Edge Foundation Blog

If you are a regular reader of the Edge blog, you already know that the ADHD can cause all types of challenges that get in the way of a student reaching his or her full potential. The root of many of these challenges lies in the way the executive functions of the brain work. Executive functions are the part of the brain that helps with:

• Scheduling
• Goal Setting
• Organizing
• Focusing
• Prioritizing
• Sticking with it when it gets tough

That all sounds pretty important, doesn’t it? It’s no wonder that this week in Seattle Times interview by reporter Jerry Large, developmental molecular biologist John Medina said:

“The single greatest predictor of academic success is executive function. It even trumps IQ.”

The single greatest predictor of academic success.  Wow. Did that give you pause? Are you feeling a little worried?

ADHD and Executive Function Challenges

The way ADHD affects the executive functions of the brain can be one of the most challenging parts of living with it. But before you head down a dark hallway, we want to look at this from a different angle.
Yes, executive functions are important. And, yes, people living with ADHD have struggles that others don’t have because of impaired executive functions. BUT, that does not mean that people with ADHD cannot be extremely successfully in school and in life. Why?

First off, if you are reading this blog, you already know you have ADHD. That’s a huge advantage. You can take that knowledge and put in place supports to shore up your executive function weaknesses.

ADHD is not a one-size-fits-all disability. ADHD manifests differently in each person. (Thus the alphabet soup of ADD, ADHD, AD/HD to all name the same condition.) Even those with severe ADHD usually have some activities where their executive functions work very well.   It is critical to keep in mind that each person has their own, unique set of strengths and weaknesses. The key is to be introspective and understand yourself — know your strengths, your challenges, your passions, your aversions.

An ADHD Coach plays to your strengths. An ADHD coach is a way to help you give you perspective on your strenthgs and help you learn life-long skills which will allow you to compensate for your weaknesses.

ADHD Coaching for ADHD Success

Sure, the greatest predictor of academic success is executive function. But it isn’t the only thing that you need to succeed.

• Awareness that you have ADHD and acknowledging it has special challenges
• Willingness to ask for help
• Seeking out the right resource
• And finding the outside experts to help you develop a plan that works for you.

These are all important too.

Find your edge

An Edge Coach understands how to work with ADHD. They have met the rigorous standards set by the Edge Foundation and are trained to working with students and young adults with ADHD. They know how to help you discover your many strengths and talents – hidden and known – and bring them into the forefront. They are passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of students and young adults with ADHD. And most of all, they are ready to help you.

What are you waiting for?

For more information:

• John Medina, Brain Rules
• Scholarly article on ADHD and executive function:   http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.120.5164&rep=rep1&type=pdf
• Free ADHD & College Survival Guide
• Sign up for an Edge Coach

Editor’s Note:  This answer to month’s Ask the Coach question was provided by Candace Taylor and Edge Executive Director, Robert Tudisco.

Dear Coach,
Why should I hire a coach when everyone says I need a tutor?

Signed,
Ready For Help

Dear Ready,
Candace Taylor, Edge Coach responds: Hmmm. Truthfully, perhaps not the right question to ask? I’d suggest that you don’t look at it as an either/or proposition. It is not unusual for a student to have both a coach and a tutor – just like you might also have a personal trainer or therapist.

Coaches aren’t competing with other professionals for a spot on your support team, we’re collaborating with them. Whether or not a coach is the best investment depends entirely on the you and what you’re seeking to accomplish.
There are times when a tutor may be a better, and often cheaper choice. There are times when both are a good idea. If finances dictate that there is only room for one professional, then the one that can address the student’s greatest needs should get the job.

Sometimes you bring on people to help you sequentially. For example, a student who is hitting the wall for the first time in college and suspects they have ADHD should start with a medical practitioner for a diagnosis and treatment plan. When things have settled down a bit they might add in an academic counselor to look into academic accommodations and allowed modifications. A tutor can then be added to learn how to write a proper lab report or tackle tricky Calculus problems.   Next comes a coach to put it all together:

• how to schedule your study time in a way that allows those tutored assignments to actually land on the prof’s desk on time,

• how to set up a reminder system that works for you to get to the appointments for the rest of the support team professionals,

• how to self advocate effectively for accommodations that some of your teachers may be reluctant to grant,

• even how to get the most out of time spent with your other helping professionals who may not “get” ADHD.

Robert Tudisco: I’d add that in my legal practice, I see far too many students who are struggling with ADHD get “treated” by hiring a tutor. It is also my experience that the majority of these students are extremely bright. Many of them do not need tutors in specific subjects, instead they need help learning the executive skills needed to translate their outstanding intelligence into outstanding grades. For example:

• Remembering which notebook to bring home
• Developing study skills and habits that take into consideration how they process information
• Empowering themselves to work toward their strengths and navigate around their weaknesses.

