At the risk of starting a thread which will expose the dead horse that has so often been beaten on these boards, I just wish to vent that the College Board has denied my ds’s appeal for accommodations (the use of computer) for testing.
DS, misdiagnosed in 6th grade with ADHD, so struggled with getting his many thoughts and minute details in writing that his middle school teachers gave him oral exams when necessary. In 8th grade he was diagnosed with dysgraphia and other LD’s. He has used a computer for all writing at school and has had a writing tutor for three years. His high school teachers comment that sometimes when he is done testing they quiz him orally, as he likely will have left out important details they know he knows. His brain operates much faster than his ability to express his ideas. Fast forward to the College Board denial for the use of a computer, our recent retesting for our son (confirmed the LD diagnosis but removed the ADHD), and the CB’s recent denial of our appeal.
So, what does this mean for DS? Well, as far as college testing, hopefully his ACT request will be successful. He will not be able to take the SAT with writing unless he chooses to disclose his LD to schools. So the decision could impact which schools he can apply to given he won’t have the writing section.
The greatest impact will be AP testing. We are now questioning whether the additional time spent preparing for these tests is worth it if he can not use a computer for wriitng. This isn’t the end of the world, but it sure is a blow to a kid that works tremendously hard, has taken the tough classes and wants to show how capable he is, and possibly get college credit for courses taken. Again, he will feel pressure to disclose his disability as he will need to explain why he didn’t take AP tests, or schools will assume he didn’t pass them.
For all those who think the CB accommodations are easy to get, clearly they are not. What seems to be the issue for DS is that he is very bright and tests well. They don’t think he needs the accommodations and disagree with the diagnosis of an exceptionally experienced PHd in LD’s, a professor in the field.
For those who believe accommodations on the test are unfair, what seems unfair is having a kid who does not learn or perform in a standardized way, have to conform to standardized testing.
Why doesn’t he take the accommodations and disclose to colleges? His issues aren’t going away in the next year, so why get admitted to a college which doesn’t understand that he may need further accommodations to be successful?
does he have an IEP or 504, or are the teachers just doing this? My S was able to get the accommodation from the CB, but it is written in his 504 that he has such accommodations curently.
@sdl0625, yes he has accommodations at school and yes it is written into these. The CB still denied.
@blossom, he will likely have to do this. But really, it should be up to ds to disclose. He should not have to. And disclosing does not solve the issue with the AP tests. If he doesn’t have the use of a computer, it is highly unlikely he will pass these tests. One issue is the disorganization within the essay, but the other is that the grader is not going to be able to read them. Additionally, his writing is painfully slow. He just won’t be abe to get all his thoughts down.
Is he applying to a school that requires the SAT with writing? Just have him skip the writing part- I don’t know many colleges (if any!) that are requiring it!
This doesn’t really make sense since the college board specifically states that use of a computer is allowed with dysgraphia. Are you certain that his IEP specifically states that he is diagnosed with dysgraphia? Did you supply the specific testing CB requires? Or was this just from an outside person and the IEP is more general? Can you appeal?
Have you submitted a diagnosis/analysis from a neurologist and/or an occupational therapist documenting your child’s dysgraphia? Our experience is that documentation from the medical community carries far more weight with College Board than psychological testing which (as you can tell from the ADHD misdiagnosis) can be more subjective. Also, be aware that only a very small percentage of colleges actually even consider the SAT Essay.
@mom2and this is my point of venting really. It does not make sense. DS goes to a private school and has a Student Learning Plan, not a 504 or IEP. His SLP clearly states that he is given the accommodation of use of a computer. CB was supplied his SLP as well as his most recent (and earlier) testing. Here’s what the testing report says,
"These visual and motor challenges related to writing are consistent with the prior diagnosis of dysgraphia."
All testing was done with a highly regarded phd in neurosphychology. The school does not provide testing.
STF4717 Stanford, Brown and UC’s all require:
And when schools say ‘recommend’ I think they send mixed messages similar to the subject test. Best to take it.
I feel for you. My son has a LD as well. Luckily, we put in for accommodations for the ACT, and were awarded the most important one of allowing him to take the test over several days. We’re still appealing the use of the scantron for visual processing issues.
