<p>This is my first time seeking ACT and SAT test accommodations for my child. Whoa. Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the information, to be honest. Could someone who's gone through this coach me a bit? </p>
<p>I believe, at this point, my DD needs at least time-and-a-half, and spreading the test out over several days with testing at the child's school --- due to ADHD and Math, Reading, and Writing LDs. (Please, I hope one on turns this into a thread about the appropriateness of accommodations for students with disabilities.) Those are the accommodations she's needed and had in state-required testing since 4th grade. She has also needed accommodations in the classroom since then. And, those have been in her IEP each year. But working with the ACT company (and, soon, the College Board for SAT accommodations) is new to us. </p>
<p>This is what the ACT company requires for kids with impairing ADHD and LDs:</p>
<p>ADD/ADHD:
1) evidence of early impairment
2) evidence of current impairment, including presenting problem and diagnostic interview
3) evidence that alternative explanations were ruled out
4) results from valid, standardized, age-appropriate assessments
5) number of applicable DSM-IV or DSM-5 criteria and description of how they impair the individual</p>
<p>Learning Disabilities:
Complete test and subtest results including standard scores and/or percentiles from reliable, valid, and standardized measures from:
1) an intellectual assessment using a complete and comprehensive battery
2) a complete achievement battery
3) evidence that alternative explanations were ruled out</p>
<p>Recommendation for Accommodations: The diagnostic report must include specific recommendations for accommodations as well as an explanation of why each accommodation is recommended and how it alleviates the impact of the disability when taking a timed standardized test.</p>
<p>The College Board's SAT documentation requirements seem similar: </p>
<p>To be eligible for accommodations on College Board exams, a student must have documentation showing evidence of the following:</p>
<pre><code>The disability
The degree to which the student’s activities are affected (functional limitation)
The need for the specific accommodations requested
</code></pre>
<p>Here's a bit from CB about students with LDs documentation: </p>
<p>Recommended Accommodations Justified</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Describe the specific accommodations requested, and explain why they are needed. The reason for requesting a particular accommodation is not always evident from the diagnosis.</p></li>
<li><p>Be sure your rationale for specific accommodations focuses on the following:</p>
<p>Connection between the student’s learning disorder and the requested accommodations
Current needs of the student
Reasons requested accommodations are needed on the College Board’s standardized exams, which are primarily written</p></li>
<li><p>Students requesting extended time should document difficulty taking timed tasks, include the amount of extended time required or the maximum amount of time the student can be tested in a day, and include current scores on timed and untimed/extended time tests.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>TL;DR
Could someone who's gone through this coach me on documenting ADHD and LDs requiring accommodations for the ACT and/or the SAT? Thanks!</p>
PM me!</p>
</p>