Classroom accommodations for ADHD

Kids with ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) can have trouble with attention and self-regulation at school. They might be distracted during lessons or have trouble sitting still. Some students may have a hard time following directions, especially multi-step ones. Or they may need support keeping their materials organized so they can find them later. These challenges can make learning harder. But accommodations can help.

Accommodations remove barriers to learning for students. They can be tweaks to the environment, like adding wiggle chairs or quiet spaces. Or supports like directions in multiple formats or visual references. They’re typically included in a student’s IEP or 504 plan, if they have one. But teachers can also provide informal accommodations. 

Accommodations for ADHD don’t lower expectations. They help level the playing field so that students can access the curriculum and thrive in school.

Here are some common accommodations teachers can use to help students with ADHD. Parents and caregivers can also use some of these strategies. They can help with things like homework, completing tasks, transitioning between activities, and following schedules at home. 

Students spend most of their school day in a classroom. But classrooms can be distracting spaces for kids who have trouble with focus. For example, kids with ADHD may have a hard time sitting still. Seating that allows movementopens in a new tab can help them feel more comfortable and ready to learn. 

These ADHD accommodations can help make the classroom a place where students can focus: 

• Use flexible seating, like wiggle chairs, standing desks, footrests, seat cushions, or resistance bands on chair legs.

• Make more space between students’ desks or work tables.

• Set up a quiet area for work. 

• Have seating options near the teacher and/or away from high-traffic areas.

• Post a written schedule for daily routines and rules. When possible, let the student know ahead of time about schedule changes. 

At home, similar strategies can help kids focus on their homework. Families can work with kids to figure out the seating and spaces that work best. Written schedules for routines can help, too. 

People with ADHD can have challenges with executive function. This is a group of mental skills that help with paying attention, planning, and getting organized. For students with ADHD, it’s important to explicitly teach and provide support for organizational skillsopens in a new tab like note-taking and assignment tracking. 

Teachers can use these accommodations to help build these skills:

• Use an assignment notebook or a digital calendar.

• Provide an extra set of books to keep at home.

• Keep desks organized with folders and baskets for supplies.

• Color-code materials for each subject.

• Provide typed notes or an outline of the lesson to help with taking notes.

• Teach note-taking strategies, like using graphic organizers and mind-mapping software.

• Use assistive tech tools for note-taking, like speech-to-text or transcription tools. 

• Have a buddy take notes for the student.

Families can try some of these same strategies to help with homework, like showing kids how to use simple organizational supplies. Or using color-coding. Shared calendar apps can also help kids know what’s happening when, and what tasks they may need to get done. 

Everyone processes information differently. But people with ADHD often have trouble with working memory,opens in a new tab which makes it even harder to remember and follow multi-step instructions. Breaking up directions into smaller chunks and using multiple formats can help with working memory.

Teachers can use these accommodations when giving instructions in class:

• Give directions out loud and in writing, and have the student repeat them.

• Provide a lesson outline that details instructions and assignments.

• Keep instructions simple, clear, and concrete.

• Use pictures and graphs to create visual interest.

• Provide a rubric that describes the elements of a successful assignment.

• Help the student break long assignments into smaller chunks.

These strategies can help at home, too. Families can work with kids to break down tasks into manageable parts. Keeping directions simple and clear — whether for chores or for homework — can also help. 

For kids with ADHD, completing tests and assignments can be a challenge. Following multiple directions, staying focused for long durations, and managing time can be tough.

These accommodations can help kids with ADHD complete their schoolwork:

• Allow different ways for students to show understanding, like oral reports, posters, and video presentations.

• Provide different ways to respond to test questions, like saying the answers or circling them.

• Minimize the number of questions and problems per worksheet.

• Use frequent short quizzes, rather than one long test at the end of each unit.

• Allow kids to take a break during longer assignments. 

• Give credit for work done instead of taking away points for late or partial assignments (with a plan for moving toward completing assignments).

• Grade for content, not for neatness.

• Give extra time and a quieter space for work and tests.

• Use visual timers to help with time management. 

At home, families can use breaks to relieve frustration during long periods of homework — or even during chores. Using timers can help kids learn to self-manage breaks and time spent on tasks.

Kids with ADHD are more likely to struggle with emotional regulation.opens in a new tab And that can impact classroom behavior. Positive behavior strategiesopens in a new tab can help students feel safe, valued, and ready to learn. Specific accommodations for students can help, too. 

These accommodations can help students with ADHD stay regulated during school:

• Use a behavior plan with a reward system. Make sure the feedback and incentives are personal and private. 

• Use a nonverbal signal to get the student’s attention and indicate the need for things like taking a brain break. The signal could be a sticky note on the desk or a movement understood only by the student and the teacher.

• Talk through behavior problems one-on-one. 

• Offer a self-regulation tool, like a fidget or sensory object.

• Check in frequently to monitor the student’s “emotional temperature” or frustration level. 

Teachers and families can talk with each other about what works best for the student. Families may know of a favorite sensory tool or type of break that helps. Using the same strategies at school and at home can be comforting for kids. 

Accommodations can and should be tailored to each student’s unique needs. But this list of common ADHD accommodations can help teachers and families get started. 

Teachers can print the list and keep it handy for lesson planning and classroom management. 

Families can use the list to get ideas to ask about at the next IEP, 504 plan, or parent-teacher meeting.