354:  Preparing Neurodivergent Teens for College

354: Preparing Neurodivergent Teens for College

Author: Impactful Parent September 11, 2026 Duration: 26:38
Preparing Neurodivergent Teens for College Is your neurodivergent teen truly ready to step onto a college campus and take charge of their independence? Transitioning from high school to higher education is a massive leap for any child, but for students with ADHD, autism, or dyslexia, it comes with a unique set of challenges, rules, and opportunities. Watching your child struggle with focus, late-night study meltdowns, or organization can leave you asking: How on earth will they manage college on their own? In this episode of The Impactful Parent, host Kristina Campos is joined by veteran professor and founder of Innovative Collegiate Consultants, Dr. Tara Williams. Together, they tear down common myths surrounding learning differences in college, discuss the massive shift in executive functioning demands, and break down how to build life-changing self-advocacy skills before move-in day. Learn how to shift your parenting role from a ”manager” to a supportive ”consultant,” set up productive work routines at home, navigate accommodations, and help your child build a safety net to prevent burnout! 📌 CALL TO ACTIONS & HELPFUL LINKS: 🔔 Subscribe & Share: Enjoying the show? Subscribe to the channel and share this podcast with a friend who could use these insights! 📱 Download the Free App & Join the Community: Download the free Impactful Parent App and access valuable parenting tools at https://theimpactfulparent.com. 🎓 Get College Transition Support: Book a free consultation with Dr. Tara Williams and her team at https://innovativecollegiateconsultants.com. 📖 Read the Book: Grab a copy of The Neurodivergent Student Journey by Dr. Tara Williams on Amazon. ⏰ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Introduction: Transitioning Neurodivergent Teens to College 01:38 - Common Misconceptions About ADHD, Autism, and Dyslexia in College 02:17 - Shifts in Executive Functioning and the Importance of Self-Advocacy 03:24 - IEP/504 Protections vs. College Accessibility Services 05:26 - Fostering Relationships with Professors and Creating Study Groups 07:02 - Overcoming Major Transition Challenges: Time Management & Organization 09:02 - How Parents Can Teach Executive Functioning Skills at Home 11:00 - Preventing Emotional Burnout & Managing Expectations 13:02 - What to Do If College Feels Overwhelming (Changing Majors & Alternative Paths) 16:48 - Shifting from Parent Manager to Academic Consultant 1 8:32 - Supporting Commuter & Community College Students Living at Home 19:52 - Essential College Accommodations & What Changes from High School 23:05 - Inside Dr. Tara Williams’ Book & Coaching Support Services 25:02 - An Impactful Encouragement for Overwhelmed Parents

Raising school-aged kids and teenagers often feels like navigating uncharted territory every single day. Parenting Tips, Resources and Strategies for Moms and Dads of Children, & Teenagers: Impactful Parenting is here for that exact journey, moving beyond simple advice to explore the real, sometimes messy work of building lasting bonds. Hosted by Impactful Parent, this podcast digs into the unique challenges that emerge as children grow, offering practical strategies and thoughtful resources drawn from real stories and experiences. You’ll find conversations that address those quiet doubts every parent has, wondering if what you’re facing is normal or searching for a better way to connect when things feel chaotic. Each episode serves as a thoughtful resource, transforming common struggles into opportunities for understanding and growth within your family. The focus is squarely on the school years through adolescence, a phase that demands a different parenting toolkit. By listening, you gain access to a supportive dialogue that blends education, relationship insights, and cultural awareness, all aimed at making daily family life feel more manageable and far more connected. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about impactful shifts that help you and your child navigate these formative years together with more confidence and less friction. Tune in for a genuine, story-driven approach that meets you right where you are.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Parenting Tips for Moms and Dads of School-aged Children & Teenagers: The Impactful Parenting Podcast
Podcast Episodes
343: Divorce: What Parents Do Wrong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:56
Divorce: What parents do wrong! Is your divorce hurting your kids more than it needs to? Divorce is undeniably one of the hardest transitions a family can face, but the real damage often doesn’t come from the split itsel…
342: Supporting High Performing Child Athletes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:52
Supporting High Performing Child Athletes Is your child a ”natural” on the field but struggling to keep up in the classroom? We all dream of supporting our child’s passions, but when ”good” turns into ”elite,” the rules…
341: Emotional Eating in Children and Teenagers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:01
Is your child reaching for the pantry every time they’re stressed, bored, or upset? 🍎🍪 We’ve all been there: seeing our kids finish a bag of chips after a hard day at school and wondering, ”Are they actually hungry, or i…
340: SUMMER BOREDOM BUSTERS: Ways to Limit Screens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:44
SUMMER BOREDOM BUSTERS: Ways to Limit Screens ”Mom, I’m bored!” — Is this the soundtrack to your summer? ☀️🍦 The sun is out, school is off, and suddenly the lure of the screen seems stronger than ever. But summer doesn’t…
339: Safety Lessons Every Parent S [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:42
Safety Lessons Every Parent Needs To Teach Their Child Is your child truly safe? It’s every parent’s biggest worry, but the answer might not be what you think. 🛡️ In this episode of The Impactful Parent, host Kristina Ca…
338: Understanding Teen Self Harm: Myths vs. Reality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:00
Understanding Teen Self Harm: Myths vs. Reality Is your teen struggling with big emotions, and you’re terrified they might be turning to self-harm? It is one of the scariest realizations a parent can face. You see the lo…
337: Where To Next? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:42
A raw episode with Kristina as she brainstorms the future of the Impactful Parent. https://theimpactfulparent.com for more. Please subscribe and leave a comment!
336: Difficult Teenagers.  Tips and Advice for Parents [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:39
Difficult Teenagers. Tips and Advice for Parents ”I just don’t know what to do with them anymore.” 😔 Does that sentence sound familiar? If you’ve reached the point where you feel more like a warden than a parent, or if y…
335: Talking to Teenagers About WEIGHT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:53
Talking to Teenagers About WEIGHT Is your teen struggling with body image, or are you worried about their health but afraid to say the wrong thing? In a world obsessed with filters and ”perfect” bodies, many parents feel…
334: Stop The Medication Guessing Game [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:18
Stop the Guessing Game: Is Your Teen’s ”Broken” Brain Actually a Superpower? 🧠✨ Are you exhausted by the endless cycle of new medications, different therapists, and ”wait and see” approaches that never seem to work for y…