ADHD Accommodations Checklist – Free Printable

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects numerous students across various age groups. From time management woes to struggles with sustained attention, students with ADHD face a plethora of challenges in their school day. Educators, parents, students, and school districts may find it helpful to be equipped with an effective ADHD accommodations checklist.

Why ADHD Accommodations Matter

With the ever-growing recognition of ADHD’s impact on a student’s educational environment, ensuring that these students receive the right accommodations becomes paramount. By addressing the unique needs of students and making the necessary adjustments in the learning environment, we can ensure a more inclusive and supportive educational journey for them.

Previously, we explored the difference between accommodations and modifications, emphasizing that while modifications change the learning goal, accommodations alter how the students learn. Our goal with the ADHD accommodations checklist is to provide specific ways to assist these students without altering the learning objectives.

The ADHD Accommodations Checklist

Drawing from direct experience and expert recommendations, we’ve curated a checklist of the most common accommodations for students with ADHD. This checklist addresses key areas of difficulty and provides actionable solutions. Keep in mind, each school district will vary in how they provide additional support. Whether the student is in elementary school, middle school, high school, or college, reasonable accommodations may be necessary for students with an ADHD diagnosis.

Areas of Concern with ADHD

Remember, while these are common struggles, they don’t represent all ADHD students. Each individual will have their unique strengths and challenges.

1. Time Management:
   • Struggling to prioritize tasks leading to incomplete assignments.
   • Frequently underestimating the amount of time needed for studying or homework.
   • Difficulty in breaking down long-term projects into manageable steps.
   • Failing to set aside time for revisions before tests.
   • Constantly feeling rushed due to poor planning.
2. Attention & Focus:
   • Easily distracted by external stimuli, such as noises or movement.
   • Missing key details in written instructions or readings.
   • Difficulty in maintaining focus during lectures or lengthy explanations.
   • Zoning out during group discussions or collaborative activities.
   • Forgetting the main goal or objective of a task.
3. Impulse Control:
   • Making hasty decisions without fully processing information.
   • Inappropriately calling out or acting without considering classroom etiquette.
   • Difficulty in resisting the urge to touch things.
   • Actively seeking stimulation, sometimes in disruptive ways.
   • Making impromptu decisions without considering long-term implications.
4. Organization:
   • Turning in assignments with missing pages or sections.
   • Struggling to create a structured study plan.
   • Frequently misplacing or forgetting to bring essential school supplies.
   • Having a disorganized backpack or desk.
   • Overlooking assignment due dates, leading to last-minute rushes.
5. Memory:
   • Forgetting instructions shortly after they’re given.
   • Struggling to retain key facts or concepts from previous lessons.
   • Misplacing belongings or forgetting where items are stored.
   • Failing to remember homework assignments or test dates.
   • Drawing a blank on familiar information during tests.
6. Social Skills:
   • Struggling to wait for their turn in group discussions.
   • Misinterpreting peers’ intentions or overreacting to comments.
   • Having difficulty in recognizing when they’re dominating a conversation.
   • Struggling with understanding the concept of personal space.
   • Failing to catch non-verbal cues in social interactions.
7. Task Initiation:
   • Feeling overwhelmed when presented with multi-part tasks.
   • Constantly deferring starting assignments, even when they’re crucial.
   • Needing repeated prompts to begin a task.
   • Avoiding or delaying tasks perceived as challenging.
   • Struggling to determine the first step in complex assignments.
8. Flexibility:
   • Becoming upset or agitated when routines are changed.
   • Difficulty in adjusting to new methods or techniques introduced in class.
   • Struggling when faced with unexpected events, like pop quizzes.
   • Reluctance to move on from a favored activity.
   • Difficulty in adapting to different teaching styles.
9. Self-regulation:
   • Becoming quickly frustrated with challenging tasks.
   • Having outbursts or emotional reactions disproportionate to the situation.
   • Difficulty in assessing the quality or accuracy of their work.
   • Struggling to self-motivate or maintain enthusiasm for tasks.
   • Easily influenced by immediate rewards over long-term benefits.
10. Motor Skills & Coordination:

• Having illegible handwriting or difficulty with writing tools.
• Struggling with tasks requiring precision, like cutting or drawing.
• Frequently dropping or mishandling objects.
• Difficulty in coordinating movements in sports or physical activities.
• Bumping into objects or people more often than peers.

11. Listening Skills:

• Frequently needing instructions to be repeated.
• Getting lost during multi-step oral directions.
• Daydreaming during verbal presentations or discussions.
• Missing out on nuances or key details in oral stories or explanations.
• Struggling to retain verbally presented information for later recall.

ADHD Accommodations Checklist – Examples of Accommodations for Students with Attention Deficit Disorder

Whether students receive special education support or perhaps they have a 504 plan, appropriate accommodations should be individualized for each student.  Data should be collected to determine if additional accommodations are necessary to help meet the student’s needs to access the educational material.

