[PDF] Guidelines for Accommodations for NBME Exams Ideal Schedule

56913_7AccommodationsforStepExams_0.pdf

GuidelinesforAccommodationsforNBMEExams

IdealSchedule

FebͲMarchDevelopchecklistofneededitems;draftpersonalstatement

MarͲAprEditandrevisepersonalstatement;collectdocuments;applyforNBMEIDMayApplyforaccommodationstoNBME

MayͲAugAwaitresponse

AugIfneeded,writeappealtodecision

AugͲOctAwaitresponse

OctTakeStep1



SupportingyourHistoryofDisability

Provideadditionalinformationtostrengthenyourrequestforaccommodationssuchas historicalevidenceandneedforaccommodation.Ifyouwerediagnosedlaterinlife,give examplesofhowyourundiagnoseddisabilityaffectedyourearlylifeandeducation.

Historicaldisabilityevaluations,lettersfromdoctors,lettersfrompreviousgraduateentranceexams(e.g.,MCAT,GRE),IEPs,reportcardswithcommentsreferring

tobehavioralpatterns, inattentiveness,orneedforextrasupportsmayhelpsubstantiateahistoryofreceivingformal orinformalaccommodations. Aletterfromaprofessor,advisor,oranemployerprovidingfurtherevidenceoftheimpactof yourdisabilityonlearningorperformancewhileinschooloronthejob(e.g.,aletterfroma formersupervisordescribingperformanceissuesoradditionalsupportrequiredonthejobasa resultofdisabilityͲrelateddifficulties)mayhelpsubstantiatetheimpactofadisability,evenif youwerediagnosedlaterinlife. Transcriptsfromelementary,highschool,and/orcollegeshouldbeprovidediftheyclearly showtheimpactofyourdisabilityonyourgrades.Forexample,ifyouhadahistoryofdropping orwithdrawingfromclassestomaintainyourGPA,thismightserveasevidencethatwhengiven areducedcourseload,youexcelled. Lettersfromprofessors,teachers,guidancecounselorsorotherpeoplewhocandescribeyour previousacademicperformancemaybehelpfuliftheycanshowhowyourworkwasimpacted bydisability,orhowtheuseofaccommodationsandstrategiesimprovedyourperformance.If youwerediagnosedlaterinlife,if therewasaprofessororsupportpersonwhosuggestedthat aninitialevaluationmightbenecessary,orwhofirstconnectedyouwithdisabilityrelated supports,aletterfromthatpersonmightbehelpfultocontextualizeyourcircumstances. Donotassumethatbecauseyoureceivedaccommodationsonpreviousexams,you areassured accommodationsfortheNBME.Thisisnotacertainty.OMSEwillworkwithyoutoidentify particulargapsinyourapplicationandtoensurethatyourequestonlythoseaccommodations thatdirectlyaddressthebarriersthatresultfromyourdisability(see:Typesof

Accommodations).

Alternatively,youmightassume

thatbecauseyouhaveneverreceivedaccommodationsbefore, youwillnotreceiveaccommodationsnow,leadingtoadecisionnottoapply.Wecaution studentsagainstmakingthisassumptionandinsteadencourageyoutoreachouttotheOMSE disabilityservicesprovidersothatwecandiscussyourcase.Forthosewho havehad accommodationsinthepast,whileitiscertainlypossiblethatyouwillreceivethesame accommodationsfortheNBMEexams,theNBMEmaydecidethatyouarenoteligiblefor adjustmentsbasedontheirspecificcriteria(http://www.usmle.org/testͲ accommodations/guidelines.html)foreligibility.Youmayalsofindthattheaccommodations offered orapprovedaredifferentfromtheonesyouusedinpreviousacademicsettings. ThekeytoreceivingaccommodationsontheUSMLEStep1,2or3examistobuildan"airtight" argumentreflectingthat:1)Youareastudentwithadisability,2)Yourdisabilityactsasa barrier totheexam,3)Accommodationswillleveltheplayingfield,makingtheexamaccessible YoucanfindtheguidelinesforDocumentationfromtheUSMLEat:http://www.usmle.org/testͲ accommodations/guidelines.html 

