“He’s smart enough to know better.”

“He’s smart enough to do well in school.”

“He’s smart enough to get straight A’s.”

“He’s smart enough to follow instructions.”

“He’s smart enough to pick up after himself.”

I’ve heard them all, haven’t you? All the things our kids are “smart enough” to do, with no consideration of their ADHD, SPD, ASD, LDs, or other disabilities that effect learning and day-to-day life.

Let me ask you this: Is a blind student “smart enough” to read? Well, of course they are! That sounds like a ridiculous and insensitive question. It’s not their intelligence or lack thereof that prevents them from reading, it’s their lack of sight, their disability.

So why then are we parents of kids with ADHD frequently bombarded with the “smart enough” excuse from teachers, administration, and others in the community? Intelligence has absolutely NOTHING to do with the weaknesses of ADHD. Organizing has nothing to do with intelligence. Planning and sequencing have nothing to do with intelligence. Neatness of handwriting has nothing to do with intelligence. Working memory has nothing to do with intelligence. Hypersensitivity has nothing to do with intelligence. Emotional reactivity has nothing to do with intelligence. And, believe it or not, sometimes grades have nothing to do with intelligence either.

If you’re going to tell my kid with ADHD that he’s “smart enough” to get better grades, and turn in neater work, you better be telling your blind student they are “smart enough” to read without accommodation as well.