“As many as one in four students at some elite U.S. colleges are now classified as disabled, largely because of mental-health issues such as depression or anxiety, entitling them to a widening array of special accommodations like longer time to take exams.”
The key words here are “at some elite U.S. colleges.” This is not 25% of all college students. As mentioned up thread, some college have very good accommodations and advertise as such, which would garner a higher percent than normal. My daughter’s college, not “elite,” has such a program. It covers all disabilities. People seek it out. People pick it because of the program.
Having not read the article, I would like to know how they could say the classifications are “largely because of mental health issues.” I would not think a college would say what % have A, what have B, etc.