TypesofAccommodations

Extendedtime(standardtime+25%,50%,75%,100%)

Extendedtimeaccommodationsaremorelikelytobeapprovediftherequestisbasedon concreteevidencefromyourdocumentationthatsupportthedisabilityͲrelatedneedforthe accommodation(e.g.,verylowacademicfluencyscores),andyouhaveahistoryofreceiving suchaccommodation.Yourrequestshouldbebasedontheamountoftimeyouhavereceived historically,asthisiswhatyouknowworksforyou. Forexample,youshouldnotrequest100%extendedtimeifyouhaveneverbeenapprovedfor

100%extendedtimebefore.Youshouldprovideaclear

rationaleforallrequestsinyour application.Youshouldconsiderthespecificstructureoftheexamandtheimpactofextended timeontakingtheexam.Forexample,approvalfor100%extendedtime(doubletime)may necessitatethattheexambeadministeredovertwodaysgiventhelengthoftheexamwith standardtime.Dependingonyourdisability,takingtheexamovertwodaysmaybeabarrierto yourperformance;forexample,thismightincreaseanxietyinastudentwithobsessiveͲ compulsivedisorder.

Additionalor

extendedrestbreaks FortheUSMLE,alltesttakersaregiven45minutesofbreaktimeforauthorizedbreaksduring theexam;however,youmayrequesttohaveadditionalrestbreaksaddedtotheexamdayas anaccommodation.Insteadofrequestinganaccommodationformultiplebriefrestbreaks,you wouldrequesttohaveadditionaltimeaddedontoastandardbreakprovidedtoallstudents takingtheexam.

FromtheNBME:BREAKTIME

1

Step1,Step2CK,andStep3

Yourtestsessionisscheduledforafixedamountoftimeandthecomputerkeepstrackofthe timeallocatedforeachblockandforbreaks.Atthestartofthetestingsession,youhaveatotal of45minutesofbreak timeforauthorizedbreaksandforcomputertransitionsbetweenblocks. Authorizedbreaksincludeanytimeyouspendbetweentestblocks,whetheryouremainatyour seatoryouleavethetestingroom.Ifyoucompletethetutorialorothertestingblocksearly,the remainingtimewillbeaddedtoyourtotal breaktime.Onceyoubeginatestingblock,no authorizedbreaksareprovidedduringtheblock...Ifyoutaketoomuchbreaktimeandexceed theallocatedoraccumulatedbreaktime,theexcesswillbedeductedfromyourtotaltesting time.Usethetimesummaryfeature(explainedinthetutorialon testday)tokeeptrackofyour time.Step2CSYourStep2CSadministrationwillinclude12patientencounters.The examinationsessionlastsapproximatelyeighthours.Examineesgetaminimumof45minutesin breaktime,whichincludesa30Ͳminutelunchperiod.

IfyouhaveADHDor

anotherdisabilitythatbenefitsfromtheopportunitytotakeabriefbreak toclearyourhead,thisaccommodationmaybeworthconsidering.OntheUSMLEexams,itmay bemoreappropriatethanextendedtimeasitgivesyoutheopportunitytorefocusyour thoughtsversusextendedtime,whichcanleadto exhaustingtestingconditions. Ifyouhavehealthconcernsthatneedmonitoring,youmayalsowishtorequestadditional breakstocheckbloodsugarlevels,grabsomethingtoeat,ortotakemedications.(Seealso: personalitemexemptions). Youshouldrequestthespecificamountoftimeneededforeachbreak (e.g.,a10Ͳminutebreak attheendofeachexamsection)aswellasthefrequencyofbreaks(e.g.,aftereachsectionof examoreveryhourofexamtime).IfNBMEapprovesthisaccommodation,theywilltellyouin advancehowthebreakswillbestructuredsoyouare preparedonthedayoftheexam.

MultiͲdaytesting

Thisaccommodationmaybeofsignificantbenefittosomeonewhosecognition,physicalability andenergylevel,oreyesightfatiguesoveraperiodofintensefocus.Supportingdocumentation shouldspecifytheamountoftimeatesttakercanworkonanexamperday.

