endure, because fighting the system takes enormous courage and energy, not to mention financial resources. The only thing I feel I have on my side is the truth, but I’m gradually realizing that the truth doesn’t amount to much in this world unless you have money. I’ve heard it said that it’s better to be dishonest and rich than honest and poor. Part of me wants to continue fighting, but part of me wants to… oh well, you get the idea.
I hope your search yields valuable information, because I believe this is a cause worth fighting for. I believe there are many people like me who would be doing great things in this world if they were given a chance.
Feel free to PM me if you need exact details. I have dates, names, and numbers… and I’m not afraid to use them! :shock: :lol:
All the best!
Ollin
Suggestion: read the back posts on Adults With LD here to get a lot of different viewpoints, positive, negative, and aggressive all included (although the most aggressive have been weeded out by the moderators). Then read the LD In Depth pages appropriate for your topic. Then if you don’t yet have enough, go to the Wrightslaw website for legal issues.