Register early to access formal accommodations such as extended testing time, reduced-distraction settings, and priority registration.
Request 1:1 Academic Coach Support to help with executive functioning, goal setting, and time management. (Think of Executive Function as a secretary for your brain)
Master Your Energy and Executive Function
Identify your peak "brain power" hours. Schedule high-effort tasks for your high-energy windows and save administrative chores for lower-energy periods.
If you struggle to start tasks, working in the presence of others (in a library or via virtual study rooms) to increase focus and accountability.
Use the "Rule of 3" divide every large project into at least three small, timed steps. Always include Transition Buffers (15–30 minutes) between activities to manage sensory load.
Optimize Your Sensory Environments
Keep noise-canceling headphones and fidget items in your backpack.
Identify low-traffic, quiet spots on campus specifically for regulating after overstimulating lectures, separate from your study areas.
Design a home workspace that is clutter-free and comfortable.
Practice Proactive Communication
Visit professors early in the semester. Building a rapport early makes it much easier to ask for clarifications or accommodations later.
Self-advocacy is the bridge between surviving a task and thriving in it. It is the practice of communicating what you need so that your environment works with your brain, not against it.
Build a Sustainable Support Network
Join student organizations aligned with your special interests or groups specifically for neurodivergent students.
Block out recharging time in your schedule to prevent burnout.
Release the "Neurotypical Standard." Acknowledge that your path may look different and give yourself permission to move at a pace that is sustainable for you.
You are capable. You belong. You matter.
We are here to support you in working smarter, honoring your energy, and being your own best advocate.
