If my D15 were a few years younger, I would say that she and your S were separated at birth. Lol, the "Pigpen of Paper" is a perfect description!
In our case, D was diagnosed with a non-verbal learning disability last year (9th grade). Because what was just exasperating in middle school becamse a crisis in high school, so we really dug into it from a testing perspective. There were some hints at it in earlier test results, too. Having that formal diagnosis got us a long way with teachers, and we engaged the learning specialist at our school to help as well. Admittedly, D goes to a private school that is quite responsive to these types of things.
Just this week I am weighing how involved to get in her issues with getting biology labs turned in on time... the teacher insists that they be on his desk by the start of class on the day they are due, and if a student comes in 30 seconds after the hour he doesn't give them a tardy, but he DOES mark down their assignment as late. This week I have settled for making sure when she gets out of the car in the morning that the assignment is in the correct location, and reminding her to be ON TIME to Biology, or get a pass from the choir director (who keeps them over a few minutes sometimes in the previous class). I am reluctant to do much more right now, as this teacher will be an important reference for my bio-loving kid for summer and college applications. Don't want to rock the boat if I don't have to...
I can also confirm that I was very similar, with MAJOR disorganization skills into my 20s. A boss once said to me when I was in my late 20s, "Your are really much more oganized than you appear to be from the state of your desk.". I think that portion of my brain grew in my 20s, and I am now very organized. So I am hoping that D will grow into more organization as she gets older. But realistically, I think she will probably be the classic 'absentminded professor'.
