OCD in School: Impact And Accommodations
Approximately 1 in 100 children have a diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). For many, OCD is a silent battle, commonly underdiagnosed, leading to many individuals silently suffering for years. OCD greatly impacts a child’s social, emotional, and academic functioning. Since children spend the majority of their time in school it is incredibly important for parents of children with OCD to team up with school personnel to develop a plan to reduce OCD impact on school performance.
Spread Awareness
Parents should make sure school personnel have a general understanding of how your child’s OCD presents and what they can expect. Knowledge creates understanding; transparency between parents and school personnel will be incredibly vital in finding school success. Disclosure of your child’s diagnosis not only reduces stigma but also creates a space for your child to receive needed academic accommodations that will level their playing field and decrease the likelihood of internalized feelings of not being “good enough”, “stupid”, and a “failure” due to OCD symptoms. The Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides special education and related accommodations for students with disabilities including children with a diagnosis of OCD. Section 504 of the American with Disabilities ACT (ADA) ensures students with disabilities will not be denied the same academic opportunities as peers due to their disability. Speak with your school’s counselor to determine what documentation you may need from your specialized OCD provider or additional testing to begin the 504 or IEP process for your child.
How OCD Can Impact your Child’s School Day
-Frequent class tardiness
-Inability to keep up with reading and writing responsibilities
-Increase in general school avoidance
-Decreased ability to concentrate during lectures
-Inhibit ability to complete regular homework assignments
-Impair normal social interactions
-Increased anxiety in speaking with teachers
-Withholding of turning in already completed assignments
-Unkind attention from peers due to repetitive externalized compulsions
-Heightened stress and delays during class transitions
-Increased frustration and outburst during class
Additional Signals for Teachers and Parents
-Persistent reassurance questions to teachers, nurses, or counselors
-Incessant calls home to leave school, “I don’t feel well”, “I can’t be here”, and “I hate it here”
-Prolonged and frequent bathroom visits and/or mysteriously clogged toilets
-Excessively dry, red, or chapped hands, arms, and face
-Intense fixation on completing a specific task (“just right”)
-Consistent requests to be excused to nurse’s office
-Repeating of body movements and phrases especially when interrupted
-Frequent erasing, rewriting, and throwing away of paper
-Incredibly behind in completing reading assignments due to repetitive need to “reread”
-Excessive ordering and organizing of book bag, school locker, and/ or desk
Commonly Requested Academic Accommodations
-Extension on deadlines for academic assignments
-Extended time for completing tests: 1.5x or 2x
-Reduced workload by 50%
-Separate classroom for reduced distraction for completion of tests and/or assignments
-Copy of class notes from a peer or teacher
-Approved fidgets in classroom
-Excused from written essays and ability to provide essay orally instead
-Additional breaks and identified “safe place” at school (guidance counselor office, library, etc..)
If your child is just starting their journey towards alleviating their OCD symptoms make sure your child’s therapist is experienced in providing Exposure with Response Prevention, the gold standard treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
Looking for treatment for your child with OCD? Get connected with Kelsi below.
Resources
Learn more about IDEA and how to advocate for education accommodations for your child.
For additional information on this topic including ideas for school accommodations visit Anxiety in the Classroom.
Visit the International OCD Foundation for additional educational resources and to be connected to qualified providers in your area.