Testingina

PrivateEnvironment

Ifyouexperiencehighlevelsofanxiety,distractibility,inattention,panicattacks,orsimilar disabilityrelatedconcernsyoumaywishtorequestthisaccommodation.Ifyourequireaprivate spacefortalkingoutloudorbrieflysteppingawayfromthecomputertoassistwith comprehension,focus,ormanaginganxiety youmayfindthataprivateenvironmentis necessarytoallowyoutousethesekeytechniquestomaximizeyourperformanceandto manageyoursymptomswithoutdisturbingothers.Itisimportanttodecidewhetherbreaks mightbehelpfulinordertousecalmingtechniquesinadditionto,orin lieuof,this accommodation.IfNBMEapprovesthisaccommodation,itisimportanttorememberthat testingcentershavelimitedindividualrooms.Forthatreason,youwillneedtosecureaspace wellinadvance,ormayhavetotravelsomedistancetofindacenterwithsuchprovisions.You shouldinvestigate optionsfortestingcentersatthebeginningoftheschedulingprocesssoyou arefullyawareofyouroptions.

Assistivesoftwareortechnology

Youshouldconsiderrequestingonlythesoftwareorassistivetechnologythatisabsolutely necessarytofacilitateaccesstothespecificexamformat.Notalltheassistive technologyyou useinanormalcourseorindoingyourcoursereadingswillproveusefulonaspecificexam. Yourrequestshoulddocumentyourhistoryofusingsuchsoftware,andspecifywhythatspecific softwareisnecessaryforthisexam,bothduetotheformatoftheexam(e.g.,the formatofthe examinvolvesreadingpatientcaseexamples,andthusincludesasignificantamountsof reading)andduetothenatureofyourdisability(e.g.,youexperienceasignificantamountof eyefatigue,andthusneedlargeprintandreversecontrastscreencolors;youareveryfamiliar withZoomText softwareafter5yearsofdailyuse,andshouldhaveaccesstothesamesoftware duringtheexamduetofamiliaritywithkeyboardshortcuts,andsettings).Yourmedicalprovider orevaluatorshouldbesuretonotetheirrecommendationforthespecificdevice,softwareor technologyneededtofacilitateequalaccessto theexammaterialsinthedocumentation.

Forstudentswhoaredeaforhardofhearing(DHOH)

FromtheNBME:DHOH

TheUSMLEcomputerͲbasedexaminations(Step1,Step2ClinicalKnowledge,andStep3)each containasmallnumberofmultiͲmediaitems,whichmayhaveanaudiocomponent.TheStep2 ClinicalSkills(CS)examinationinvolvestheuseofsimulatedpatientstotestmedicalstudents andgraduatesontheirabilitytogatherinformationfrompatients,performphysical examinations,andcommunicatetheirfindingstopatientsandcolleagues.TheStep2CS examinationmayinvolveoneormorepatientencounterswheretheexamineeisaskedto communicatewiththepatientbytelephone.Ifyouhaveahearingimpairment/hearing lossthat iscoveredundertheADAandthatwouldimpairyourabilitytoaccesstheexaminationcontent understandardconditions,pleasefollowtheseGuidelinestorequesttestaccommodations. Comprehensivedocumentationofhearingimpairmentsmustincludeareportofaclinical evaluationbyaqualifiedprofessional(otolaryngologistand/oraudiologist)and acopyofyour mostrecentaudiogramoraudiometricreport.Thereportofevaluationshouldinclude: •Actualscoresandresultsfromalltests,procedures,measurements,andscalesadministered fortheevaluation. •Informationaboutwhetherthehearinglossisstaticorchanging.Hearinglossofachanging naturemay needtobedocumentedmorefrequently(e.g.,withinthepast6months). •Specificinformationconcerningthecurrentfunctionallimitationsimposedbytheimpairment (i.e.,towhatextentyourdayͲtoͲdayfunctioningisimpairedbythehearingloss). •Detailedinformationaboutwhattherapyandauditoryaidsarebeingused totreatthe impairment,andtheeffectivenessoftheseinterventions,includinganyrelevantpostͲtherapy data •Aspecificrecommendationforallaccommodationsrequested,withanexplanationofhowthe accommodationswillreducetheimpactoftheidentifiedfunctionallimitationsonthespecific testingactivity(thismaybedifferentfor theCBTexaminationsvs.Step2CS).Yourrequest mustspecifywhetheryourequireuseofhearingaids,cochlearimplants,orotherassistive listeningdevicesforthedayofyourexamination.Pleaseprovidespecificinformationforany assistivelisteningdevice,includinghearingaids,suchasthemakeandmodelnumber,and a photoofthedeviceforourreview.Notethatthephotoshouldbeofyourownpersonalitem thatyouarerequestingtobringwithyoutotheexamination,notagenericphotoofthe make/model.Attheconclusionofourreview,youandyourtestcenterwillbe notifiedin writingoftheitem(s)approvedforyouruseduringtheexamination.Thisapprovalisnecessary asunauthorizedpossessionofpersonalitemswhileinthesecureareaofthetestcentermay leadtoafindingofirregularbehaviorandpermanentannotationofyourUSMLEtranscript.

