18 Nov Tools and Resources for ADHD Students in Graduate Programs
Brooklyn Letters
1139 Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn
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We would highly recommend Ally! Our son always asks about her, so very thankful to Brooklyn Letters for introducing us.
~ Emily, mom of Brooklyn 2 year old -
Nicole has been an amazing therapist!! She played a tremendous role in our daughter’s speech progress and overall development. She has come such a long way and we are so happy with the therapy she received!
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I cannot express how grateful and rewarding my experience with Brooklyn Letters has been. Her tutor Ms. Daria is so knowledgeable, amazing, kind and awesome. My daughter has made so much progress in Literacy and Math and it's all … More thanks to Ms. Daria. I know my daughter is sad that she can no longer work with Ms. Daria, as she looked forward to their sessions every week. Thank you again!
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Excellent services, caring therapists.
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Christina was absolutely wonderful. She went out of her way to win my son over and it worked. He looked forward to her visits and his speech improved so much under her care. She was super flexible and it’s clear she truly cares. We adore … More Christina and we’re going to miss her. Almost sad he improved so much! She’s simply amazing and we can’t say enough how great she is. I would recommend her services to anyone and everyone, without hesitation. Thank you so much for connecting us with her!
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We could not be happier with the services Valerie provided! She is very thoughtful and knowledgeable and provided significant guidance to support our daughter's speech development outside of our scheduled sessions. She established … More a great working relationship with her, and she will definitely be missed! Your business model is amazing and it was an absolute pleasure working with Valerie. I've referred your organization and Valerie to the Executive Director of our daughter's school and friends/colleagues who are in need of speech therapy services.
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We cannot say enough good things about Effie, the ASL teacher, who was so engaged and effective with our 2 year old daughter from the very first session! Effie gladly included our whole family in the sessions! Her expertise and fantastic … More personality gave our daughter a way to communicate that she was so desperately seeking. The coordinators at Brooklyn Letters were so helpful and communicative…I would highly recommend their services!
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Ron and Ken are great guys to work with.
Both were very knowledgeable and got our system back up and running.
Thanks to both for a job well done... -
Samantha Dalmas was fantastic! We saw her for a feeding therapy evaluation and while she doesn’t think my daughter needs more feeding therapy sessions at this time, but she gave me lots of tips to try. If my daughter's doctors want … More to see more progress at her next appointment, I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to Samantha again.
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Amazing assistance provided by Shannon today on my security system. I’m so grateful for your prompt, efficient, professional, and courteous service. Put me down as a customer for life!
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One of the most painless experiences I've had. They came on time and was over the moon professional with still keeping a level of personability to it. The gentleman also went out of his way to say that my husband and Mines business … More was appreciated. Which is actually rare to be appreciated by such a great company. So thank you and we look forward to continuing services with this company.
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I am so happy we decided to go with cornerstone. They were quick and efficient. Shannon and the installer we very friendly. We got a lot of equipment and it was still within our budget. 10/10 would definitely recommend! Thank you
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Kanu Patel -
We had a very positive experience with Alissa as a tutor for our pod of 5th grade boys from January - June 2020. She cared a lot about the boys and worked hard to create meaningful activities for them. The pod experience was invaluable … More for all of our families during a difficult year and we were so grateful to have found this partnership! We also want to appreciate Craig for helping to match us with a tutor on very short notice after we had cycled through a few folks who were not able to see the commitment through. Thanks for sticking with us!
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Dusty was the exact person we needed to help our child finish out the school year. So grateful to him for the way he steadily encouraged her and helped her stay on track and organized. He is flexible, responsive to our needs/schedule as … More a family, and a delight to be with. We are also thankful that Craig at Themba Tutors really "gets it" and partnered us with such a wonderful tutor who was a great fit for our girl.
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My child worked with Gillian D virtually for math enrichment. She is an excellent teacher. She took time to understand my child's specific learning style and provided tools that would be engaging. She was kind and empathetic- really … More made it her goal to connect with my child and build trust and rapport. My child started the school year with confidence and without the typically "brain-drain" that occurs over the summer, thanks to Gillian.
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I am going into my second year as a Themba tutor. I have met so many great individuals while working for this company. Craig and the rest of the Themba team do such an excellent job picking and choosing Themba tutors that suit each client's … More individual needs! I look forward to meeting new tutors and clients in the 2021-2022 school year!
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Our son started in a new high school, 100% remote, and was really struggling with Latin and Physics. I found Themba Tudors online and had an initial call with Craig, who was very knowledgeable, responsive, and found 2 amazing tutors for … More us. Both the Latin and the physics tutors were fantastic, connected with my son really well and helped him go from 'failing' grade to 'honors'! I will for sure continue using (and recommending!) Themba Tutors. Thank you, C, K, and W!
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Brian is a fantastic executive functioning coach. Super helpful, flexible with hours, and tailored the experience to our needs.
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Giulia Mercuri is a great Italian tutor! She was very responsive and accessible. Giulia put a ton of effort into preparing for each session and really helped our son with test preparation and projects. We are grateful that she was able … More to help, especially since our son did not receive any live teaching during COVID. We are happy that she was referred to us!
