Testing Accommodations
Testing and school accommodations for students with disabilities
Need for Services
Many children, teenagers, and adults struggle with a range of mental and physical disabilities including ADHD, learning disabilities such as Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, or Dyscalculia, mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD, and neurocognitive conditions such as a head injury. These conditions can occur together and cause difficulties at school and work, which is why the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides individuals with reasonable academic accommodations such as extended time on exams, start and stop breaks, access to assistive devices, and private testing rooms.
Accommodations can be provided for the following standardized tests:
High school to college
College to medical/graduate/law/business school
Professional licensing exams
Other standardized test or professional licensing exam
ADA and Testing Accommodations
Under the ADA, individuals with a disability (physical or mental) that substantially limits major life activities are entitled to reasonable academic accommodations. These modifications ensure equal opportunities and true potential performance.
Covered Disabilities
The ADA recognizes a range of disabilities for accommodations:
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Dyslexia and other learning disorders
Psychological Conditions (e.g., Depression, Anxiety)
Physical Disabilities
Sensory impairments (vision/hearing)
Physical impairments (e.g., Crohn’s disease)
Acquired head injuries/TBI
Documentation Requirements
Applicants must create a profile on the tests website portal and provide extensive documentation, including:
History of receiving accommodations
Strategies, devices, or medications used
Insufficiency of strategies for MCAT
Documentation of the condition
Types of accommodations requested
Personal statement
Supporting documents (diagnosis verification, prior evaluations, academic transcripts, standardized test scores, past accommodations, academic documents)
Submission Timeline
In general, requests should be submitted at least 60 days before the test date.
Available Accommodations
Accommodations vary by disability, but common ones include extended time, private testing rooms, and additional breaks.
Comprehensive Evaluation Requirement
A comprehensive evaluation by a qualified professional is essential to support the request. It should include:
Clinical interview
Behavioral observations
Neuropsychological/psychoeducational testing
Detailed report with individualized analysis and recommendations
Consultation
An initial consultation is scheduled to gather relevant background information. This is a good time to ask specific questions and address concerns you may have. We can provide the highest quality of service by working collaboratively with you. If further testing is warranted, a testing appointment will be made at that time.
Testing & Evaluation
The testing session may last from 2-8 hours, depending on the referral question, nature of the problem, and availability of previous testing results. Of course, you will be allowed to take breaks as needed.
Feedback Session
Following the evaluation, a feedback session with you and your family may be conducted to discuss results and recommendations. With consent, other professionals involved in treatment may participate and/or receive information about the evaluation.
Report
A comprehensive report will be provided to you and your family. The report will include background information, test results, diagnosis, and recommendations. The report can then be used to apply for testing accommodations.
Conclusion
Testing accommodations aim to level the playing field for applicants with disabilities, ensuring fair assessment of abilities. Comprehensive evaluations by licensed professionals are vital for substantiating accommodation requests.