Time Management:

☐ Provide a visual planner or task organizer.
☐ Use a time-tracking tool or introduce time estimation exercises.
☐ Offer project breakdown templates.

☐ Provide extended time for tests or assignments.
☐ Set reminders or schedule regular review sessions.
☐ Teach time management strategies like the Pomodoro Technique.

---

Attention & Focus:

☐ Provide noise-canceling headphones or a distraction-free study zone.
☐ Offer both written and oral instructions; highlight essential parts.
☐ Use engaging teaching methods, including visuals, and break lectures into shorter chunks.

☐ Provide preferential seating.

​☐ Provide a quiet room free of distractions during testing.
☐ Incorporate active participation roles or collaborative tools that require input.
☐ Provide visual reminders or goal-setting worksheets.

---

Impulse Control:

☐ Teach decision-making strategies or encourage a “pause and think” approach.
☐ Implement clear classroom rules with visual or auditory reminders.
☐ Provide fidget tools or sensory objects to channel impulses.
☐ Introduce structured breaks with stimulating activities.
☐ Role-play scenarios to discuss the consequences of impulsive decisions.

---

Organization:

☐ Provide assignment checklists or organizers.
☐ Assist in setting up a dedicated study space or routine.
☐ Use labeled containers or sections for supplies and documents.
☐ Implement a regular desk/backpack cleanup routine.
☐ Use digital platforms with automatic reminders for due dates.

---

Memory:

☐ Offer mnemonic devices or memory training techniques.
☐ Reiterate key concepts at the start and end of lessons.
☐ Provide a designated space for belongings with labels.
☐ Use planners or assistive technology like digital reminders for assignments and test dates.
☐ Offer periodic review sessions or flashcards for key concepts.

---

Social Skills:

☐ Teach active listening and conversation participation techniques.
☐ Role-play social situations to build understanding.
☐ Provide cues or reminders about conversational balance.
☐ Discuss the concept of personal space and practice with scenarios.
☐ Use visual cues or charts for recognizing non-verbal communication.

---

Task Initiation:

☐ Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps with clear instructions.
☐ Set early, mini-deadlines for parts of larger projects.
☐ Use visual or auditory cues to signal task initiation.
☐ Offer encouragement or reward systems for starting tasks.
☐ Provide clear guidelines or examples for complex assignments.

---

Flexibility:

☐ Gradually introduce changes with clear communication.
☐ Provide coping strategies for unexpected events.
☐ Offer alternative methods or tools as backup.
☐ Set clear expectations about transitions between activities.
☐ Foster an inclusive classroom environment that respects various learning styles.

---

Self-regulation:

☐ Offer strategies for self-assessment and reflection.
☐ Provide a “cool-down” space or techniques for emotional regulation.
☐ Teach the importance of long-term goals over instant gratification.
☐ Use visual or auditory feedback tools for task quality.
☐ Encourage regular self-set breaks during lengthy tasks.

---

Motor Skills & Coordination:

☐ Offer alternative writing tools or adaptive equipment.
☐ Provide templates or guides for precision tasks.
☐ Create a space for gross motor activities and movement.
☐ Incorporate physical exercises that build coordination.
☐ Provide tools for pencil grip.

---

Listening Skills:

☐ Provide written copies of oral instructions or summaries.
☐ Use visuals or demonstrations alongside verbal explanations.
☐ Offer short, interactive breaks during lengthy verbal presentations.
☐ Encourage note-taking or offer pre-made notes for key details.
☐ Use repetitive and reinforcing techniques for crucial information.

ADHD & The Bigger Picture

It’s worth noting that while the above ADHD accommodations checklist is comprehensive, it doesn’t replace the value of an individualized approach. Each student with ADHD is unique, and their accommodations should be tailored to their specific needs. A 504 accommodation for ADHD will differ from another, and educators should be aware of the distinctions.

Moreover, setting ADHD goals and objectives and utilizing resources such as the printable ADHD daily planner template can further enhance the support provided to these students.

Students with ADHD, just like their peers, possess immense potential. With the right accommodations, guidance from professionals like the general education teacher, and support from the U.S. Department of Education, their journey through high school and higher education can be made smoother. Remember, it’s not about changing the learning goal but altering the means to achieve it.

Bridging the ADHD Gap

Navigating the world with ADHD symptoms isn’t restricted to just the classroom. Classroom accommodations play a pivotal role, but it’s essential to remember that the challenges faced by individuals with ADHD extend to workplace accommodations as well. It’s through the collective efforts of the following professionals – educators, therapists, counselors, and more – that a comprehensive individualized education plan can be crafted. This plan not only supports students within the educational framework but also paves the way for future success in their adult lives and workplaces. By recognizing and addressing ADHD’s challenges head-on, we can create a supportive environment where every individual thrives.