Edge Foundation Blog

Edge Foundation Announces Unique Scholarship for Students with ADHD Offered in Partnership with Shire

Award Includes a Year of Coaching to Ease the Transition from High School to Higher Education

Seattle, WA, May 24, 2011 – Students with ADHD struggle with the difficult transition from high school to higher education.  Studies indicate that between 50 to 95 percent[1] of college students with ADHD drop out. Edge is pleased to partner with Shire to offer a unique new scholarship program aimed at students with ADHD.  Twenty-five graduating high school seniors who will be starting a program in higher education in the fall of 2011 will receive a $2,000 scholarship and an offer of a full year of ADHD coaching services provided by the Edge Foundation.  The deadline to apply is July 7, 2011 and scholarships will be awarded on August 9, 2011.  Details available at www.ShireADHDScholarship.com.

“What makes this scholarship unique is that, these students will not only have access to a higher education, but they will receive additional tools to help them,” said Robert Tudisco, Executive Director of Edge Foundation.  “The students will set goals and work with their coaches to stay accountable to the goals they have set for themselves.  Edge coaches will help provide these students with structure, support and accountability as they leave home and continue their education.  Edge coaches will help students learn the skills they need to provide these things for themselves.”

According to Kelsey Peterson, a college student who was successfully coached through the Edge model, “I was fortunate that my parents were able to send me to college, but the transition was very difficult because of my ADHD.  It wasn’t until I started working with my coach that I felt empowered enough to take charge of my life and succeed.”

The scholarship recipients will be able to connect with their Edge Coach before orientation begins.  Their coaches will help them to understand themselves well enough to learn to gravitate toward their strengths and also to navigate around their weaknesses.  Says Tudisco, “We applaud Shire for recognizing the need for coaching and making it available proactively for students entering higher education.  No student should have to fail in order to receive support.”

The Edge coaching model has been proven effective in helping students with ADHD regulate their own behavior, problem solve, prioritize, organize and otherwise bring balance into their lives.  Last year, Edge concluded a two year study into the effectiveness of ADHD coaching on students in 10 colleges nationwide.  The study results (available at edgefoundation.org) showed that the students who were coached showed dramatic increases in self regulation and an overall improvement in their approach to learning.

The Edge Foundation is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that offers supplemental treatment for students with ADHD. Founded by Neil Peterson in 2005, its mission is to help every child, adolescent and young adult with ADHD to fully realize their own potential, personal vision and passion through personal coaching.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has long been associated with poor grades, poor reading and math test scores, and being held back. But despite billions of dollars spent on special education programs, the number of ADHD students dropping out of high school and college is alarming. Now a new study shows that ADHD students don’t have to be “at risk” students.

ADHD Students are “At Risk” Students

A few sobering facts to consider about the impact of ADHD on students’ success:

• High school students with ADHD are 4 times more likely to drop out of school than the general population.
• 42% of ADHD students are likely to be held back (compared to 13% general population).
• 60% of ADHD students are likely to be suspended (compared to only 19% of the general population).
• And 35% of ADHD students won’t graduate at all and those who stay in school will suffer from lack of confidence, higher risk of substance abuse and menial grades (on average a C- or D+).
• Only 22% of students with ADHD enter college.
• Only 5% will graduate.

Why ADHD Students are at Risk

Students with ADHD are vulnerable because ADHD impacts the portion of the brain that regulates what  is known as  executive functioning. ADHD students have executive function deficits in attention, planning and organization, prioritization, impulse control, memory, time management, and higher-order conceptual thinking.

Turns out a student’s executive function levels are well known by researches to be a hallmark of academic success.

Coaching Boosts Executive Functioning

Edge Foundation’s study offers hope for students with ADHD because it definitively links coaching to improved executive functioning.  And improved executive functioning means more success in school.

ADHD students who participated in Edge coaching sessions demonstrated statistically significant, higher executive functioning than ADHD students who did not receive coaching. According to the study, “The magnitude of the effect size for self regulation was more than double the typical educational intervention, and executive functioning was quadruple. Findings with effect sizes that large are rare.”

Coaching has long been used by the corporate world to improve performance of CEOs and executives, but little study has been done until now on the impact this particular kind of intervention may have on populations with learning disabilities, like those living with ADHD. While medication has been shown to improve academic productivity (better note-taking, scores on quizzes and worksheets, and homework completion), medication alone is not associated with skills like better learning, reading or the ability to apply knowledge, all of which are critical in a successful post secondary education.

