If my child is diagnosed as ADHD, will this affect him later in life (i.e., obtaining security clearances, getting into Yale or West Point, joining NASA, etc)?

The Americans with Disabilities Act states that it is illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities. However, some institutions, like the military, have specific qualifying criteria based on the nature of the job that may not accommodate people with ADHD.

If your child has the desire and qualifications to pursue Ivy League universities and top level government positions, having a learning disability may make these goals more difficult to achieve, but will not necessarily preclude her from achieving them. In fact, your child has a better chance of achieving her goals if she receives early and effective intervention.

You may want to seek advice from a parent resource center.