The St. Anthony School and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

What is ADHD, and how does it affect students?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a child’s attention span, impulse control, or causes him to be overly active. The three types of ADHD are Inattentive Type, Hyperactive-Impulsive Type, and Combination Type. A student with ADHD may be experiencing difficulty at school because he or she has trouble staying focused during lectures or instructions, does not pay close attention to detail, has trouble with executive functioning skills, or fidgets or moves excessively.

The St. Anthony School Approach to ADHD

The St. Anthony School provides a specially designed program in order to support students with ADHD. Staff members at The St. Anthony School are trained professionals in working with students with ADHD, and they understand that a student’s emotional well-being must be in place before learning can occur. Each classroom was developed to encourage low sensory stimulation, and there are multiple sensory rooms and monitored common areas where students can choose to spend their time. The St. Anthony School uses selective diagnostics to determine appropriate academic placement for each student on campus. When students are in a safe and appropriate academic environment, their potential for growth is unlimited.

Academic and Emotional Accommodations and Modifications

Students with ADHD at The St. Anthony School are offered many accommodations in order to create a learning environment tailored to their specific needs.  These accommodations are built into daily routines so as to not single out any one student. Teachers and staff members encourage independence and responsibility through each activity of the day in order to develop executive functioning skills in a safe environment. Students are encouraged to self-advocate and take a break when they begin feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or too energetic. Teachers at The St. Anthony School understand the symptoms of ADHD and are sensitive to the student’s needs. Shortened or chunked assignments, specific deadlines for parts of a project, copies of class notes, and extended time are all accommodations given to students with ADHD at The St. Anthony School. 

Modifications alter the curriculum given to a student. If a student is suffering from symptoms of ADHD, he or she may not be performing to his or her highest potential. The St. Anthony School staff are trained to see the difference between a learning disability and ADHD. A student with ADHD may start with a modified curriculum until they are comfortable in the setting, then he or she will be placed in the appropriate academic class for his or her abilities.

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