ADHD Coaching Research Study Results

Students who received Edge coaching showed substantial gains in their overall approach to learning.  The study showed that students who received Edge coaching services showed significant improvement in their abilitiy to organize, direct and manage cognitive activities, emotional responses and overt behaviors.  They were able to formulate goals more realistically and consistently work toward achieving them, manage their time more effectively, and stick with tasks even when they found them challenging.

How Edge Coaching Works

Edge Foundation coaches work with students in seven major areas: scheduling, goal setting, confidence building, organizing, focusing, prioritizing and persisting at tasks. Coaches help students assess their environments, identify needs, set goals, and offer suggestions and guidance. They monitor student progress and goals through regular phone or email check-ins. The protocol of regularly checking in with clients provides for more structure and accountability. When coaching teens and college students, check-ins are usually made every day.

If you’d like to find out more about how an Edge coach can help you succeed in school, give us a call (1-888-718-8886), send us an email or sign up for our newsletter .

Reference Links:

ADHD and College Success: A free guide

Edge Foundation Coaching Study Executive Summary

UC Davis Study:  Dropout risks: ADHD, conduct disorder, smoking

ADHD and Executive Functioning

Executive Function, ADHD and  Academic Outcomes

The end of October is Midterm crunch time for most colleges for college freshmen.  It’s often the first time they’ve had their performance measured at college – and the aftershocks can be devastating for ADHD students.  It can be a time where students feel so overwhelmed they start thinking about dropping out.

College transition and ADHD

College transition is a critical milestone for many students with ADHD. If you are a student living away from home for the first time there are a lot of new skills to learn.  It’s often the first time you have figure out how to manage your time on your own – with no parent standing over your shoulder to remind you (nag you!) about your assignments. It is also the first time you have just a few key milestones – such as midterms, finals and term papers – to measure if you are mastering your class content.

If you been experiencing all of the perks of college, but haven’t been mastering its responsibilities, you can get a sinking feeling when those midterm grades come in. After all, the December holidays will roll around before you know it and your parents are going to be disappointed and worried about your performance if you don’t get into gear.

An ADHD Coach can turn midterm disaster into a learning opportunity

If you find yourself struggling to get all the reading done, cramming for exams or pulling all-nighters still not getting your papers in on time, it may be time to get proactive and get an ADHD coach. An ADHD coach can help you balance your new-found freedoms with the responsibilities of college academic life.

Studies show that successful students usually have four qualities that help them achieve their goals:

1. Sticking with things even when the going gets tough (a.k.a. perseverance),

2. Ability to delay gratification and focus on the big picture,

3. Time management and organizational skills, and

4. Striking the right balance between fun and work.

An ADHD coach can help you strengthen those traits in yourself. They can also help you be accountable, study smarter not harder, assess and prioritize your time and stick to your plan!

Get started with an ADHD coach today!

If it’s time for you to get proactive about your school work and learn some new skills that will make your next midterms far less stressful, check out our free publication, ADHD and College Success:  Everything you need to know about ADHD, college, and living your dreams!

You don’t have to repeat midterm blues when finals roll around. What are you waiting for? Pick up the phone and you can begin talking to a coach within days… plenty of time to get things headed in the right direction before having to face the music when the term ends!

1-888-718-8886

In the next few days just about everyone will be back in school. Another new school year is underway, and just like January is a time for New Year’s resolutions, lots of students start the new school year with aspirations of it being their best year ever.

Have you promised yourself that this year it will be different?  This year…

• I’ll study every night
• I will do all my homework on time
• I will get serious about my classwork
• I won’t skip class
• I’ll exercise and eat right
• I’ll  go to bed on time the night before tests

If you find yourself making New School Year’s Resolutions, you may need some extra help to get them accomplished when you have ADHD.  For example, do you struggle with…

• Procrastination
• Getting organized
• Feeling overwhelmed or
• Finishing things you’ve started?

An ADHD coach can help you overcome the struggles of ADHD and keep on track with your goals.

We’d like to give you our FREE white paper, ADHD and College Success: Everything you need to know about ADHD, college, and living your dreams!, that can show you how a coach can help you get your edge for success.   It’s filled with practical solutions and proven tools you can start using today.  Highlights include…

• Using creative ways, like music, to keep yourself on schedule
• Working with your urge to procrastinate, not against it
• How to study smarter, not harder
• 4 student qualities for success
• And many more easy to try ideas!

If you have ADHD and are headed off to college, or are a college-bound high school senior (or know someone who is), you need to download this white paper. It’s free.  You won’t have to talk to anyone to get it.  And you’ll be under no obligation to buy anything or sign up for a coach.

We bet you’ll find at least one thing you can do in there that you can start using today to get your edge on ADHD.  What are you waiting for?

