Tech accomodations

[Anonymous]

Wondering if anyone has had any luck with accomodations to use less tech during school?

The computers during the school day and for some school work at night are a total nightmare. It's the only area our ADHD kid is struggling with focus (per teacher).

I'm hopeful kiddo could do the bare minimum vs having to increase meds to avoid the distractions of technology/computer.

I'll add to date kid certainly gets drawn in but no screens during school week and less than 2 hrs /day on weekends. Maybe we haven't given them enough screen exposure to manage what's required at school?

[Anonymous]

I think what you're doing with limiting screens at home is good - don't change that. More will only make it harder, not easier.

This is a huge frustration of mine regarding screens and school. Schools are not at all prepared to have kids using computers as much as they are. The security protocols are terrible, and they just expect kids to be able to focus with a whole world of information out there to them - things most adults can't focus through. ADHD kids are doomed in a situation like this.

You can ask for accommodations like more frequent screen checks to ensure your kid is focused during class. It may or may not happen, but it would be good for most teachers to keep on top of anyway, so they might be inclined to want to do it. I would bring it up each time you meet with a new teacher and encourage them to monitor frequently.

My kid is now in a private school, but they have instituted some protocols for him to turn in his computer at lunch and recess and at night so as to prevent using it inappropriately, and we fully support that. I think you could ask for something similar at public but may or may not be able to do it. Depends on the age (maybe in elementary - not likely in middle/high).

For tests, kids can get accommodations to do them on paper instead of computer, but some tests will/won't be able to be administered this way. You could also ask for small group testing, so they are able to be monitored more during tests (not sure you will get it or not).

Ultimately, I think it's important to set up a conversation with the school about how you can work together to support your kid in succeeding with screens. It's an issue everyone needs to work together on.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, really helpful!

[Anonymous]

My kid had issues with using his iPad in the first year of middle school, and we finally got the administrator to take it away. It was a disciplinary action, so not in the IEP. He could only use it for assignments in class that couldn’t be done on paper. Most classrooms had backup iPads that kids who forgot theirs could use, that he sometimes used. Often he was given assignments in paper. In reality, a lot of what he did on paper wasn’t fell through the cracks because it wasn’t graded. (And at that point, his grades were shot anyway, so we didn’t harass teachers about it.) Othertimes there were not good accommodations for doing things on paper. Overall, it was a disaster and we barely made it through the school year.

I would suggest trying to find a school environment that better manages it, rather than trying to adapt a screen-dependent classroom for your kid.

Also, I agree with PP- limiting screen time at home is definitely for the best. Use of screens just increases the cravings for the dopamine hit the next time.

[Anonymous]

Reading here that impulse control with edtech is a challenge for all (not just my diagnosed impulsive with ADHD). There has to be some leverage beyond impulsivity reducing meds?

https://www.afterbabel.com/p/the-edtech-revolution-has-failed