Evaluations for Educational or Test Accommodations in High School, College, Post-College Settings & Standardized Tests

A diagnosis of ADD, a learning disability, or a psychological disorder alone does not qualify someone for educational accommodations such as extended time on tests.  Chapter 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974 and The Americans with Disabilities Act state that one must provide evidence of a disability that functionally limits or impairs a major life activity, i.e., learning.  Not all individuals with disabilities are functionally limited such that they require educational accommodations.  In order to determine if someone meets the criterion of a functional limitation, the law requires individuals to undergo comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations that will determine how their disability currently and historically has impaired their learning or academic functioning. 

It is important to understand that your performance on this evaluation is compared to norms for “the average person”.  In other words, the law doesn’t entitle individuals to accommodations simply because they perform at a lower level due to their disability.   You must perform below the level of the “average person” in order to be considered functionally impaired and be considered eligible for accommodations.  For example, if you are slower than you think you should be to complete tests because of ADD or a learning disability, but complete tests in an average amount of time  and/or  get  average to above average grades on tests compared to individuals your age, you may not qualify for accommodations on standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT, etc..   It is becoming increasingly difficult to qualify for accommodations on these tests. Learn more: Article 1 | Article 2  

Dr. Cooley can perform the required evaluation for you and will provide a report that you can submit with a request to a school or standardized testing agency (e.g., ETS, ACT) for accommodations.  This report will indicate the findings and whether Dr. Cooley thinks you exhibit a functional limitation that impairs your ability to function at some academic task.  Personnel at your school or a review panel from a testing center ultimately make the decision regarding whether you qualify for accommodations. 

If you are evaluated by Dr. Cooley, please bring to the evaluation any previous evaluations, previous standardized test scores, accommodation plans or IEPs, or other materials that document the history of the disability and any special educational services or accommodations you have received.  Individuals with a documented history of disabilities who have used educational accommodations in school have a better chance of qualifying for accommodations from standardized testing services e.g., SAT, ACT, etc.

The following are the guidelines for accommodations established for psychoeducational evaluations  by the Association on Higher Education and Disability:

Psychoeducational evaluations documenting a learning disability:

Psychoeducational evaluations documenting ADD/ADHD:

Psychoeducational evaluations documenting psychiatric disabilities

Websites for Testing Agencies for Test Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities

SAT:

ACT:

GRE:

LSAT:  

Required documentation for evaluation is more extensive
and specified Here

State of Florida, Dept. of Business & Professional Regulation,
Examinees with Disabilities