Personalitemexemptions

Ifyouneedtobringanythingintotheexamthatisrelatedtoyourdisabilityandconsidered "nonͲstandard"suchasfood,waterormedication,aspecialcushion,hearingaidsorcochlear implantsnotBluetoothorwirelessenabled,and/orothermedicaldevices,youwillneedto havethisapprovedinadvance oftheexam. Somestudentsareaskedtosendaphotographoftheirdeviceaspartoftheapprovalprocess. Theserequestsgenerallydonotrequirethesame"burdenofproof"thatotheraccommodations require.Oftenthedocumentationrequirementisaletterofsupportfromamedicaldoctor statingthenatureofthecondition andthereasonwhytheitemisneeded.Wehavereportsof studentsneedingtodeclareitemslikelegbraces,crutches,etc.Agoodruleofthumbisto declareANYTHINGandallowtheNBMEtodetermineifsuchadeclarationisnotneeded.The

NBMEprovidesspecificadviceon

thisissue:http://www.usmle.org/testͲ accommodations/PIEs.html

NewlyDiagnosedorNoHistoryofAccommodations

Ifyoudonothaveahistoryofaccommodationorhavebeenrecentlydiagnosedwithadisability Youmustanswerthequestion"whynow?"TheNBMEwillwanttoknowwhyyouhave successfullygainedentrytomedicalschoolwithoutaccommodations,butnow havedifficulty accessingtheeducationcurriculum.Theexaminerwhodiagnosedyouwillalsoberequiredto speaktotheseissues.

Application

AllindividualswishingtoapplyforaccommodationsontheUSMLEexamswillberequiredtofill outadetailedapplicationandmustincludetheirUSMLEnumber.Acopyof theapplicationis attachedtothisguide.

SchedulingtheExam

WhileunderreviewyouwillNOTbeabletoscheduleyourexam.Ifyouareapprovedfor accommodationsyouwillreceivearegistrationticketwithin5daysoftheapprovalandonly thencanyouregisterfortheexam.

Testing

CentersandAccommodatedTesting

Studentsshouldidentifyforthemselvesseveraltestingcentersfortesting.Somewillfillquicker thanothersandwhenaccommodatedwithassistivetechnology,extraͲtime,oraprivateroom, studentsmayhavelimitedchoices.

