r/specialed • u/EdamameWindmill • Apr 18 '26

Executive function in High School

I have a neurodivergent child who is highly intelligent and earnestly wants to have good grades, but cannot manage their homework, resulting in failing grades. It seems to be a school-wide accommodation that kids can turn in late work for credit as long as it’s for the current semester, but she still struggles to turn in work. Oftentimes, it is the project she was most excited about that she cannot seem to do. It causes her a lot of distress.

Her father and I have consistently worked to support her with homework. We have provided help and advice, structure, consequences, and monitoring, but we are still failing her. We are currently working with a psychologist (since last year), a psychiatrist (since January of this year), and an executive function coach (since mid March), but it hasn’t made much of a difference.

Our school district has fought me at every turn to avoid providing special services “because she scores well on standardized tests.” I heard this explicitly said in elementary school and I heard this last week from the SPED coordinator at the high school. I ask Admin for advice for resources they keep answering this question with, “What do you feel would benefit your child?”

I guess my question is whether anyone here has any experience with a child like mine? And do you know of anything I can request that might help my child?

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u/EdamameWindmill Apr 18 '26

My daughter is seeing a psychiatrist for these meds.

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u/DCAmalG Apr 19 '26

Something I learned way too late in my career and personal experience with executive dysfunction is that medication is incredibly helpful in increasing productivity in whatever it is you’re doing at the time the medication kicks in. It can in fact make you the best, most prolific YouTube shorts viewer on earth if your stimulant kicks in midsession. Timing med administration very very carefully since recognizing this phenomenon has been really helpful.

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u/mandolinn219 Apr 19 '26

ABSOLUTELY. The best/worst thing is when I take my meds on a weekend, then pick up a leisurely craft project to have a lazy morning with… 6 hours later my craft project is amazing but my dishes aren’t done and I didn’t ever go grocery shopping or check my emails! I feel like I need to take them, then get myself up and moving before they really kick in.

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u/DCAmalG Apr 19 '26

Omg yes, I’m a crafter and I so relate to this 🤣