ADHD Skills Workshop

The Strengths in ADHD Research Group will be offering their ADHD Skills: Building Capacity in Students with ADHD workshop for a second year.

As with last year’s workshop, facilitators will share self-advocacy, time management and study skills with undergraduate students who identify as having Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The goal is to help ensure these students succeed in their studies at the University of Calgary.

“The ADHD Skills Workshop is designed to provide students with ADHD the necessary tools to cope with the exceptional challenges they experience managing the heavy demands of university,” says program facilitator and Werklund School of Education master’s student, Laura Gordon. “The workshop also provides participants with the unique opportunity to share tips and connect with other students with ADHD.” Gordon adds that advice on accessing academic, social and wellness support will also be provided.

The ADHD Skills Workshop is adapted from a Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment program, “Mastering Your Adult ADHD”, to meet the needs of undergraduate students with ADHD. Specifically, the ADHD Skills Workshop’s topics include: Building Academic Connections; Planning, Time Management & Organization; Task Prioritization & Procrastination; Managing Distractibility; Adaptive Thinking; and Rehearsal & Relapse Prevention.

Undergraduate students with ADHD who are interested in participating in the workshop are asked to commit to attending six consecutive weekly group sessions on Thursdays from 4:00-4:50pm. The first session will be held this Thursday, October 4, with the last session being held on Thursday, November 8. All six sessions will take place in Education Classroom Block 352.

Gordon says that students who sign up for the workshop have the option of participating in research that will be used to determine the effectiveness of the program. “Research participation is completely confidential and all data will be anonymous. The findings will help further develop the program for future undergraduate students with ADHD.” However, students are welcome to participate in the ADHD Skills Workshop regardless of whether they choose to participate in the research component, adds Gordon.

Undergraduate students interested in learning more or registering for the ADHD Skills Workshop are invited to email Gordon at adhdkids@ucalgary.ca.