These skills reach across all subjects and are not the specialty of an academic tutor. The skill set of an Edge Coach is highly specialized in all of these administrative deficits which span all subjects.

To learn more about how an ADHD coach can help you succeed in college, check out our free ADHD & College whitepaper.

We’d love to hear from you.  Do you agree that tutors don’t provide ADHD students with executive skills training?   Do you have more than one helping professional? What has worked for you?  Please comment below!

Do you know a high school student who is struggling?

Living with ADHD can be frustrating – for the students that have it and the adults who care about them. While every high school student is learning important skills that will help them be successful in school and life, the ADHD student has to work much harder to learn these same skills.

The added challenge of high school is that students are also moving away from accepting help from their parents, and may be embarrassed to let others know they are struggling with basic skills such as studying, remembering things or keeping track of time. Many times they mask these struggles with “poor attitude.” Added to the challenge are adults who see these behaviors as a failing of character–just not caring or just not trying hard enough–when there are actually fundamental neurological issues contributing to the problems.

Help is here!

At the Edge Foundation, we believe that coaching can mean the difference between success and failure for high school students with ADHD. An ADHD coach works with the student to help make the most of his or her strengths and overcome the challenges. An Edge Coach is not a doctor or teacher but rather a skilled specialist who works with your student to help your student learn and practice important skills that will last a lifetime. A coach gets to know each student’s individual strengths and finds ways to help your student succeed academically, socially, and in all areas of life.

After your student is matched with an Edge Coach, they set up weekly sessions to talk about how school and personal life is going. The coach helps the student find strategies to stay organized, utilize time well, and stay on track in class. The coach can help remind the student to make good choices and take care of him or herself emotionally and physically. ADHD coaches can also help students improve relationships with friends, peers, teachers, and family members.

The end result is a student who has increased capabilities, confidence and sense of self!

Sign up today!

Why not sign up today to get more information?  It doesn’t cost anything to check it out.

For students under 18 years of age, parents will participate in all phases of the application process. For students 18 years and older, it is expected that the student take the initiative for selecting his or her own coach and that the parents take a supportive but secondary role.

If you know a student who is struggling, an ADHD coach can make all the difference in the world. Pass the word. ADHD doesn’t have to be a disability that holds you back from living a fully accomplished and successful life.

Every week we post stories, information and tips about living with ADHD.  Most of them also talk about how an ADHD coach can help you acheive your full potential.  We thought this week that perhaps hearing from two students who have benefitted from having an ADHD coach might give you a different perspective on how an ADHD coach can really work.

The first student talks about how a coach helped him set an keep his goals.

audio interview 1

The second student shares how a coach helped her change the whole way she viewed herself.  She went from feeling like she was always a day late and a dollar short to a view of herself as a successful, competent person.

audio interview 2

We hope that after you hear these stories, you’ll feel inspired to sign up to talk to an Edge coach.  There’s no obligation.  But why not take the first step to finding out more today?  All you have to lose is your old self image.

One of the things that many ADHD publications advise at this time of year is to start the year off by letting your professors or teachers know about your 504 accommodations. Accommodations are alterations made in the classroom that students with a disability have the right to receive via a 504 plan.  Preferential seating and taking tests in smaller groups are often on the recommended accommodation list for ADHD students.

Getting accommodations can be helpful, but they don’t address the real issues of ADHD.  Let’s step back a minute and look at what makes a student successful.  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.

These qualities, which are also known as your brain’s executive functions, are actually the hallmarks of ADHD. Students with ADHD can’t depend on these skills because these are exactly the skills they are weakest in.  Getting more time on your tests isn’t going to help you with getting organized. And preferential seating won’t solve impulsivity or time management.

For most with ADHD the problem is not so much in knowing what to do, but in getting it done.  If you have ADHD and are reading this, it’s likely that you’ve already tried countless organizational systems, have been nagged-to-death by caring, but overprotective parents, and feel frustrated with yourself because you know what to do, you just can’t seem to follow through.

ADHD coaching works with your strengths to accommodate your weaknesses

There is growing evidence, both research and anecdotal, that coaching helps students learn to plan, prioritize, and persist (i.e. follow the plan). It helps students develop self determination and self confidence and reduces anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. Through being coached, students learn how to coach themselves, and actually strengthen their executive functioning skills – something that no other intervention does.

It’s not too late to get started with an Edge coach. Because many coaches work on the phone, you can “take your coach with you” wherever you go. Starting early in the school year is smart because it is surprisingly easy for students with ADHD to fall behind without even realizing it. Failing classes is a big waste of money and not a good way to start your college career.

