List of Testing Accommodations for Students With Disabilities

Each student's needs are unique, so there's not a comprehensive . However, there are some common accommodation options that can serve as a useful starting point for figuring out the best accommodation for you or your child.

Regardless of which accommodations you're looking for, DoNotPay can help you secure them. Here's what you should know about the that might benefit you or your child when taking standardized tests.

What Testing Accommodations Are Available for Students With Disabilities?

The goal of accommodations for standardized testing is to allow students or test takers with disabilities to get a score that accurately reflects the skills being tested. This means that different disabilities need different strategies to achieve this goal.

While the specific accommodations required are unique to each student with disabilities, there are some general categories of accommodations that are most frequently offered. If you're not sure what accommodations would be best for you or your child, this list can be a good place to start.

1. Extended time

This is probably the most well-known type of testing accommodation. Extended time can be a certain percentage of the regular testing time, like time and a half. For students whose disability prevents focusing for long periods of time, testing broken up over multiple days might be available.

It's important not to automatically assume that extended time is the best accommodation. Sometimes, more frequent breaks or an alternative to filling out scantron bubbles is a better option.

2. Breaks

There are three types of break accommodations that might be offered:

Extra breaks: Breaks are available more frequently than the standard testing schedule.
Extended breaks: Longer breaks are available.
Breaks as needed: The test taker can request unscheduled breaks as they need them.

3. Assistance With Reading and Seeing

There are several options for test-takers who are blind or have difficulty seeing or reading, such as:

Large print
Braille
Drawings or diagrams with raised lines
Recorded audio versions of the test
Text to speech technology
A person to read the test live

With tests that are administered digitally, like the LSAT, some of these options, like large print and text to speech, are available automatically without requesting an accommodation. You won't usually be able to get multiple accommodations for the same disability, so you'll need to pick one of these.

4. Calculator

If your test includes mathematical calculations, you might qualify for a calculator where they aren't otherwise allowed as an accommodation. For example, the SAT allows calculators as an accommodation on the non-calculator math sections for qualifying test takers.

5. Alternative Answer Recording

For disabilities like dysgraphia or fine motor skill impairments, test takers can request accommodations that include:

Large-print answer sheets
Ability to type instead of handwriting answers
A scribe to record answers for you
Ability to mark answers in the test book instead of on a separate sheet

Most of those accommodations won't be necessary for tests that are offered digitally, but they can be very helpful for paper tests with scantron answer sheets.

6. Distraction-Free Testing Room

Some test-takers, such as those with ADHD, can benefit from taking a test alone with a proctor or in a smaller group.

7. Bring in Additional Supplies

Some tests have very strict requirements for what can be brought into the testing center, so test-takers with diabetes or other conditions that require people to keep medications and testing supplies on hand might need an accommodation to allow this.

Easily Request Testing Accommodations With DoNotPay

Making sure that you get the accommodations you need to do your best on an upcoming standardized test can be difficult. There are many different accommodations and disabilities that can require them, so the requirements for documentation can be vague and confusing. Worse, this all comes on top of the stress and time required to study for your exam.

Thankfully, DoNotPay has a fast, easy and successful solution. Tell us about your disability and the accommodations you're looking for, and we'll write to the appropriate testing company for you.

Here is what you have to do:

Search for testing accommodations on DoNotPay.
Start our Request My Testing Accommodation product by telling us which test you intend to take.
Answer some questions about your specific disability and testing plans.

That's it! We'll write a letter requesting the accommodations you need and send it to the testing company on your behalf.

DoNotPay Can Help With Accommodations for Any Test

Whichever test you're taking, DoNotPay can help you get the accommodations you need to have a fair experience. Some of these tests include:

The Medical College Admission Test®

American College Test

(ACT)

What Else Can DoNotPay Do for You?

DoNotPay can help you save money and navigate bureaucracy in many different ways. If you already have your hands full, here are some tasks that we can handle for you:

To request any of the testing accommodations on this list, join DoNotPay now.