Schools Segregating ADHD Students Report Trapping Them in Dead-End Placements
A systematic review of student experiences reveals that while segregated schools offer smaller classes and sympathetic staff, they rarely transition students back to mainstream education. The finding challenges the long-term efficacy of segregation as an ADHD support strategy and signals potential cost and equity implications for school districts managing these placements.
Originaltitel: Experiences of students diagnosed with ADHD who are segregated or excluded in school: a systematic review
<p>This systematic review investigates firsthand experiences of students diagnosed with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in segregated school situations. Articles published from 2000 to 2023 were identified in ten electronic databases. Research in the field is scarce, with five articles meeting the inclusion criteria. A thematic synthesis identified three analytical themes: 1) predominant negative experiences of previous schooling and the path to a segregated school situation; 2) predominant negative experiences of segregated schooling and a desire for a better school situation; and 3) predominant negative experiences and consequences of medicalisation. The experiences of previous schooling included violence and a perceived lack of classroom structure. There were some positive experiences in the present segregated situation, such as a class environment with fewer students and more friendly, sympathetic teachers. Some segregated students sought improved relationships with classmates and a more structured classroom environment. The data implied a tendency towards permanent placements, given the minimal references to regular schooling. The experiences and consequences of medicalisation indicated that the students appeared to internalise symptoms linked to the diagnoses and saw medication as the school's main measure to control their behaviour. Finally, some students attributed their behaviour to ADHD and saw it as the main reason for their segregation.</p>