Want to learn more?  Sign up to speak to an Edge coach today and see if you don’t find you are more on top of things than you ever dreamed possible.

Last month I attended my first Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) annual conference. AHEAD is a vital professional association for those who provide services to disabled college and graduate students.

Personal Coaching for post-secondary students highlighted at AHEAD

This was the first AHEAD conference in which personal coaching for post-secondary students was highlighted. They had an all day preconference institute from some of the best-known coaches in post-secondary education, including Theresa Maitland from UNC-Chapel Hill and Karen Boutelle from Landmark College (both are CTI-trained).  Organizers and presenters alike were thrilled at how well attended the institute was.

The afternoon session was Basic Coaching Skills For Non-Coaches: Supporting Students in Managing Executive Function Challenges given by Karen Boutelle. I got to attend some of this session, and I was excited by her take on coaching to executive functioning rather than to ADHD specifically. Karen was brilliant and I heard participants talking about her presentation for the rest of the conference.

Research reports show coaching effective with ADHD students

The morning presentation comprised three sessions on the effects of coaching for ADHD/LD students. These sessions were:

• A National Study on ADD Coaching: Promoting Autonomy, Widening Campus Access by David Parker at Washington University in St. Louis and Sharon Parker at Wayne State University,
• Coaching: A Tool to Promote Successful College Transition for Students with LD/ADHD by Theresa Maitland and Kristen Rademacher, both at UNC-Chapel Hill, and
• Research Findings: The Positive Impact of Coaching on College Students with ADHD/LD by Karen Boutelle at Landmark College and David Parker at Washington University in St. Louis.

The exciting thing to me is that these were all research presentations and all spoke to how coaching helped those who experience chronic difficulties with time management, organization, and dealing with stress. It was particularly striking how all three studies showed that coaching supported the student’s emerging autonomy, helped them self-regulate, and promoted confidence about their future success.

This is nothing new to us in the ADHD coaching profession, but to have three research studies on coaching presented at one conference is a big deal. The results from the third study have already been accepted for publication. You can look for them in the November issue of Learning Disabilities Research & Practice. The results from the first study will be available informally from the Edge Foundation in mid October.

Dear coach,
What is an Edge coach?
Signed,
Wondering in Wisconsin

Dear Wondering,

The simplest answer is that an Edge Coach is a coach who works for the Edge Foundation. But that doesn’t tell you much, does it? More specifically, we ensure all of our coaches meet strict standards of life coach training and experience before they even take our specialized training to work with ADD/ADHD youth. In addition, all our coaches participate in mentoring by senior coaches as they settle into working with Edge Foundation clients.

We are proud  we have some of the best known and most experienced coaches in the business.  All of our coaches bring amazing life experience to their coaching and have a passion for working with young people who might have ADD/ADHD. Many of them have ADHD themselves, or love someone who does, or both,  so they really get it.

We take the guess work out of finding a good coach (because we ensure that all of our coaches are good), and we help you find one you really click with.

Do you have a question for the coach?  Send it to info@edgefoundation.org.  We’ve love to hear from you.

Edge Foundation is pleased to announce it has joined with Global Scholar to provide coaching services for their clients.  Global Scholars is one of the web’s leading online tutoring businesses. Edge Foundation’s ADHD coaching support is now being offered on Global Scholar’s College Finder and School Finder resource pages.

Students with ADHD often need more than tutoring help to stay on track with their goals. Many times ADHD students struggle not with learning, but instead with managing time, staying organized and persisting in completing assignments.  Life coaching can actually boost graduation rates for high school students.  So we are excited by this partnership which will help more ADHD students find the resources they need to be successful in school.

It’s not too late to sign up for the 2009 ADHD Family Summit. And now is a good time to do it because this Wednesday, June 17, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern (8:00 Central, 7:00 Mountain, and 6:00 Pacific) Edge Foundation Executive Director, Sarah Wright, will be talking about how coaching can help your ADHD teen be successful in school, at home and in life.  Did we mention that it’s FREE?

The ADHD Family Summit is organized by Rory Stern, a passionate advocate in the ADHD community. The teleseminars will be held throughout June on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 9:00 pm Eastern, and include access to a 24-hour replay line for people who aren’t able to listen in live.

Sign up today!

Edge has set up an audio feedback line so you can tell us how we are doing.

Just call (214) 615-6505, enter extension 2908, and start talking. We are currently seeking stories to post on the Edge Foundation website. So if you have a story about how Edge or an Edge coach has helped you, please give us a call. Please understand that when you leave a message on the line, you are giving us permission to quote you. However, it’s just your voice on the line, and your name will not be attributed to your recording. Thanks for sharing your stories with Edge.