Five sentence summary Focusing for hours on end, especially when the topic is boring or repetitive, does not come easily to folks with ADHD. There are some steps you can take all own your own, like finding a note-taking buddy or recording the lecture (see my warnings!) and there are other steps you can take that require asking for an adjustment but not making any disability obvious, like asking for an outline of the talk in advance or asking for a break after 45 minutes. Our focus depends on a variety of factors, like hunger, ability to fidget, proximity to distractions, and it's worth thinking critically about how you focus. Identifying patterns can help us decide which tips and tricks will be most effective under which circumstances. Listening to someone talk for three hours, whether as an undergraduate student or as part of a workshop, can be daunting for those with ADHD. There are some things you can do to make focusing for extended periods of time easier, and some don't even require disclosing you have trouble focusing. Having a straight-forward, honest conversation about your needs is obviously ideal, but not every instructor, conference organizer, or speaker is disability-friendly. For one-time events, it's probably not worth your time to investigate whether or not the session leader is knowledgeable about accessibility or holds any ableist views. For longer workshop series or courses, disclosing your access needs might make more sense. I personally don't recommend saying "ADHD" at all because it's so misunderstood. That said, I do recommend, "My brain is a little different, I have a disability, etc." if you think it's safe. Steps you can take without talking to the prof or speaker:
***Recording lectures, talks, and etc. should be done with the utmost care and respect. In some cases, recording without someone's permission isn't even legal. There are often serious concerns about privacy, intellectual property, and so forth. Recordings should be used only for your own learning, should not be shared without permission, should be stored securely, and should be deleted when you have completed taking any notes. Even if you determine it is legal to record a talk without the person's permission, I advise seriously considering the potential implications and exercising extreme restraint and caution. It is better to ask for permission and explain you are recording due to a disability.
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AuthorThere's a reason theADHDAcademic is an anonymous account and there's a reason why this website will remain anonymous. That said, there are some basics it might be helpful to know about me: DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional or a lawyer of any kind. All text, graphics, and content on this website are for educational purposes only. Any and all content should not be substituted for medical or legal advice. Although I strive to provide the most accurate, current, and scientifically sound information, content should never be substituted for professional advice. Always consult a medical and/or legal professional before making any decisions. Links are provided only for reference and do not necessarily imply endorsement.
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