Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD)

What is Attention Deficit Disorder?
Attention Deficit Disorder is actually 2 related but different, disorders: Hyperactive (ADHD) and Inattentive (ADD) attention deficit disorders. It is possible to have both disorders at the same time.

• They are both neurobiological disorders, meaning that the brain is not functioning normally. This difference is usually genetically based.
  
  
• Behavior differences are the result of the unusual brain function. There is, in both, a basic difficulty in controlling attention and activity, rather than an attention deficit.
  
  
• Attention and behavior are therefore consistently inconsistent.
  
  
• A student with ADD may often have a difficult time with: concentrating on tasks for a sustained period of time, screening out unwanted stimuli (such as noise in a studio or classroom), organizing information, establishing and following schedule.

Services Available at MassArt:
Diagnosis:
The ADD Specialist, Julia Lev-Rosenfeld, at the Counseling Services Office is trained and experienced in diagnosing ADD. Diagnosis is based on: an extensive personal history obtained in interviews; a standardized questionnaire about behavior, the Attention Deficit Survey for Adults (ADSA), and sometimes, a brief interview with parents and/or partner (often by telephone).
ADD/ADHD Evaluation and Treatment Policy:
In order to make sure that everyone needing evaluation and/or treatment for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is able to be seen by the Counseling Services ADHD specialist, Julia Lev-Rosennfeld, the following limitations have been placed on the evaluation and treatment:

• Evaluation will take approximately three hours of appointments, either three 50-minute appointments or two 75-minute appointments.
  
  
• Treatment will be limited to six 50-minute appointments or twelve 25-minute appointments, or a combination thereof.
  
  
• If any client cannot keep an appointment with Ms. Lev-Rosenfeld, it is necessary to inform her at least 24 hours in advance at the Counseling Services number (617) 879-7760.
  
  
• If an appointment is not kept and no prior notification is made, ADHD services may be terminated for that client. This policy is necessary because of the high demand for a limited number of appointment times.
  
  
• An ADD Support and Coaching group is one way of working together around ADD.  Phone Julia Lev-Rosenfeld to see when this group is held. This changes from year to year, depending on students needs. This is held in the Student Development Conference Room, Kennedy 2nd floor. The group is open to all members of the MassArt Community

Academic Accomodations:
The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides protection from discrimination against individuals with disabilities; it extends to private and public institutions, businesses and services. The ADA defines "disability" as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. The law requires that reasonable accommodations be made for "otherwise qualified" disabled individuals so that they may participate in programs and activities.
ADD is a recognized disability under the ADA. This means that people diagnosed with ADD are legally entitled to reasonable accommodations or adjustments in their education, to help them learn as well as they possibly can. These accommodations might include extended time for test-taking, test-taking in a quiet room away from the class to avoid distractions, receiving assignments in written form, taping lectures, obtaining class notes from other students, extended deadlines for assignments. Accommodations are meant to reduce distractions and compensate for slower working/learning processes.
It may seem difficult to consider ADD a "disability" when so much positive energy and creativity can be associated with ADD. However, ADD can certainly make the planning, organizing and finishing of tasks very difficult and, therefore, limits many major life activities.

To obtain accommodations you must:

• Be diagnosed, either by a qualified professional of your choosing or by the Counseling Services ADD Specialist. Documentation of the disability, that is a report from the person who has diagnosed you, must be filed with Counseling Services, where it remains confidential and is seen only by the ADD specialist and/or the Director of Counseling.
  (It is possible to be diagnosed by Counseling Services and then to keep that information strictly to yourself if you chose. However you would not be able to receive accommodations).
  
  
• Fill out a confidential Voluntary Questionnaire for Students with Disabilities and submit it to the Director of Civil Rights Compliance and Diversity, Mercedes Evans (Tower, 8th floor).
  
  
• Meet with the Dean of Academic Advising, (Tower, 5th floor) to determine which academic accommodations would be helpful. The Dean will then send a letter to your teachers, listing these accommodations.

It is important to meet with your teachers near the start of each semester, to let them know how your ADD affects you and that, with accommodations, you expect to be able to fully complete the requirements of the course.