Accommodations Evaluations

Students with learning disabilities may be eligible for special accommodations in the classroom or when completing standardized exams. Accommodations can help the individual demonstrate their true abilities, whereby interference from the disability is minimized. Typically, an assessment by a psychologist is required to determine this type of eligibility.

Classroom accommodations may include decreased homework requirements, preferential seating, changes in the testing environment, grouping by ability, organizational changes or support in the classroom, alternative formats of presenting projects or homework (e.g., written vs. oral), or the use of assistive technology.

Standardized tests include the SAT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and the MCAT. Based on the individual’s history and the results of the assessment, recommendations could include accommodations such as extended time, use of a scribe, computer use for essays, additional or extended breaks, reading accommodations, recording answers directly into a test booklet, or a small group setting.

Requests for accommodations for standardized tests typically take many weeks or even months to be approved by the testing organization, so please allow plenty of time for the evaluation process prior to the planned test date. Accommodations are more likely to be granted if there is a history of documented disabilities and accommodations in previous educational settings.