ArticleTeachers & therapists
IEP accommodations for ADHD
Preferential seating, movement breaks, and visual supports — a practical, classroom-ready menu.
SupportNest Editorial
Reviewed by people in this role
ADHD accommodations work best when they discharge energy and reduce working-memory load, rather than demanding more self-control the student doesn't have on tap.
Reliable accommodations
- Preferential seating — near the teacher, away from high-traffic distraction.
- Scheduled movement breaks that let restless energy out in short bursts.
- Instructions chunked and posted visually, not just spoken once.
- Extended time and a quiet space for tests.
- A discreet refocus cue agreed with the student in advance.
ADHD is a problem of regulation, not willpower. Accommodations that lower the regulation tax work; ones that demand more of it don't.