Yes, take me to the College White Paper download page. I want to keep my School Year’s Resolutions!

School’s almost out. Everyone has summer on their minds. But have you spent any time thinking ahead to next year’s classes? How about the year after that?

The end of the school year is a good time to look ahead and think about how you want your year ahead to go. Taking a little time now to plan ahead can lead to less stress, better grades and more success in school.

Pause for reflection. Many people with ADHD tend to spend more time looking ahead than reflecting on the past. But taking a minute to think about what worked well, and what didn’t go so well, can help you build on successes and avoid repeating past mistakes. Pretend its January 1st. What are your resolutions for things to do differently next year? What are things you want to build on? Write yourself a note and send it to yourself to arrive on September 1. (43things.com is a great tool for sending yourself reminders about future goals.)

It’s all about balance. Think about what classes you need to take to graduate? Which subjects do you love? Which ones do you struggle with? Think about the type of work required for each class and balance the type of classes out over the year. For example, don’t take more than two classes each term that requires heavy memorization.

Optimize productivity. When selecting classes, think about when you are most productive. When do you listen best? When are you able to knuckle down and study? Now plan your class work and study time to fall during these high productivity periods. For example, if you are a morning person, consider allowing a block of time between two morning classes to get a quick burst of studying in at the start of your day.  Thinking about and planning for a “productivity window” can help and ADHD student move from struggling to success.

Establish good habits now. Do you have a regular exercise routine? If you don’t, start one now. Research has shown that regular exercise helps reduce ADHD symptoms. If you integrate exercise into your daily routine now, it will be easier to keep going in the fall.

Start researching your future teachers now. Talk to your friends and find out about the teaching style of different teachers and professors. Which ones are rigid and which ones may be more accommodating of your style. Consider talking to teachers before you sign up for their classes about their expectations. Better to know in advance that 50% of your grade will be dependent on completing daily homework assignments, don’t you think?

Lighten the load. Consider taking classes over a five year period instead of trying to push through college in 4. Take one or two classes during the summers so you can focus on the tough classes with fewer distractions during the school year. If you are in high school, talk to your guidance counselor and see if a home school option for summer study is available to you, too.

Find an ADHD coach. A coach works with you over time to develop better planning and self-management skills; skills that will help you manage your time and your things so you’re on top of your work and the rest of your life and not overwhelmed or behind. You can begin working with a coach over the summer, so you have good organizational systems in place when fall rolls around.

So as this school year draws to an end, take time to reflect and plan ahead. Instead of New Year’s Resolutions, think School Year’s Resolutions!

What are your School Year Resolutions? We hope you’ll share them in the comments.

We also hope you find these related ADHD coaching articles useful:

Treating ADHD with exercise

Getting the most out of 504 & IEP meetings

ADHD coach vs. academic tutor

Plan ahead so you don’t crash and burn in the fall

Virtual schools are on the rise. What was once seen as a second rate degree, a virtual diploma has become far more common place and acceptable a means of education. Virtual schools have even been lauded for lowing dropout rates among at-risk youth. In fact, a study by the US Department of Education even showed that on-line learning can be even more effective than classroom instruction for some groups of students.

Virtual School Advantages

If you have ADHD, an online school may be an option to consider.

• If you are a few credits short at graduation or you’ve been considering dropping out of high school, on-line education can be a way to get a fresh start, complete your high school credits and graduate.
• An on-line school is also a way to start college without leaving the support structure of home. Many times students take a year or so of community college before going away from home to a college or university. You may want to consider a virtual school in this situation if your local community college doesn’t offer the subjects you are interested.
• In all cases, be sure to check on the accreditation of the school you are considering. And, if you are thinking of transferring the credits you earned to another college in a year or so, be sure to check with that school to find out how many of the credits will transfer.

Virtual School Pitfalls

Virtual school sounds pretty great, huh? Set your own pace. Perhaps there’s even no set class time to show up for – so you are never late. No commute time. Study without ever having to get dressed. All these conveniences can also have a flip side – no accountability. YOU are responsible for showing up. YOU are responsible for keeping yourself on track. YOU are responsible for staying focused on your school work instead of surfing the web. It’s just as easy to fall behind in a virtual school as a traditional one if you don’t manage your time well.  So, just as many have found that working at home can require more self discipline than they expected, you want to think carefully if virtual class work is for you.

• Many students find that they have to go to the library to force themselves to focus on their studies. Where will you go when it’s time to sit down and learn?
• Do you have the ability to organize your time to get everything done you need to accomplish during the day? If you already have trouble getting yourself organized or being places on time, the less structured format of on-line education may not work for you.
• On-line schools may or may not be able to accommodate your 504 plan.

