University of Denver

🏫 Disability Services Overview

The University of Denver's Learning Effectiveness Program (LEP) is routinely cited alongside Arizona's SALT Center as one of the premier fee-based LD/ADHD support programs in the country. DU is a small private university — approximately 6,000 undergraduates — which means LEP students experience exceptional staff access at a school small enough to feel manageable.

Like Arizona, DU operates two distinct support tiers:

Tier 1: Disability Services Program (DSP) — Free with Registration

• Standard ADA accommodations: extended test time, distraction-reduced testing, note-taking support, alternative format materials
• Priority course registration
• Assistive technology access
• Faculty notification letters each semester

Tier 2: Learning Effectiveness Program (LEP) — Fee-Based

• Weekly individual sessions with an LEP learning specialist or coach
• Explicit instruction in learning strategies tailored to your coursework
• Subject-specific tutoring and strategy coaching (math, writing, reading)
• Executive function coaching — planning, organization, time management
• Priority scheduling and case management throughout the year
• Access to LEP's dedicated space for studying and support sessions
• Technology training for assistive tools (text-to-speech, speech-to-text, mind-mapping software)
• Academic advising coordination — LEP staff communicate with academic advisors

Staff & Ratio

LEP employs full-time learning specialists — credentialed professionals with backgrounds in learning disabilities, educational psychology, and special education. The program's size (~500 students) relative to DU's small undergrad enrollment means students receive genuinely personalized attention.

🧠 ADHD-Specific Support

Dedicated ADHD Coaching

Yes — a core LEP service. LEP specialists are trained specifically in ADHD-related executive function challenges. Sessions are not generic tutoring — they're tailored to the ADHD profile: addressing task initiation, sustained attention, working memory, and emotional regulation as they affect academic performance.

Executive Function & Time Management

• Individualized planning systems developed with and for the student — not a one-size-fits-all planner
• Semester maps: backward planning from finals to today, with checkpoint milestones
• Weekly accountability check-ins on task completion and priority management
• Strategies for reading heavy academic texts with ADHD (chunk reading, active annotation, retrieval practice)
• Writing process coaching — tackling the blank page, outlining, revision cycles

Testing & Classroom Accommodations

• DSP provides accommodation letters; LEP specialists help students understand and use those accommodations effectively
• Extended time testing through DSP's testing center
• Coaching on how to approach exams strategically — time allocation, anxiety management, self-checking

Medication Management

• DU's Health & Counseling Center has psychiatric providers for ADHD medication management
• LEP staff coordinate with health services when medication changes affect academic performance
• Telehealth options available for students who prefer to maintain their home psychiatrist

Peer Support

• LEP students form a natural community through shared support sessions and study spaces
• Peer tutoring from advanced LEP students and graduate assistants
• DU's broader student wellness programming supports neurodivergent-friendly communities

📋 Documentation & Neuropsychological Evaluation Requirements

Required Documentation

• A comprehensive psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluation conducted by a licensed psychologist or neuropsychologist
• Evaluation must be within 3 years of enrollment (DU emphasizes currency — outdated evals from middle school are not accepted)
• Clear DSM-5 diagnosis with diagnostic criteria documented
• Functional impact statement: how does the disability affect academic performance specifically?
• Clinician recommendations for accommodations tied to identified deficits

Required Components of the Evaluation

• Cognitive assessment: WAIS-IV or equivalent — full IQ battery with index scores (Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory, Processing Speed)
• Academic achievement: WIAT-III or WJ-IV Achievement — standardized reading, writing, and math subtests with age-normed scores
• Attention/executive function: Conners-3, BASC-3, Brown ADD Scales, or similar validated rating scales; performance-based measures if indicated
• Diagnostic conclusion: DSM-5 diagnosis, onset history, ruling out alternative explanations
• Evaluator credentials: Licensed psychologist or neuropsychologist — credentials must be stated in the report

Physician Letter Alone?

Not sufficient. DU requires the full evaluation. A physician or psychiatrist letter may supplement documentation but cannot replace the psychoeducational evaluation for DU's DSP or LEP registration.

