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11.4% (7 million) of U.S. children aged 3-17 years have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) datasets. About 6 in 10 of children had moderate or severe ADHD.
ADHD is a developmental disorder marked by persistent symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These symptoms affect a student’s ability to focus, complete tasks, and stay organized. These symptoms have a high impact on learners’ overall school performance. Students with ADHD find it difficult to learn in regular schools because of the many distractions and the inflexible schedules. Online schools are an alternative way for these students to have quality education despite ADHD.
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Parents, Take Note
ADHD is not considered to be a learning disability according to The Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA). ADHD can be determined to be a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), making a student eligible to receive special education services. Individuals with ADHD qualify for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) if their ADHD impacts a major life function such as learning
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Benefits of Online School for Students with ADHD
Online schools offer several benefits especially important for students with ADHD.
Personalized Learning Pace
ADHD students benefit from having education tailored to their needs. Online education allows them to achieve this. ADHD students have freedom to choose how they spend their time and focus on specific tasks.
Reduced Distractions
Online home schooling reduces noise and external stimulation for ADHD students. The controlled environment allows the student to focus more on their work and remain on tasks. Students focus on educational materials and separately manage their social activities, which is impossible in traditional school settings.
Flexible Schedules
Online schools give ADHD students the ability to schedule their programs around their most productive times of the day. Online schools allow students to take advantage of hyperfocus periods unlike traditional schools with fixed length classes. Students make significant progress in their studies by reducing the risk of losing attention.
Engaging and Interactive Content
ADHD students are more involved in multimedia tools like videos, animations, and interactive quizzes than with the traditional forms of learning. Changing between different types of activities or varying how information is presented helps students stay focused on the topic. The context change offers necessary attention shifts and works for students.
5 Tips to Help Kids with ADHD Succeed with Online Classes
1 million more children had received an ADHD diagnosis in 2022, according to the study “ADHD Prevalence Among U.S. Children and Adolescents in 2022: Diagnosis, Severity, Co-Occurring Disorders, and Treatment”. Learning with ADHD is challenging for students and their parents. Here are several tips for successful online education for students with ADHD.
Tip 1: Create a Learning Space
ADHD students need a distraction-free zone dedicated to online learning. This area is quiet and not in a high-traffic location where students will be interrupted. It’s important to minimize surrounding factors for students as much as possible.
Tip 2: Set a Consistent Routine
Consistency helps ADHD students feel secure and keeps them on track with their assignments. Develop a daily schedule with clear start and end times for schoolwork. Separate learning time from rest time.
Tip 3: Incorporate Movement Breaks
Students need to take short breaks between lessons. It’s better to choose students’ preferred physical activity. Breaks help ADHD students release pent-up energy and return to their studies with renewed focus.
Tip 4: Break Tasks into Smaller Steps
Students need to break materials into smaller, manageable tasks. This prevents ADHD students from feeling overwhelmed and helps them stay focused on completing one step at a time.
Tip 5: Use Visual Aids and Timers
ADHD students use visual schedules, checklists, and timers to manage their time effectively and stay on task during online classes. Visual schedules help them maintain focus. Checklists and timers prevent them from missing important tasks.
How to Choose the Best Online School for Children with ADHD?
We covered how to choose the right school for your children in the article “How to Choose the Best K-12 Online School for Your Child?“. We offer additional tips on what to consider if your child has ADHD.
Flexibility
Choose a school allowing students to adjust their learning pace and offer flexible schedules. ADHD students better learn with schools accommodating their need for breaks and self-paced learning.
Individual approach
Choose an online school offering personalized attention and resources, such as one-on-one tutoring or tailored instruction plans designed to meet ADHD students’ specific needs.
Quality Content
Choose a school providing the program with multimedia content, interactive tools, and engaging activities for students. These tools hold ADHD students’ attention and keep them motivated.
Why is Legacy Online School a Good Choice?
“We firmly believe in providing equal opportunities for every student to achieve their fullest potential”
Legacy Online School offers flexible schedules and tools for focus management. Teachers at our school help students and their parents establish proper routines to minimize distractions. This is a good way for students to stay focused and keep structure in their daily learning.
We ensure all our instructors are certified teachers who adapt their materials to meet the individual needs, interests, and abilities of students.
There are three types of learning styles, such as group, one-on-one, and self-paced learning, which help ADHD students find their own comfortable way to learn. Find out more about learning styles and opportunities here.
Conclusion
Online schools offer a lot of benefits for students with ADHD. Online schools provide flexibility in learning, support, and engaging content helping students to stay focused. Legacy Online School is a great choice for ADHD students. It offers flexible, personalized learning environments with individual support, helping students manage their focus and pace while addressing their unique needs.
