MINDS IN MOTION
The Minds in Motion (MIM) learning community, created in 2025, is a supportive and inclusive environment where students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can share their experiences, receive support, learn effective strategies, feel empowered, exchange resources and knowledge, and foster a strong sense of community with others.
This program assists students with ADHD to improve their executive functioning skills, raise awareness of resources available to them at 黑料网 and help increase their self-confidence and resilience in their academics, all of which will increase retention and graduation rates.
MINDS IN MOTION Goals:
- Increase the students鈥 understanding of their disability
- Improve self-advocacy skills
- Cultivate a sense of community and belongingness at 黑料网
- Develop executive functioning skills to assist them in achieving their educational goals
For any inquiries, please contact Amber Maurer (Amber.Maurer@csulb.edu).
Amber Maurer, M.A.
ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider
Learning Access Specialist
Amber has worked for the Bob Murphy Access Center (BMAC) in the Stephen Benson Program for Students with Learning Disabilities since 2011. She has dedicated her career to supporting students with disabilities鈥攁 role that has brought her immense purpose.
Amber graduated with her B.A. in Psychology from 黑料网 and her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology.
Academics were always quite challenging for Amber. Though she received good grades, she always felt that she had to work twice as hard as her peers. In her early 40s, she was finally diagnosed with ADHD which put her academic struggles into perspective.
Though Amber has worked with students with ADHD for numerous years, her passion for this population has grown tremendously and cultivated in her developing the MINDS IN MOTION program. As someone with ADHD, she knows firsthand how impactful a program like this can be.
MINDS IN MOTION Structure
Semester Zero occurs a week before the semester begins. Students with ADHD struggle with executive functioning and are challenged by the ability to complete required follow-through steps. Often, students with ADHD will forget to complete multi-step tasks which quickly leads to overwhelm, falling behind on assignments/tasks, the increased potential for poor performance in their classes, and/or dropping their courses. Semester Zero assists students with organization, establishing effective study routines and strategies, and being ready to start the academic year on solid footing.
At this meeting, MIM students are provided with a 鈥Supplies for Success鈥 backpack. These backpacks contain school supplies (pens, pencils, green books, scantrons, etc.), as well as an ADHD-focused academic planner. This academic planner has been carefully chosen to meet the needs of students with ADHD.
The goals of SEMESTER ZERO to:
- Assist MIM students in setting them up for success by having them establish organizational planning routines and learn how to prepare for use of their planners
- Expose them to campus resources (Learning Center鈥檚 tutoring and academic coaching, Writers Lab, tutoring centers, etc.)
- Assist students with sending their BMAC accommodation letters to their professors
- Have students proactively schedule their exams with BMAC for the semester.
The MINDS IN MOTION program consists of eight, one-hour weekly sessions during the semester. Sessions will encompass teaching different skills related to MIM鈥檚 goals. Some of the topics taught in MIM are: ADHD myths and strengths, time management skills, task initiation skills, emotional regulation tips, improving focus tips, etc.
The Concentration Cohort (CC) is a collaboration between BMAC and the Learning Center. CC consists of weekly dedicated study/assignment sessions where MIM students will learn to utilize 鈥榖ody-doubling鈥 as a strategy to improve their focus, productivity and motivation. 鈥楤ody-doubling鈥 is a technique where another person works alongside you, simultaneously but not necessarily on the same task, to help you complete your own task. This strategy is sometimes referred to as 鈥榓ccountability buddies.鈥 The Learning Center hosts two, one hour study sessions weekly and has tutors available to MIM students during these sessions.
