January 25 – CHADD – This is Part two of our two part series on Attention Deficit Disorder, and the Eighth Annual CHADD Conference to be held January 27, 2007 at WCU. Today’s guests were Dr. Marty Patwell from the WCU Office of Students with Disabilities, and Kathy Adams-House. Kathy is a member of the Chester County CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder) and a parent of an ADHD student.

     Dr. Patwell told us the importance of documentation, which from a legal standpoint is required to support accommodations that may be required for an ADHD student.

In high school, a student’s IEP ( Individual Development Plan) may have been a passport to accommodations.  A diagnosis from a professional Psychologist, or Psychiatrist is necessary.  If already a college student, and you think you may have ADHD, you can come to the OSSD, and they will refer you to someone off-campus for testing, so that if you do have it, you can begin to get the help you need.  The OSSD is located in the Lawrence Building, Room 233.  To get to the office, go past Einstein Bagels, head toward the old dining center, and take the stairs on the left up to the second floor.  The OSSD is third door on the left.

            Kathy talked about the problems that can be caused when a student has not been diagnosed with ADHD, and never gets help.  Her son was diagnosed early in college, and it was difficult to advocate for himself, and get the help he needed.  This happened eight years ago, and we are thankful that now there is more information available, especially through CHADD, so that parents can be aware of what is available, and the student can be guided.  But, it can still be a problem is you begin to think you have a problem and don’t do anything about it.  People with ADHD are smart, but they need help in school with things like time management, and organization.