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Your ADHD Student Isn’t Lazy—They’re Drowning. Here’s a Lifeline.
How to Rescue Your ADHD Student Before It’s Too Late
For many college students with ADHD, the academic calendar feels like a ticking time bomb.
The semester starts with the best of intentions. There's a new planner, some color-coded tabs, and maybe even a goal or two. But within a few weeks—or even days—things start to unravel. Assignments stack up faster than the brain can process them, and every unread email or missed deadline feels heavier than the last. Before long, the overwhelm sets in.
And with overwhelm comes shutdown. And shutdown, if left unaddressed, leads to what we know too well: academic collapse.
What Academic Collapse Actually Looks Like
It doesn’t always look dramatic. In fact, it often goes unnoticed until it's too late.
Collapse might look like a student who stops going to class because they “can’t catch up anyway.” Or the one who can’t bring themselves to open their laptop without spiraling. Or the one who’s “fine” until midterms hit and then suddenly… isn’t.
They’re not lazy. They’re stuck. And the truth is, without proper tools and support, many students with ADHD won’t dig themselves out in time to save the semester.
Why Executive Functioning Support Matters
What these students are often missing isn't intelligence, motivation, or effort—it's executive functioning scaffolding. They need help with planning, task breakdown, prioritization, and follow-through. In short: they need someone (or something) to help them stay regulated, organized, and responsive in a system that wasn't built for the way their brains work.
That's where the idea for RESCUE Buddy came from.
What Is RESCUE Buddy?
RESCUE Buddy is a tiered support system created specifically for college students with ADHD or executive functioning challenges. It's not a one-size-fits-all solution—because not all students need the same kind of help.
Here’s a breakdown of what RESCUE Buddy offers:
RESCUE Buddy Guidebook (Value: $27)
A digital guide designed to help students get out of the weeds. It's filled with step-by-step strategies for:
Tackling procrastination
Planning assignments without burning out
Creating systems that actually work for ADHD brains
It’s a low-pressure entry point for students who want to regain control.
AI GPT Coach + Guidebook (Value: $47)
Includes the full guidebook plus access to a 24/7 AI-powered executive functioning coach.
Students can use it to:
Break down assignments into manageable parts
Get daily structure and guidance
Ask for help when they feel stuck (even in the middle of the night)
Like a judgment-free study buddy that never sleeps.
1:1 Planning Session + AI GPT Coach + Guidebook (Value: $297)
The full support package:
A private coaching session with an executive functioning expert
Personalized planning tools and strategies
Ongoing access to the guidebook and AI coach
Ideal for students in shutdown mode or approaching academic crisis.
It’s Not Just About Grades—It’s About Confidence
One of the most heartbreaking things about working with students in crisis is watching how quickly their self-esteem erodes. When ADHD isn’t properly supported, it doesn’t just hurt their GPA—it chips away at their confidence, their identity, and their belief that they belong in college at all.
RESCUE Buddy is designed not just to stop the spiral, but to help rebuild the belief that they can succeed—not by pretending ADHD doesn’t exist, but by working with it.
What Parents Can Do Now
If you’re a parent watching your student flounder, it’s hard not to feel helpless. But support doesn’t always mean doing it all for them—it can mean giving them the right tools at the right time.
Start by opening the conversation with compassion. Ask how they’re managing—not just with schoolwork, but with sleep, routines, and overwhelm. If they’re open to it, RESCUE Buddy can be a gentle but powerful next step.
To learn more about RESCUE Buddy and how to choose the right level of support, visit NextStep Navigators.