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As an adult student diagnosed with a learning disability during grad school, I knew I needed help dealing with my Master's program's demanding workload. I was seriously considering dropping out when I was referred to Themba Tutors. … More I was paired up with a wonderful tutor, Julie, who was a total lifesaver. I learned many techniques that I can utilize in the future as I embark on the next phase of my career.
I can wholeheartedly say after working with Themba for two years that I would not have finished my program without this organization. And I am so thankful I selected them. -
We were introduced to a wonderful tutor: Mcedwyn. He and our son, a freshman in college, worked well together. As a result, our son’s grades significantly improved. The tutor taught our son subject content and various methods to effectively … More study for quizzes and exams. Our son was also taught time management and organization. My son’s experience with the tutor made the first year of college a less intimidating experience.
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We have been with our tutor, Cailin Schiller, for two years, from 5th - 7th grade. She started as an executive functioning tutor with my daughter. From the start, she demonstrated a depth of expertise and a selective use of techniques skillfully … More adapted to my daughter’s ADHD and Math disability. Cailin made Math accessible and understandable to her in a way that even her teachers had not been able to do. She differentiated reading, writing and math tasks and assignments to tailor them to my daughter’s unique learning differences. Not only did it have an effect on her grades and her work efficiency, but she finally could do her work with less anxiety. Even my daughter’s teachers used Cailin’s guidance to modify their work with her. But most importantly, she became my daughter’s favorite resource. I can’t say how invaluable Cailin has been to my daughter’s progress and well-being. I’d recommend her a million times over. She is a gem.
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Victoria is a superb tutor. She helped my high school age daughter with her writing. Victoria's skills as a tutor, as well as her sense of humor and her engaging personality went a long way with my daughter.
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Themba Tutors provided a leaning specialist that was a perfect fit for my daughter. I told them what we were looking for and they delivered. Our tutor is responsive and flexible and makes it easy for my daughter to reach out to her own … More her own, which gives her an added sense of responsibility over her learning. As a therapist myself, I now regularly recommend Themba to my patients. A much needed and well provided service to the community!!
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The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
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I'm so glad we were referred to Themba Tutors. After a great initial conversation to learn our needs, we were connected with an excellent tutor, Felicia, who is helping our high school daughter learn better organizational and executive … More skills. Highly recommended.
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We had a wonderful experience with our tutor Micaela. She helped our son not only academically but at every level. We will be forever grateful to have her in our lives.
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The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
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Paul Smith at Themba has been an exceptional tutor for my son, both in terms of teaching the subject matter and teaching how best to approach the process of learning math and executing assignments. We feel very fortunate to be working with … More Paul.
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We were very lucky to have found Edwouine Swift, my son's therapist through Themba Tutors. Thomas is 12 years old, and it is extremely difficult to get him to write. Edwouine just works her magic with him, he adores her and is so … More eager to follow her guidance. I have no doubt she will be a positive driving force in his academic future.
MAXIMIZING ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS:
Essential Tools and Resources for ADHD Students in Graduate Programs
ADHD Accommodations for Graduate Students: Tools, Strategies, and Support
Graduate school places heavy demands on planning, sustained attention, working memory, and independent learning. For students with ADHD, overlapping coursework, research deadlines, clinical placements, and licensing exams can make those demands especially difficult to manage.
The right combination of formal accommodations, practical tools, and consistent study systems can make graduate-level work more manageable without lowering academic standards. This guide explains common ADHD accommodations for graduate students, how to request them, and which organizational and study strategies may help.
Can Graduate Students Receive ADHD Accommodations?
Yes. Graduate students with ADHD may qualify for reasonable academic accommodations through their university’s disability or accessibility services office. Eligibility and available support depend on the institution, the student’s documentation, and the ways ADHD affects access to the program.
Accommodations are intended to provide equal access—not reduce essential academic or professional requirements. Because policies vary, students should contact their school’s accessibility office early and review the documentation process before classes or major exams begin.
Common Accommodations for Graduate Students With ADHD
Reasonable accommodations for ADHD may include:
- Extended time on exams
- A reduced-distraction testing environment
- Permission to record lectures when allowed
- Note-taking support or access to assistive technology
- Accessible or alternative-format course materials
- Priority registration
- Scheduled breaks during lengthy examinations
- Flexibility related to disability-based needs, when consistent with essential course requirements
Not every student will qualify for every accommodation. The most appropriate supports are based on functional needs rather than diagnosis alone.
Students may also have protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. A university’s disability services office can explain its application process, required documentation, and appeal procedures.
How to Request ADHD Accommodations in Graduate School
The process differs by institution, but students commonly need to:
- Contact the university’s disability or accessibility services office.
- Review the school’s documentation requirements and deadlines.
- Submit an application describing how ADHD affects academic access.
- Provide documentation from a qualified professional when required.
- Meet with an accessibility coordinator to discuss reasonable accommodations.
- Follow the school’s procedure for notifying instructors and arranging approved support.
