In public high school, students with ADHD or learning differences can receive support through an IEP or a 504 plan, built and run by the school team. In college, there are no IEPs: the student must contact disability services, provide documentation and request accommodations each term. These guides explain both systems, the daily skills that matter most, and where a mentor fits.
How to use this hub
Start with the high school or college group, depending on where your student is. Specific eligibility and documentation rules vary by state, district and college, so confirm them with the school’s special education team or the college’s disability services office. If you suspect a learning difference but nothing is in place yet, the usual first step is a written request to the school for an evaluation.
Support in high school
- IEP vs 504 Plan: how IEPs and 504 plans differ and how to request an evaluation
- Learning Differences in High School: a family guide to the high school years
- Teen Self-Advocacy: teaching teens to ask for what they need
- Tutor, Coach, Mentor or Specialist: tutors, coaches, mentors and specialists compared
- How to Work With Your Teen’s School Counselor: making the counselor part of the team
Executive function and daily systems
- Executive Function Skills: what these skills are and how they grow
- Executive Function Coach vs Mentor: how to choose between them
- Disorganized Teenager?: simple systems that stick
- Time Blindness: practical ways to see time
- Body Doubling: working alongside someone to get started
- Time Management for Teens: a weekly planning system teens can run themselves
- How to End Homework Battles With a Teenager: ending the nightly fight
Gifted and twice-exceptional students
- Gifted Teen Underachieving: why bright students stall and what helps
- Twice-Exceptional (2e) Teens: gifted with a learning difference
- Gifted Kid Burnout: when a high achiever runs out of steam
College and beyond
- Disability Services in College: how accommodations work and how to register
- College With ADHD: a week-by-week system that holds up
- Autistic College Students: building support that works
- Young Adult With ADHD and Struggling: a practical launch plan
- Parenting a Young Adult With ADHD: when to step in and when to step back
- Autism and the Transition to Adulthood: a parent planning guide
- ADHD Coach or Mentor: which kind of support fits the situation
How supports change from high school to college
- Who starts it: in high school the school identifies and plans; in college the student must self-identify.
- What applies: IEPs end at high school graduation; colleges provide accommodations under disability laws, not individualized education programs.
- What changes: colleges offer access, such as extra test time, but generally do not change course requirements.
- Who is informed: parents no longer get records automatically once a student is in college; the student decides what to share.
Plan the handoff during senior year: gather recent documentation, practice explaining needs, and register with disability services before classes begin.
Where a mentor helps
The school team writes the plan and clinicians handle diagnosis and treatment. A mentor works on the daily follow-through: planning the week, starting assignments, using accommodations and asking for help. A Blackburn mentor meets with the student weekly or more by video and checks in between sessions; for high school students, a parent is always involved. Mentors are not clinicians or special education advocates. If a student’s struggles include anxiety, depression or burnout, a licensed professional is the right step. In a crisis, call or text 988. Learn about mentoring for students with ADHD, or see all education guides.
Common questions
What school supports exist for students with ADHD or learning differences?
In public schools, an IEP provides specialized instruction and services, and a 504 plan provides accommodations such as extra time. Eligibility is decided by the school team after an evaluation.
Does an IEP carry over to college?
No. IEPs end at high school graduation. College students request accommodations through disability services, usually with documentation, and renew requests each term.
Is a mentor the same as an ADHD coach or therapist?
No. A mentor provides weekly structure and accountability and works alongside the school team and any clinicians, who handle evaluation and treatment.
Get started
Want weekly structure for a student with ADHD or a learning difference? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.