This year, in observance of National Disability Awareness Month, Rutgers University invited its community members to share their experiences as individuals with disabilities or as caretakers. The aim was to highlight how they wish to be perceived by society.
Julia Sass Rubin, Associate Dean of Academic Programs at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers-New Brunswick, shared her personal story about her daughter's journey with ADHD. Her daughter was diagnosed a year ago during her senior year at Rutgers. Despite being a strong student, she struggled with meeting deadlines due to symptoms associated with ADHD, such as task initiation difficulties and time blindness.
Rubin explained that these symptoms can make it challenging for students like her daughter to complete assignments on time. "Although the symptoms of ADHD vary, there are many common ones that can make it more challenging to meet deadlines," Rubin noted.
Her experience has given Rubin new insights into higher education from the perspective of neurodivergent students. She pointed out that typical academic practices can pose significant challenges for these students. "Many faculty members penalize work that is turned in late," she observed, noting that this can disproportionately affect neurodivergent students who might not benefit sufficiently from standard accommodations.
Rutgers offers extensions on assignments for students who provide verification of their diagnosis through the Office of Disability Services (ODS). However, Rubin highlighted that the discretion left to faculty and the limited nature of extensions might not fully address the needs of all neurodivergent students. She also noted that many are diagnosed only after graduation and thus miss out on available accommodations.