Start as early as possible. Reviews can take time, and accommodations generally are not automatic or retroactive. Students preparing for professional licensing or board examinations should also check the testing organization’s separate requirements well before registration deadlines.
Organizational Tools for ADHD Graduate Students
Formal accommodations can improve access, but they do not automatically create a planning system. External tools can reduce the burden on working memory and make complex academic responsibilities easier to track.
Digital Calendars
Google Calendar, Outlook, and similar tools can support:
- Time blocking for classes, research, and study sessions
- Recurring reminders
- Color coding by course or responsibility
- Travel and transition time
- Interim deadlines before the official due date
A calendar works best when it shows when work will happen, not only when it is due.
Task Managers and Kanban Boards
Tools such as Todoist, Trello, Asana, and Notion can help students break dissertations, capstone projects, and research assignments into smaller actions. Instead of entering “write literature review,” a student might create separate tasks for gathering sources, annotating articles, outlining themes, drafting sections, and revising citations.
Keep the system simple enough to review daily. Too many labels, boards, or competing apps can become another source of distraction.
Note-Taking and Research Tools
Digital notebooks such as OneNote, Notion, or Evernote can make lecture notes and research materials searchable. Citation managers can help organize sources, while approved audio-recording or transcription tools may help students revisit fast-paced lectures.
Students should confirm instructor and institutional policies before recording any class. These note-taking tools and tips offer additional ways to organize and review academic information.
Study Strategies for Graduate Students With ADHD
The most effective strategy is usually a repeatable system that fits the student’s workload and attention patterns. Useful approaches include:
Break Large Projects Into Weekly Milestones
Dissertations, research projects, and comprehensive-exam preparation become easier to initiate when they are divided into specific, visible steps. Work backward from the final deadline and assign smaller milestones to individual weeks.
Use Time Blocking
Reserve defined periods for reading, writing, administrative tasks, and recovery. Include realistic transition time and avoid filling every open hour. A sustainable schedule is more useful than an idealized one that cannot be maintained.
Try Timed Focus Sessions
The Pomodoro Technique uses focused work intervals followed by short breaks. The traditional format is 25 minutes of work and a 5-minute break, but graduate students can adjust the interval to the task and their attention span.
Use Active Learning
Retrieval practice, practice questions, teaching a concept aloud, and explaining ideas without notes can reveal gaps in understanding more effectively than repeatedly rereading material.
Create Visual Plans
Mind mapping can help organize literature reviews, presentations, and complex relationships among theories or research findings. Outlines, flowcharts, and concept maps can also make abstract work more concrete.
Build Accountability Into the Week
Regular check-ins with a professor, advisor, peer, tutor, or executive function coach can create external deadlines and make follow-through more consistent. Accountability is most useful when each check-in ends with a small number of clear next actions.
Additional Campus and Community Resources
Graduate students can also explore:
- Academic skills or learning centers
- Writing and research support
- Faculty advising and professional mentorship
- ADHD or neurodiversity peer groups
- Counseling and mental health services
- Workshops on time management for college students with ADHD
Different forms of support can work together. Accommodations improve access, academic systems support execution, and mental health services address emotional or clinical needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are reasonable accommodations for ADHD in graduate school?
Depending on the student’s needs and the institution’s policies, reasonable accommodations may include extended exam time, a reduced-distraction testing space, note-taking support, assistive technology, accessible materials, or scheduled breaks. Approval is individualized.
How do I get ADHD accommodations in graduate school?
Contact your university’s disability or accessibility services office, review its documentation requirements, and submit the requested application and supporting information. Begin early because the review process may take time.
Does an ADHD diagnosis automatically qualify me for accommodations?
Not necessarily. Schools generally evaluate how the condition affects access to academic activities and whether the requested accommodation is reasonable. Requirements vary by institution.
Can I receive extended deadlines for ADHD?
Possibly, but deadline flexibility is not guaranteed and may be limited by essential course, clinical, or accreditation requirements. Ask the accessibility office how your institution handles disability-related deadline requests.
Do university accommodations apply to licensing exams?
Usually not automatically. Professional licensing and board examinations often have their own application procedures, documentation standards, and deadlines. Review the testing organization’s rules well in advance.
What tools are helpful for graduate students with ADHD?
Digital calendars, task managers, searchable note-taking systems, citation managers, timers, and visual planning tools can all help. The best tool is one that the student can use consistently with minimal maintenance.
Can executive function coaching help graduate students with ADHD?
It may help students build personalized systems for planning, time management, task initiation, prioritization, and accountability. Coaching is not a substitute for disability accommodations, psychotherapy, or medical treatment.
Building a Sustainable Graduate-School System
Graduate students with ADHD can succeed in demanding programs by combining approved accommodations with realistic routines and external organizational systems. The goal is not to find one perfect productivity app. It is to build a sustainable approach that supports coursework, research, professional training, and long-term goals.
At Themba Tutors, we provide individualized academic tutoring and executive function support for graduate students who want stronger systems for planning, study efficiency, organization, and follow-through. Our work focuses on building transferable strategies—not simply completing assignments.
Students with ADHD who seek support early often have more time to test, refine, and maintain the systems that work best for them.
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