An ADHD Coach can help

• An ADHD coach can be a helpful partner for on-line learning. A coach can help you assess your strengths and work with them – instead of against them.
• You can work with your coach to figure out what type of learning environment is best for you. A coach can help you learn organizational skills that will keep you on track, plus have the added bonus of serving you well throughout your life.
• If an on-line school is right for you, a coach can help you stay accountable and moving ahead with your studies. (Side bonus, keeping Mom and Dad off of your back!)

Have you tried on-line learning? What have you discovered worked for you? Please let us know.
And while you are here, check out these related articles you might be helpful:
Live at home student responsibilities
Resiliency and ADHD success
ADHD College Survival Guide

If you or your child has ADHD and is starting to think about finding a college to attend, you’ve probably been Googling “ADHD friendly colleges” and “ADHD college programs” hoping to find the perfect program for your needs. You already know a host of factors such as cost, size and location are important ways that all potential applicants judge a school. This post outlines five of factors you can use to help you evaluate if your potential schools will be a good fit for ADHD.

1. Research the disability program at the school thoroughly

It is important to know what percentage of students with disabilities attend the school and how active and approachable the disability office is.

a. Ask about counseling, mentoring and advocacy programs.
b. Find out what services the office provides in general before seeking your own specific accommodations. For example, many colleges have programs where note takers or written outlines are available through the disability office.

2. What types of counseling and support groups are available on campus?

This might be important to supplement the care providers that you are currently dealing with at home. In many cases, on campus counseling can act as a liaison between your mental health care provider and the disability office or administration.

3. Research curriculum flexibility

Many schools offer students a choice of papers versus exams or some type of hybrid. This is important if you have a specific strength or weakness in one form of evaluation or another. Additionally, you should research the flexibility of spreading course requirements over longer periods of time to reduce stress and maximize your grade point average.

4. Research the importance of your ADHD documentation

Find out how the school will acknowledge and rely upon your previous Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan in understanding your special needs.

a. Have a working knowledge of your diagnosis and your particular needs and have a game plan going in.

b. Make sure you continue to have access to your academic and disciplinary records. (see What you need to know about ADHD and your legal rights when you turn 18 for a detailed discussion of how your rights change once you become 18).

5/5/10 Update: As pointed out in the comments, documentation at the college level often means a psychoeducational evaluation or information from a physician detailing the specific academic impact of the ADHD.  Be sure to  research the documentation requirements of the colleges you are considering.  Your high school can be a resource to help you obtain an updated psychoeducational evaluation.

5. Don’t make the transition alone

Find a coach that is specially trained to understand the specific manifestations of your ADHD and help you learn to advocate for yourself and to maximize your strengths and navigate around your weaknesses.  Edge Foundation specializes in matching high school and college students with specially trained coaches who provide support, structure and accountability to bridge the difficult transition to college that is particularly difficult for those with ADHD.

Other ADHD & College Resources:

Visit http://www.edgefoundation.org/schools/adhd-friendly-colleges/ for a free College Survival White Paper.
Plan now so you don’t crash and burn in the fall

College is a critical time for students with ADHD. Finding new strategies that work with ADHD is the key to success. We are pleased to announce that a new resource for college students is now available, free of charge! ADHD and College Success is an invaluable resource, jam-packed with ideas, tips, and encouragement to help college students with ADHD succeed.

Included in the whitepaper are 60 practical solutions for typical ADHD challenges. Highlights include:

• Using creative ways, like music, to keep yourself on schedule
• Working with your urge to procrastinate, not against it
• How to study smarter, not harder
• How to use fidgeting to stay focused
• 4 student qualities for success

Everything you need to know about ADHD, college, and living your dreams. Download your FREE copy at the bottom of this link today!

It’s August and school is just around the corner.  For lots of students this time of year is filled with anxiety.  You know the feeling – that nagging feeling that something’s just not right.  Or you are having dreams about showing up in class in your underwear and there’s a big test already underway that you’ve totally forgotten about. Going back to  is a big adjustment for anyone, but when you have ADHD there are a few extra steps you can take to make sure the year ahead is everything you hope it will be.

ADHD and college:  a challenge you can handle

There are lots of great articles out there about the skills you need to survive at college.  (We’ve listed a few of our favorites at the end of this post.)  Successful students usually have four main qualities that help them achieve their goals:

• Sticking with things even when the going gets tough (a.k.a. perseverance),
• Ability to delay gratification and focus on the big picture,
• Time management and organizational skills, and
• Striking the right balance between fun and work.

