<p>We (high school counselor) sent in the SAT application for SSD status at the end of August. Because of the LD and the way she checked the boxes, we were not required to submit supporting documentation. All the counselor had to say was that it was on file with the school and that the student had been under a formal plan of accomodation for at least 4 months... and maybe some other info. She indicated that it would go much quicker if we did not submit documentation and it was not required for the type of LD.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any experience with how long it takes to receive SSD notice and if the SSD status is generally granted when it "fits within the mold of the form"? (Counselor implied this method was more successful than submitting documentation.)</p>
<p>How about the ACT... she checked "Developmental Reading Disorder" and added eye tracking disorder, diagnosed by two different specialists. How long and chances of acceptance?</p>
<p>Don't know if matters, but she requested 100% extra time for both and, on the ACT, permission to take the test over mulitple days. Also, the counselor has gone through the ACT drill many times, but this is the first with the SAT.</p>
<p>I know when we did the SAT request with my son there was a table on the back of the envelope that gave date deadlines for each test date. Don't know if they still do that.
I also have found that if you email the Disablities dept at the SAT they will get back to you in a few days. Also I have had about a 70% success rate with calling and having the person on the other end be helpful. The counselor can also call and ask the status.
As to sending documentation I am not sure. At the time we requested the accommodations I was naive and had no clue that it would not be a simple process. I filled out he parent portion and returned it to the counselor. She did the rest. I am not sure what she included. I also did not know she was going to ask for double time. The request was granted and only later did I find out that my son was extremely lucky to get double time over two days plus a taped version or a reader.
As for timing, we applied right before school started so late august as well. When the time came for the PSAT we still did not have the paperwork back. We called and were given his ETS student with disabilites number. He was able to take the PSAT with double time in spite on not having the actual paperwork back. This could be done since the PSAT is signed up through the school versus the College Board.
Another thing to consider is that the accommodations once granted are only good while your child attends that school. If they change schools they must reapply.</p>
<p>With the College Board, it took us a year of elapsed time, including two appeals and several phone calls. Ultimately, the resolution was very helpful, but it was a lot of work.</p>
<p>Shawbridege, I hope we are not facing that type of battle. According to the CB form, we weren't even required to submit documentation. However, when I called, the rep said it would be very unusual for them not to request documentation. I asked why the form was written that way... because now he won't qualify for the PSAT... and we could have submitted documentation within the deadline. He didn't really answer this question.</p>
<p>Also, our school counselor (who going to the CB for the first time) also didn't send her SSD designation form. Fortunately, I caught that in time and she sent it in.</p>
<p>It sounds like I will need to be very proactive even though the school counselor wants us to be comforted that she can handle things. She's smart and competent, but has never dealt with the CB... and I hate to step on her toes, but it doesn't sound like a hands-off approach will yield the correct result for my son.</p>
<p>I would be very proactive. The person who handles the applications for SSD for my son's high school and his SPED caseworker thought it would be a no-brainer for the CB. But, they offered 50% extra time and not 100% extra time. I then did lots of work getting appeals, additional test results (done before the initial application but not presented), letter from doctor, letters from teachers and SPED folks at Healthy11's suggestion (I believe) since they aren't being paid by me, etc. Seventy pages of documentation overall. No meaningful change and one less than sensible change. I then called and received a call back a few days later and had several calls and prepared one more document before they ultimately agreed to 100% extra time.</p>
<p>I sense that the CB has gotten much more stringent and arbitrary (rejecting applications or giving 50% extra time when 100% extra time is merited) after they were blocked from flagging that the tests were taken with accommodations. Then, those with good cases and articulate parents/advocates fight back. The people at the high school may not really be up to speed with the changing way in which the CB is operating.</p>
<p>Shawbridge -- We're in the situation described in your second paragraph, waiting while our appeal is being considered. I cannot even begin to describe how disturbing this is to anyone who hasn't been there.</p>
<p>I empathize. It really is distressing to recognize that the standard operating procedure for dealing with kids like ours causes them to take tests in a way that systematically underestimates their knowledge and reasoning skills. My one data point of experience suggests two things: 1) you may ultimately need to get in touch with a real person; and 2) the CB may see "physical" disabilities and qualitatively different that "cognitive" and therefore invisible disabilities. I wish you well. Not sure if I can be of any assistance, but you can PM me if at some point you think I can help.</p>
<p>Happy Ending!!! ... We applied for 100% extended time for College Board tests and did not submit any documentation (per the form) on August 30th. We receive a letter today that my son had been approved for all requested accommodations. And, as I noted above, it was the counselor's first time requesting accommodations from the College Board.</p>
<p>I hesitated to post this given the traumatic experiences detailed above... however, I wanted people to know that the CB acted promptly and appropriately in this situation.</p>
<p>More good news!!! S's ETS appeal succeeded, and he has been granted the same accommodations he's been receiving at school forever: 100% time & keyboard with breaks if needed. I cannot even describe how upsetting and time-consuming all this has been, or the enormous relief I am feeling now that my kid has a shot at attending an appropriate college. </p>
<p>I want to make myself completely available to anyone else who could use help in this process, and I'll come on in the next couple of days to give the different resources that we would have used had S's appeal failed. There are even federally funded legal groups that take action on behalf of physically challenged and LD kids, and groups that will put you in touch with organizations that will assist state by state.</p>
<p>Thank you CC for going ahead with this LD board and to everyone here who has been so helpful and supportive, not to mention generous in sharing their own experiences and advice.</p>
<p>Not yet, Shawbridge, but I was just talking to a mother who'd gone through multiple ETS appeals for her child, but received the needed accommodations from the ACT within a couple of weeks. We're about to apply for the first time -- I'll keep you posted.</p>
<p>Shawbridge, we're currently working with the ACT. The wanted to see my son's written accommodation plan used at school... the counselor sent this. They also wanted us to send in the medical reports from those did the diagnoses... we sent this (medical records privacy issues, even though the school prepared the fax for us to sign and send... seems strange to me) We submitted it about two weeks ago and are waiting to hear back for the October test.</p>
<p>Why did you decide to have your sons take the ACT? </p>
<p>The college counselor said it was weighted more toward math and science. Since my son is quite dyslexic and is good at math/science, she thought it might work better for him. But, I thought there was a writing part as well.</p>
<p>The Science test is more a reading comprehension test than a Science test (as you might think of it school). It also involves a fair amount of graph interpretation. You might want to check out the ACT section of CC. My daughter took the ACT... and I found the Science section label to be the most misleading.</p>
<p>Congrats on the successful quest for accomodations. I have seen situations where the more you send , the less they accept. They usually require 7 weeks turn around time for every application/appeal etc. Can take FOREVER, and often deadlines are missed before appeals are complete.</p>