I hope you’re able to work something out. If the ACT allows for accommodations, I would just have him take that and forget about the SAT.
As a teacher who took the ACT with accommodations, I can tell you that the problem is the SLP. The issue is that IEP/504s have set requirements on a federal level for who does and doesn’t qualify. While having an SLP through the school gets him through, there’s no set standards the CB can look at and know that he qualifies. You’re not faking, but they don’t know that. For all they know, you paid off a doc and your kid deliberately skewed the testing, or you kept fighting with the school until they did the SLP to appease you. (yes, crazy parents do that) I hate to tell you this, but you need to know now that no college will have to recognize/accept his SLP. The only documents that come with guaranteed protections are IEPs and 504s. A college may or may not, likely will not, honor accommodations laid out in an SLP. IDK how his school will take it, but you really should push for an IEP.
As for AP tests, it may not be as big of a problem as you think. Plenty of the tests don’t have major writing requirements or can be gamed to allow for more time to write. I only remember one or two essay questions on the AP gov. test. If you can read effectively and do the multiple choice at a decent rate, you can pick up time to write. He can always do what I did (I took my APs without accommodation) and only send the test reports to the college he picks AFTER you get the scores. His handwriting likely isn’t as much of a problem as you think either. My first job out of college was scoring written portions of a standardized test, and we can read just about anything. The only ones we have problems with are smudged or both heavy and small (they don’t scan well).
I’m so sorry. I agree with @GloriaVaughn that the issue lies within not having an official IEP or 504 plan. I don’t want to be negative, but our experience was that College Board was much more accommodating than the ACT. The College Board gave my DS stop the clock and time 1/2. The ACT only gave stop the clock. They deemed my son’s Dyspraxia diagnosis as not recent enough, but gave him stop the clock for IBS because he sees a specialist at least twice a year - so very recent diagnosis. I hope that the ACT is more accommodating for you than for us.
I would definitely consider some test optional schools. The issues that require accommodations aren’t going away. A school that is test optional may be more likely to recognize and accommodate students with different learning styles.
My daughter went to a private school and had extra time as an accommodation in school. The College Board denied her (and denied her appeal); the ACT folks approved her request for extended time in less than a week. In addition, she had no problem obtaining accommodations at her college without an IEP or 504 plan (she did, however, have a full neuro-psych evaluation that she submitted).
Kid1 has an IEP, he has extended time in high school. With the SAT, the extended time was given by CB, but the score still didn’t reflect Kid1. GPA was a better indicator, so we focused on test optional schools, of the 3 that required SAT, he still was admitted. Now that he’s admitted, we’ll sink deeper into understanding supports at the colleges to help in making a decision.
Thanks all. I appreciate your inupt. As far as accommodations, the issue isn’t as much with extended time as just the use of a computer for writing the essay. He is scoring quite high on mock tests and did fairly well (95%) on the PSAT. Any thoughts on just taking the SAT/ACT without the essay versus taking the essay without accommodations knowing he will ikely score high on the test but low on the writing? I suppose this is what ‘addtional information’ sections are for.
I am sorry your son was denied accomodation. You are concerned that if he takes the test without accomodation you will have to explain why he may have had a lower than expected score, on only the essay portion, due to his failure to receive testing accomodations, but you do not want to disclose that he had testing accommodations to a potential University because you feel it will disadvantage your son in the admissions process, correct? However, once your son is accepted you would need to ask for accomodations? Or do you have no intention of ever asking for accomodation again beyond HS? How are you going to handle the writing issues and thought organization on his application essays? I would think it would be evident there as well, even with the ability to edit over time.
Why would you not disclose the disability? Is it not illegal under the ADA for a university to discriminate based on disability?
You do not have to disclose AP test scores prior to admission. My eldest never disclosed a single one of her 11AP test scores and was admitted to every school to which she applied. Any “pressure” to disclose AP test scores is entirely self imposed.
Unfortunately it sounds as though it would behoove you to have additional testing and documentation of his disability. The evidence given from one source may not be as compelling as you think. It can only help moving forward.
Hopefully the AP people will be more helpful. I have a strong dislike for the College Board…it is such racket!