Disability rights for people with ADHD

Knowing and understanding your rights as someone with ADHD is really important. It may help you decide if or when to tell your employer about your ADHD.36 If you're a parent of a child with ADHD, understanding your child's rights might help you understand how to get them accommodations or support at school, which their school might be legally obligated to give.37

Simply having ADHD doesn't mean you automatically get help or accommodations because of disability laws.38,39 To get this help, you need to meet four important conditions38:*

  1. The ways your ADHD affects your life are recognized as a disability by your government.
  2. You qualify for the job or school program, and you can do it with or without some changes to help you.
  3. The only reason you're being left out of a job or school is because of your ADHD.
  4. The law applies to your situation.

These laws make sure that jobs and colleges can't treat you unfairly just because you have a disability like ADHD.38,39 If you have a condition that is covered by these laws, you might be able to get support at your workplace or school.38,39

*The laws and rights between the US and Canada may be different; however, the information above is applicable to both.

Explore more

In Canada

GUIDE Guide for assessing persons with disabilities [...] ADHD

An example of what is considered to determine if your ADHD impacts your life enough to qualify for accommodations.

ARTICLE Rights of people with disabilities

Your ADHD as a disability right in Canada, under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Human Rights Act.

In the United States

GUIDE Your rights under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

Your ADHD rights under U.S. law, provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

ARTICLE Educational rights: Public vs. private schools

How your child’s educational rights can differ based on the educational environment.

GUIDE State human rights

Your state’s accommodations and civil rights regulations to help make sure your child has all the tools they qualify for.

References