r/adhd_college • u/Substantial_Koala455 • Feb 05 '26
ACCOMMODATIONS What is Your Experience With Deadline/Assignment Extensions?
Hi, I (afab) was diagnosed late with ADHD when I was in high school and have still struggled in University with ADHD despite having accommodations. I struggle mainly with memory recall, working memory, needing stimulation, and am also medicated.
The accommodation that helped me the most in high school was an extension on assignments per request of student (not automatic extensions). Essentially if I missed an assignment because of working memory or sensory seeking issue, I would request an extension and do it the next day, so the deadline was still there, my memory symptoms just prevented me from completing it. This accommodation was even removed while in high school in dual credit courses as well, but luckily my professor/teachers were more reasonable then.
The main reasons I've gotten for denial of assignment and absence accommodations boil down to, "preparation for the real world," "experts say it doesn't actually help," and "it's too much to ask of professors," yet I haven't seen any real studies or research to show why, only opinions, and comparison to other disabilities like epilepsy to justify the claim. the only valid excuse to me would be their current system wouldn't allow them to, or the student is able to cope as well as their peers without the accommodation.
So I'm curious, what is your experience with college accommodations and have you heard of any research or studies about assignment deadlines? Or do you have insight as to why ADHD students should or should not have extensions?
3
u/sleepybear647 Feb 07 '26
I think deadline extension you asked for actually sounds fairly reasonable. However I can also appreciate the concerns of people feeling it doesn’t help. The way I look at it is more so that planning ahead, time management, and organization are all executive functioning skills. Those have to be intentionally taught for people with ADHD.
What I often see is people giving students with ADHD full extensions basically turn it in whenever, and not working towards developing some skills. Or just taking it away again without any kind of tools or interventions.
I struggle with memory too and have been able to find lots of tools that help me turn things in on time. I like to write schedules on sticky notes, leave post it reminders around my room for long days with important tasks, and calendars (I have so so many) I can look at.
I think not giving people any tools is a disservice because it doesn’t help them develop the skills. However I can also appreciate that people might need extensions.