ThePersonalStatement

FromtheUSMLE:ThePersonalStatement

D3.PersonalStatementAttachasignedanddatedpersonalstatementdescribingyour impairments(s)andtheirimpactondailylife.Narrativesshouldnotbeconfinedtostandardized testperformance.Thepersonalstatementisyouropportunitytotellushowyourphysicalor mentalimpairment(s)substantially limityourcurrentfunctioninginamajorlifeactivity.Inyour ownwords,discusshowyourimpairment(s)wouldinterferewithyouraccesstotherelevant USMLEStepandhowthespecificaccommodation(s)youarerequestingwillalleviatethisimpact. TheUSMLErequiresapersonalstatementaspartoftheaccommodationrequest application. ThisisoftenthemosttimeͲconsumingpartoftheapplicationprocess,butcanbeoneofthe mostimportantandcompellingpartsoftherequest.Thisisyouronlyopportunitytoshareyour personalexperienceoflivingwithadisability. Thispersonalstatementisuniqueandshouldfocusonyourareasofdifficultyratherthanyour strengths.Itisnotthetimetotalkabouthowwell youhavebeendoing.Rather,youwillneedto highlightwhatisdifficult,whatyoudotomanageit,andwhatremainsachallenge.We understandthismayfeelcounterintuitiveandcanbeemotionallydifficult-wearehereto supportyou.YoucanmeetwithOMSEstafftodiscussyour personalstatementandaskfor feedback.Whilewedonotprovideextensiveediting,wewillworkwithyoutohelpyoubest articulateyourneeds.

Pointsofconsiderationforpersonalstatements

1. Explainthenatureofyourdisabilityandwhyyouarerequestingaccommodations.Includea

descriptionoftheday ͲtoͲdayimpactofyourdisabilityͲnotjusttheimpactonacademic tasks,liketakingexams(e.g.,impactoninterpersonalrelationships,employment,course withdrawals,personalorganization,drivingrecord,financialmanagement,etc).

2. Focusonyourareasofdifficultyratherthanyourstrengths.Thiscanfeelawkward,because

oftentimesstudentswith disabilitiesaretaughttoputtheir"bestfootforward"and emphasizetheirstrengthswhenspeakingaboutthemselves.However,thepersonal statementisnotthetimetotalkabouthowwellyouhavebeendoing.Itisactuallytheplace toemphasizeandhighlightwhathasbeendifficult.Itisessential thatyouconnectyour accommodationstoanysuccesses.Theburdentoprovethattherequested accommodationsarenecessaryisonthestudent.Beveryclearaboutthebarriersposedby thetest,andtheanticipatedoutcomeiftheaccommodationyouarerequestingisnotin place.Thebarriermustbegrounded inthenatureofyourcondition,andsubstantiatedby thedocumentationyouareproviding.

3.Paycloseattentiontothelanguageyouusetodescribeyourneeds.Thecoverlettershould

notrefertoapreferenceforanaccommodation,butrathershouldemphasizeyourneedfor theaccommodation.Yourjob istoexplainwhytheaccommodationsyouarerequestingare necessarytoensureyouraccesstotheexam.Forexample,youshouldnotsaythingslike"I woulddobetterwith"or"toensuremysuccess,"asaccommodationsaredesignedtoensure access,notsuccess.Youshouldalsoavoidusing phrasessuchas"learningdifferences,"as agenciesareonlyinterestedindisabilitiesthatrequireaccommodations.Itcanbedifficultto startwritingapersonalstatement. GeneralChecklistandTimelineforAccommodationRequestsontheNBMEExams Submitallmaterials:_____________________________________________(date)

Atleast10monthsbeforeyouplantotaketheexam:

Findtheinformationabouttheexamaccommodationrequestprocess Findthedeadlineformakingrequests:____________________________________ Identifytheappealprocedureand anyassociatedtimelinesoAimtomakeyour requestatleast60daysinadvanceoftheirrecommendeddeadline: CurrentlytheUSMLEistakingupto120daystorespondtoinitialinquiries Makealistofwhathistoricaldocumentationyouneedtogather: AllhistoricalevaluationsSupplemental lettersofsupportfrompreviousinstructors Lettersdocumentinghistoricalaccommodationapproval KͲ12§APexams SAT/ACTexams Undergraduate PostͲbacprogram Graduateschool Workplace Professionalschool MCATaccommodations Locatethedocumentationrequirementsformakingyourrequest Printa copyoftherequirements Compareyourmostrecentdocumentationtotherequirements Ifyourdocumentationdoesn'tmatch,identifythespecificreasonswhyand makealist Ifyou'llneedanewevaluation,begincontactingpotentialevaluators immediatelytodeterminethecostandhowsoonyoucanbe evaluated. Evaluatorslikelywillwanttoseeyourhistoricalevaluations Thenewevaluatorwillbenefitfromknowingwhattherequirementsare fordocumentation;sharethelistofthingsyoufeelaremissingfromyour historicaldocumentation Agoodevaluatorwillsummarizeyourhistoricalevaluationsandexplain anyinconsistencies betweenthem,andbetweenanynewresults. Explainthedeadlineforsubmittingyourapplication ScheduleanappointmentwithyourDSofficetodiscussyourapplication DisabilityServicesofficemighthavecopiesofyourhistoricalevaluationsorother materialsyoucaninclude MakearequestforaletterofsupportandforTheCertificationofPriorTest

