UPDATE: This original post is rather old. My son finally accepted he needed medication, and he is just finishing up at community college. Medication has made a huge difference for him (though he is experiencing side effects that may limit how long he can be on the medication.) He is applying to university. He has tried two jobs without success...the first he quit after a week (he was being teased and couldn't take it) and the second he was fired before his first day after training due to not understanding when he was supposed to be there. He has no interest in working low-level jobs, anymore, despite us pushing it. He is working around the house for us, and is a very hard worker! However, he needs instructions given one at a time. He is majoring in computer science and is very knowledgeable, but will need the right job/employer who is willing to work with him. (I also work in that field, and look at some of my coworkers and guess they probably had similar challenges.) We were talking yesterday about what he wishes had happened when he was younger. He wishes I had pushed harder for him to turn in assignments, and get his work done. (I tried.) He wishes he'd tried medication earlier. He thinks homeschooling was probably a detriment to him in the long run, though understands why we did. I honestly don't know what I'd do differently if I had a do-over. We tried co-ops and classes and such over the years, and they were always a disaster. So was public high school (which should have forewarned us against university.) I don't think the schools would have known what to do with him any more than I did! Yes, I think work experience would be great for him, but he needs the right employer, and our local grocery store was not it! I am anxious for him to get and keep a job!! However, I will likely have to wait until he gets a summer internship in his field (maybe next summer, but more likely the following summer.) I am encouraged by him doing a good job for us (though he is still making poor financial decision with what little money he gets.) Independence is still a ways off, I think.

He sort of had accommodations last semester. A teacher put a restriction of no laptops in class (no exceptions), but that is the only way he can take notes. He went to disability services and they worked something out for that one class (both parties compromised, I don't the details.) Its really hard to get accommodations, though, that help with the inability to keep track of assignments or follow a to do list. The school offers free tutoring, and those on academic probation meet every other week with a student success advisor. Even that didn't help!

He finally decided to try meds, and has one to start tomorrow! Then once he's stable (probably not fall) he'll try a community college course. He wants back to school, and is motivated to return! And he has a job (might take a few months to start, but maybe he'll be steady on meds by then!) The job isn't one he likes, so he'll be motivated to continue his education. Thanks for the prayers...we're both feeling better now.

My son announced his 2nd term grades this evening, and it wasn't good (and he was on academic probation from first term, so these grades end his college career.) Trying to figure out what he does now! He refuses medication, but I honestly don't know that he can get or keep a job, either. I feel really bad for him....his major was his passion, and he loved school (but couldn't keep track of assignments or manage his time.) He is "gifted", for what little good that does him. He now has 40K in loans to repay, and NEEDS to work to repay the loan. Has anyone here been through this? Any words of wisdom? I could send him to technical school, but I'm not sure that helps too much when the problem is ADHD. He'd probably fail that, too. His college advisor said he could petition for another shot (just one), but he was already trying so hard, that I'm doubtful another semester would miraculously improve. The material isn't hard, he just misses assignments. He is willing to consider meds, now, for college, but thinks he can handle a job without meds, sigh, because he wouldn't have as much to juggle. He is still looking for entry level work in his field (computer science), but should he be looking at Burger King at this point? Encourage me (and him).