IEP/504 Plan?

Not sufficient alone, but valuable context. Submit your IEP/504 alongside your evaluation. If your IEP from the past 3 years includes a comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation as an exhibit, that evaluation component may satisfy the requirement. Call DSP to confirm before assuming.

Cost & Access

• Private neuropsych evaluation: $2,500–$4,500 depending on evaluator and location
• Colorado school districts provide evaluations under IDEA — if you haven't had one recently, request it in 10th or 11th grade
• University of Denver Psychology Clinic may offer reduced-rate evaluations — inquire directly
• Vocational Rehabilitation (CO DVR) sometimes funds evaluations for students with documented disabilities — explore eligibility

🎓 High School → College Transition Preparation

Timeline

• Junior Year: Research LEP, visit campus if possible, and confirm documentation requirements. Schedule neuropsych eval if yours is outdated. Start practicing the executive function skills you'll need at DU.
• Senior Year (Fall): Apply to DU. Contact LEP to discuss your situation. Confirm documentation is current and meets requirements.
• After Acceptance: Register with DSP and apply to LEP immediately. LEP has enrollment limits — don't wait until summer.
• Summer Before College: Submit documentation, confirm accommodations, schedule first LEP session for week 1 of classes. Arrange medication continuity.

Self-Advocacy at DU

DU is small enough that faculty actually know their students — the self-advocacy burden is lower than at a large state university. But you still have to show up, use your services, and communicate when you're struggling. LEP helps train this skill, but no one can do it for you.

Documentation to Gather

• Full neuropsych evaluation report (the whole report, not just the summary page)
• IEP or 504 plan with history of accommodations
• Medication records if relevant (controlled substance documentation requirements)
• Any supplemental letters from psychologists, therapists, or specialists

Executive Function Skills to Develop in High School

• Using a single trusted planning system consistently for at least 6 months before college
• Reading full chapters actively (annotate, question, summarize) rather than skimming
• Writing from an outline — practice building structure before starting prose
• Identifying when you're spinning vs. making progress, and having a strategy for each

Your Support Team Before You Leave

• Telehealth-capable psychiatrist or APRN for medication management
• Therapist familiar with ADHD for emotional regulation support
• LEP specialist as your primary academic touchpoint
• A trusted peer or friend at DU who understands your challenges

🎯 Practical Fit Notes

Who Thrives at DU's LEP?

• Students who want the intensity of a top-tier, engaged university with embedded intensive support
• Students who do better in smaller academic communities where professors know students by name
• Students interested in DU's strengths: business, law, international relations, social work, arts and culture
• Students who will genuinely use weekly coaching — the value of LEP is proportional to engagement
• Families willing to invest in the LEP fee as part of the college cost

Campus Environment

DU's campus is located in a residential Denver neighborhood — urban enough to enjoy a major city, residential enough to feel like a campus. Denver's culture: outdoor recreation, vibrant arts and food scene, manageable cost of living (relative to coastal cities). Small undergrad population means a tight-knit community. Class sizes are significantly smaller than a state flagship, which benefits students with ADHD.

Cost Snapshot

• Tuition: approximately $58,000/year
• Room and board: approximately $15,000/year
• LEP fee: approximately $3,000–$5,500/year additional
• Total COA with LEP: approximately $76,000–$78,500/year before aid
• DU offers significant merit aid — many students receive $20,000–$35,000/year in institutional scholarships

❓ Questions to Ask DU / LEP

1. What does a first-semester LEP experience look like week by week — how does the coaching relationship develop over the fall?
2. How many students does each LEP specialist carry, and how does that affect scheduling and appointment availability?
3. Can my student connect with a current LEP student to hear a real-world perspective before committing?
4. Is the LEP fee tiered based on service intensity? What do different membership levels actually include?
5. How does LEP coordinate with academic advisors and the registrar — especially around course selection and scheduling accommodations?
6. What is LEP's graduation rate and 4-year completion rate for program members vs. the general DU population?

🔗 Official Resources