Accommodationsform

Askfortipsandadviceaboutyourapplication,andinquireaboutotherstudents' recentexperiences. InquireaboutanyfinancialsupporttowardsreͲevaluation,andrecommended referrals

Atleast8months

beforetheexam,beginworkingonyourpersonalstatement

TopicPromptsforPersonalStatements

Note:Respondonlytothepromptsthatarerelevanttoyourcircumstances. Explainthenatureofyourdisabilityandwhyyouarerequestingaccommodations. Describehowitaffectsyouinmedicalschool(reading,writing, studying,inclassroom, lab,clinic) IncludeadescriptionofthedayͲtoͲdayimpactofyourdisability(outsidemedschool): interpersonalrelationships personalorganization drivingrecord financialmanagement prioremployment readingforpleasure Explainyourhistoryofusingaccommodationsinall settings. KͲ12 Undergraduate Othergraduateprograms Previousstandardizedtesting(MCAT,SAT,APexams,other) Employment Medicalschool Whataccommodationsdidyouuse? Whatadditionalchallengesdidyoufaceintheenvironment? Wereanyaccommodationsprovidedinformallythataren'tdocumented? What weretheyandwhyaren'ttheyabletobeformallydocumented? Ifyoudonothavealonghistoryofaccommodationsorhaveneverutilizedaccommodations inthepast: Explainwhatisnewnow.Whyareaccommodationsnecessaryatthistimeforthis exam? Isthisexamdifferent fromothersyouhavetakenbefore?How? Isyourdiagnosisrecent?Ifso,howdidthediagnosiscomeabout? Whatwerethecircumstancesofyourupbringingand/orearlyeducationthatmayhelp theevaluatorstounderstandyourlatediagnosis/lackofaccommodations? Whatchallengesdidyoufacein yourlifebeforeyouwerediagnosed? Ineducation Inyourpersonallife Whatstrategiesdidyouusetosucceedinschoolandyourpersonallifeintheabsenceof formaldiagnosis,treatment,andaccommodations? Ismedicalschooldifferentfromyourpreviousacademicsettings?How? Howdidyougetbybeforeyouhad accommodations? Whatstrategies,services,supports,didyouuse? Whatwerethechallengesandsuccessesassociated?Howaretheyinsufficientforthe medicalschoolsetting,andtheUSMLEexaminparticular? Didyourequestbutweredeniedaccommodationsonpreviousstandardizedexams(e.g.,

MCAT)?

Ifso,how didyouultimatelysucceedsufficientlytogainadmittanceinmedicalschool, despitenothavingaccommodationsforthisexam? Whatstrategiesandpreparationwereinvolvedinyourjourneytomedicalschoolto bolsteryourapplication? Providearationaleforeachaccommodationyouarerequesting Whatbarrierdoestheexam pose,andhowisittiedtoyourdisability? Ifyouhaveanexampleofadifferenceinperformancewithandwithoutthe accommodation,providethis.

Adaptedfrom:

Jain,N.&Bisagno,J.(April,2016).SupportingStudentsAccommodationRequestsonHigh StakesExams.3rdAnnualDisabilityinHealthScienceandMedicineSymposium.SanFrancisco, CA.

References

Jain,N.&Bisagno,J.(April,2016).SupportingStudentsAccommodationRequestsonHigh

StakesExams.3rdAnnualDisabilityinHealthScienceand

MedicineSymposium.SanFrancisco,

CA.UsedwithpermissionfromNeeraJaintoinformAppendixC. Jain,N.,Lewis,C.,Meeks,L.M.,Tucker,T.(2015).TheProcessofRequestingAccommodations onCertification,Licensing,andBoardExams:AssistingStudentsThroughtheApplication.InN.

