What Are The Bar Exam ADA Accommodations?
What Are The Bar Exam ADA Accommodations?
Some students applying to take the bar exam will require testing accommodations. Testing accommodations are provided pursuant to the ADA and granted to applicants for a variety of reasons. Generally, accommodations can include additional test-taking time, separate testing facilities, or physical modifications, such as an enlarged computer screen. Let’s take a closer look at the basics of bar exam accommodations. The information contained in this blog post is general in nature. Please keep in mind that each state will have different accommodation policies.
What Are The Bar Exam ADA Accommodations?
What’s The ADA?
The ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in places like the workforce or at schools. The purpose of the ADA is to ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. With regard to the bar exam, the ADA allows individuals with disabilities to fairly compete and pass the bar exam.
ADA Accommodations
Now that you are more familiar with the ADA, let’s look at some accommodations available to qualifying students. Accommodations are usually determined on a case-by-case basis depending on a student’s individual needs. Some examples of ADA test-taking accommodations include the following:
- Braille or increased font sizes for test materials;
- Technology designed to make reading computer screens easier;
- Transcribers to bubble in scantrons or type essays;
- Extended test-taking time;
- Wheelchair-accessible testing stations;
- Distraction-free rooms;
- Physical prompts (such as for individuals with hearing impairments); and
- Permission to bring and take medications during the exam.
Who’s Qualified To Receive ADA Bar Exam Accommodations?
Any student who has a disability at the time of the bar exam is eligible for ADA test-taking accommodations. According to the ADA, an individual with a disability is any person who:
- Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity (such as seeing, hearing, learning, reading, concentrating, or thinking) or;
- Has a major bodily function impairment (such as and impairment with the neurological, endocrine, or digestive system).
A “substantially limited” major life activity is difficult to pinpoint. Generally, if an individual, when compared to the general population, experiences difficulty completing the same task because of their disability – the activity is likely substantially limited. Just because an individual has a physical or mental disability doesn’t mean they are automatically entitled to receive bar exam testing accommodations. Similarly, just because a student has excellent academic credentials does not mean he or she does not also have a disability.
How Do I Apply For ADA Bar Exam Accommodations
Every state has different requirements when applying for ADA bar exam accommodations. A good place to begin is with the admission rules for your particular state. For example, California requires that a student’s health professional completes a verification form and attach an evaluation report. Nevada, on the other hand, gathers an expert panel of medical specialists to determine accommodations on a case-by-case basis. If an evaluation is required, like in California, many students wonder whether medical insurance can cover the evaluation cost. Again, this likely depends on each individual student’s healthcare coverage. Many insurance companies routinely deny covering the cost of evaluations that aren’t “medically necessary.”
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