Accommodations Needed/ Plz Help

[LateBloomer]

Hi,
I don't mind talking about my disability bc I have been able to achieve my goals so far.

That being said, I have ADHD. When I was a senior in high school and a Freshmen in college I tried to stop taking my medication. Even after over a year of not taking my medication in high school, it was still very clear that I flat out cannot concentrate to save my life. My testing results are seriously hurt whenever I do not take my medicine.

Now I know I just said that when I take my medicine, my results are not seriously hurt. Which is 100% true they are not hurt whenever I do take it. BUT.....let me continue before typing out "if your medicine solves the problem, you do not need any accommodation." My medicine does not solve the problem 100%, it only allows me to concentrate enough to be able to do things necessary that I need to do. Another point to make, I've never done well on standardized testing because of this. I hate giving what I feel is an excuse, but I already have a hard time concentrating and finishing within time constraints for my classes. Those test are only an hour long also, so you can imagine what it's like for me to sit down and take a 4 hour test in a room with fluorescent lights that make noise, kids that make subtle sounds, and windows that allow me to have the ability to look outside.

My medication just flat out does not last that long and I can't just switch types because not all medicine works the same way. There's a lot of side effects with each one and for me to just switch could have substantial negative side effects that would effect my daily life. Especially because I have already adapted to know how to function on the medicine i have now.I have proper documentation of my disability diagnosis, it's just there is a lot of doubt that comes along with my situation

I have been studying for 6 months and taking practice tests for 5 months. When I take full tests, it is literally impossible for me to make it to problem 20 on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th section(i take sections from other tests for the 5th one). I've taken around 15 of those timed while on my medicine. My best score was 151 and my average is 145ish. The reason why this is really important to me is because when I do not take these test timed (I've taken 7 or 8 untimed), my highest score so far is 170 with my average at 165-166 and my low of 163. I normally start out strong and can move fast, but by the third test it takes around 50-55 min for me to finish .

I have not had to have disability requirements at my university, because I have been able to get by with the time normally allotted. I am taking the test this saturday (sept 2017) without any accommodation because I have not taken a standardize test in over 5 years and did not think about it effecting me, nor did I think about possible accommodations.

I am stressed out of my mind because this is truly what I want to do with my life and I know I am not going to be able to give my absolute best. I am taking the test again however in Dec. and I guess if I have to I will take it in Feb. I don't want this to be the reason why I did not get to go to a great institution.

Sorry for the novel. Basically, I am asking for help in how to present my situation to the lsac because I know the following information I gave is material in deciding whether or not I can qualify.

Will someone please help me in presenting my case to the LSAC in the best way possible? I do not want to give them the idea that I am trying to mislead them. Especially after not having the accommodations I need for Saturday.

[Dave Killoran]

Hi Late,

Thanks for all the info! It's always better to know more about a situation than less, so that was helpful Let's take a look at the main questions you were asking:

Will someone please help me in presenting my case to the LSAC in the best way possible? I do not want to give them the idea that I am trying to mislead them. Especially after not having the accommodations I need for Saturday.

Let me start with that last point. The fact that you are taking the test tomorrow without accommodation will have no effect on your request for accommodations in the future. It's actually fairly common for this to happen, where someone walks in and takes the exam (often without realizing they could get accommodations), and I've seen many instances where they were able to get accommodations down the road. so, as far as this point, it's not a concern at all.

Next, you ask about help in presenting the case, so let's talk about what happens there. When LSAC makes accommodations decisions, they do so primarily on the basis of proven medical need. So, although you must submit a Statement of Need and explain why you need help, that's less influential than what your doctors say. In other words, you can't talk LSAC into giving you accommodations if the doctors haven't proven you need them. So, it's not a court situation where you plead a position or try to argue that you need accommodations and then they decide that you should get them. In your statement of need you simply explain how your situation has affected you. Be honest and direct, and talk specifically about how you are affected. That should match up with the doctors say, and if that meets LSAC's criteria, then they approve the request.

The primary factor is LSAC's review of the reports submitted by your doctors, and it's on that basis that they either approve or deny your application. That also means that there's no concern over misleading anyone. If your doctors show a documented need, then it's approved and you move on from there. If the reports they submit don't prove a need to LSAC (and this does happen frequently), then they deny you. But since it's doctors who provide the bulk of the factual content that proves the case, there's no chance of misleading anyone.

What your doctors need to do is document both your condition as well as the effect it has on your test taking, and then make a specific requests for accommodation. This is made easier because LSAC does have forms and questions they want answered by your doctors, so this isn't just up to your doctor to get it right!

Hopefully that clears up the concern. Yes, you make a case, but in the grand scheme of things it is your doctor reports that make or break the decision.

Thanks!