Jain&L.Meeks(Eds.),TheGuideto

AssistingStudentswithDisabilities:EqualAccessinHealth ScienceandProfessionalEducationNewYork,NY:Springer. USMLETestAccommodationsWebsite:http://www.usmle.org/testͲaccommodations/

WritingtheUSMLEPersonalStatement

OverallGoal

Proveyouhaveadisability(pertheADA)thatimpactsyoureverydaylife Showwhatthebarrieriswithaccessingtheexams Statewhatyouarerequestingandwhyitwill"ensurethatthestudent'sperformanceisa reflectionoftheunderstandingandmasteryofthe materialtested,withoutreflectingthe disability" Ifyourdisabilityisdevelopmental(LD,ADHDetc...)thatyouhavehadthispresentyouwholelife (documentedornot)

Guidance

1.Explainthenatureofdisabilityandwhyyouarerequestingaccommodations.Includeadescription

ofthedayͲtoͲdayimpactof thedisability - notjusttheimpactonacademictaskssuchastaking exams(e.g.,theimpactoninterpersonalrelationships,employment,coursewithdrawals,personal organization,drivingrecord,financialmanagement).

2.FocusonareasofDIFFICULTYratherthanstrengths.Emphasizeandhighlightwhathasbeen

difficult.Itisessentialthatyouconnecttherequested accommodationstotheirsuccesses.Besure tostatewhatthebarrieriswithaccessingtheexams.

3.Emphasizetheneedfortheaccommodationratherthanapreference.Thebarriermustbe

groundedinthenatureofthecondition,andsubstantiatedbythedocumentation.Statethe accommodationyouarerequestingand whyitwill"ensurethatyourperformanceisareflectionof theunderstandingandmasteryofthematerialtested,withoutreflectingthedisability."

4.Paycloseattentiontothelanguageyouusetodescribeyourneeds.

AvoidthesecommonwordͲusepitfalls:

"Iwouldappreciateitif"...(donotaskforafavor;askforlegallymandatedaccess) "Itwouldbehelpfultohave"...(somemightsayitwouldbehelpfulforeveryone) "Iwoulddobetterwith"or,"toensuremysuccess,"(you needtoensureaccessnotsuccess) "learningdifferences("learningdifferences,"arenotprotectedbyADA)

Usepowerfulphrases,asintheseexamples:

"Irequire...Asaresultof[specifybarrier]," "ItisnecessarythatIamprovided[specifyaccommodation]." "Throughoutmyeducation,[specifyaccommodation]hasallowedmetodemonstratemy understandingofmaterialsonexams.Iwillrequirethesameaccommodationonthisexam."

5.Discussyourhistoryof

disability. Ifthediagnosisisdevelopmental(LD,ADHD,etc...)innature,showthatyouhavehadthispresentyour wholelife.Ifyoudonothaveofficialdocumentationshowingahistory:

Establish

1)whyaccommodationsarenecessaryand

2)whynow?

ListeffectiveselfͲaccommodationstrategiesusedprior toanofficialdiagnosis(e.g.,readingtexts overmanytimesforcomprehension,usingextensivetutoring,utilizingapartnerorstudygroupto breakdowninformation,usingreadingorvoiceͲrecognitionsoftwareorhavingafriendorfamily memberreadmaterials). ListInformalaccommodations.Describewhatwasprovidedinthe past,howtheprovisioncame about(e.g.,requestedinformallyfromprofessor,professornoticedthatthestudenttooklonger totestandofferedtime),documentingthisviaathirdparty(theprofessor,aproctor,adeanof students) Ifyouhaveanacquireddisability:(recentdiagnosisthatisnotdevelopmentalinnature) youshould provideinformationabouttheonsetoftheconditionandhistoryofreceivingaccommodationssince then,andexplainanygapsordelaysinusingaccommodations.

Adaptedfrom:

The guide to assisting students with disabilities: equal access in health science and professional education. Lisa Meeks-Neera Jain - Springer Publishing Company - 2016