However, these particular skills don’t come easily to student with ADHD. Organizational problems, impulsivity and time management issues are actually the hallmarks of living with ADHD. You think, “If I just get this special planner, I’ll become efficient and never forget anything again.” Or you promise yourself, “Next time I’m going to start working on my class reading at the beginning of the term instead of cramming it in right before finals.”  It’s so easy to think, “If I just make myself do this…” it’ll be fine.” But what if we tell you’ve been going about this totally backwards?  What if making yourself be motivated or organized isn’t the solution, but figuring out how to master yourself is?

Self Mastery is the key to achieving your dreams

Self mastery:  identifying and using the tools and skills that work with your personal strengths to achieve your goals and be successful.

College is often the time where you need a new set of skills – or maybe just a tune up – to cope with ADHD.  Why now?  In your life before college, high school and your parents together gave you built-in structure and accountability.  But in college you have a lot of unstructured time and you are totally in charge of making all of your decisions.  Want to stay up late partying?  No problem. It’s a beautiful day and you want to skip classes to go play. No problem. You are head of your sorority’s social committee and in the marching band and have a job so you can keep your financial aid. No problem, that is, until you are just too tired or simply run out of time to finish the big paper that’s due. There’s no one, except yourself, to tell you where your responsibilities lie.  Without self-mastery, it’s easy to let poor time management and organizational skills drag you down; it’s easy to miss that right balance between fun and work; and it’s easy find yourself living out your nightmare of showing up to an important test totally unprepared.

For most college students with ADHD the problem is not so much in knowing what to do, but in getting it done.  As one student said, “I know how to plan. My problem is very simple; I just don’t follow my plans. I need help making sure that I do what I say I am going to do instead of getting sidetracked.”

An ADHD Coach helps you get into your groove and keeps you on track

One thing you can always rely on with ADHD is that it is consistently inconsistent.  That means there are days when everything goes great, and other days you can’t seem to get out of your own way.

Your friends or family probably get frustrated and say things like, “If you’re so smart, why can’t you just handle it?”  And when for whatever reason you don’t, they say you are lazy, or unmotivated, or not living up to your potential.  And maybe you begin to believe them.

But what if it’s not because you aren’t trying the right things?  After all you are probably already trying pretty hard – or at least thought you were.  What if the problem is having a brain that just works differently, and so you need a different approach, a different groove, to managing these every day responsibilities?

This is where an ADHD coach can help.  ADHD coaches know that the same approach doesn’t work for everyone.  As the old saying goes, if the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t blame the foot!  ADHD coaches work with people just like you, every day, and help them find solutions that work for them – not for their parents or friends.  They’ll help you:

• Work with your urge to procrastinate
• Be accountable
• Study smarter not harder
• Assess your time
• Prioritize
• Stick to your plan!

Find a ADHD coach now, so you are ready to go in the fall

ADHD coaches bring amazing life experience to their coaching.  They have a passion for working with young people who might have ADHD. Many coaches have ADHD themselves, or love someone who does, or both,  so they really get it.  They know what works, and what doesn’t.  And they won’t try to make you fit into an organizational system that isn’t right for you!

One of the nice things about an ADHD coach is they all work on the phone.  This takes transportation right out of the equation.  You can start working with your coach right now, and because you don’t meet in an office, you can “take your coach with you” when you go off to college.  You get to your appointments just by picking up the phone.  Because there’s no commute, you can easily fit your appointments into your schedule.  And, by virtue of a phone/email relationship, you stay in much closer touch with your coach than you would if you had to go to an office.  This extra contact can make all the difference in being able to stay on top of things.

Think about getting started even before you leave for college.  Those first few weeks are guaranteed to be overwhelming, and your coach can help you stay on track.  The numbers show that in college it’s surprisingly easy for students with ADHD to fall behind.  Getting your first term grades and finding you’ve tanked is a Christmas present no one wants to get.  So, start thinking now about getting ready for the fall.  If we’ve convinced you to look into getting an ADHD coach to help you keep it all together, we hope you’ll consider one trained by the Edge Foundation.  All of our coaches have met the rigorous standards set by the Edge Foundation and completed training for working with students and young adults with ADHD

So, are you ready to learn more?  Sign-up today and take the first step to getting your life under your control, and finding your edge!

Making the transition to college easier

• Learning Disabilities: Stepping Up to the Challenge
• 18 Critical Factors For Successful Post-Secondary Transition

ADHD self-mastery tips and skills

• Managing hyperfocus
• ADHD and sleep
• Fidgeting can help you focus
• ADHD and anxiety
• Treating ADHD and exercise