By: Chloe Plaisance* (*Chloe Plaisance is currently a law student at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. Chloe completed a legal internship with DRAZ’s Education Team in the spring of 2022.)
If your goal is to go to college, you will need to prepare for and take college entry examinations like the PSAT, SAT or the ACT when you enter 11th or 12th grade. If you ordinarily receive disability-related accommodations during school tests, you may be entitled to receive similar accommodations on these college entry examinations. Because these exams are administered by private companies, accommodations are not automatically granted, even if you have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan in place at your school.
Schools must register students for the college entrance exams and request necessary testing accommodations for students with disabilities during those exams. Not all schools are on top of these responsibilities. Sometimes, schools fail to request testing accommodations or to register students with disabilities for the college entrance exams at all. This effectively excludes students with disabilities from equitable participation in college entrance exams, which can impact their ability to apply to and be accepted into higher education programs. Don’t let this happen to you!
This week, check out DRAZ’s blog series for a quick rundown on:
- eligibility for testing accommodations,
- available testing accommodations,
- the registration process for the PSAT, SAT and ACT, and
- self-advocacy tips for you.
As you read this blog post series, keep in mind that the College Board, a non-profit that administers the PSAT and SAT, and ACT, a non-profit that administers the ACT, must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This series discusses what the U.S. Department of Justice says about testing accommodations for exams, such as the college entrance exams.
