FAQ's - Testing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
This FAQ is designed to help you understand and provide test accommodations to students with disabilities enrolled in your courses. Please feel free to contact us with your feedback, questions, or concerns.
- What is "Alternative Testing"?
Alternative testing (AT) permits students with disabilities to take exams with their disability minimized to the greatest extent possible while not fundamentally altering the intent of the exam or lowering the program standards of the university. Test accommodations may include additional test time, alternative test formats (e.g., large print, audio or Braille), or the use of adaptive equipment (word processors, electronic spelling checkers, text enlargers). Some students experience fluctuating impairments (e.g., epilepsy, depression, multiple sclerosis) which may need to be considered in determining exam accommodations.
- Why might it be fair for a student to take an exam under different test conditions?
AT services are intended to ensure equal access to the testing process at the university. Disabilities that interfere with reading print, writing legibly, retrieving information, managing anxiety, or organizing thinking may be appropriately accommodated by a test accommodation. For most students, the disability affects the pace at which they can complete work relative to other students. Disabilities may include learning disabilities, visual impairments, motor disabilities, attentional or psychological disabilities or head injuries. For some, the accommodation itself requires more time to use (e.g., a text enlarger, an audio exam, a scribe or adaptive keyboard). Providing a test accommodation ensures that exam grades most fairly represent the student's understanding of the course material with minimal interference from the disability.
- How do students receive a recommendation for a test accommodation?
Students choosing to work with the McBurney Center provide disability documentation from a professional specialist (e.g., physician, clinical psychologist) that is reviewed by McBurney staff. If the documentation meets university guidelines establishing a disability, a McBurney Accommodations Specialist develops recommendations for reasonable accommodations and records them on a student's VISA (Verified Individualized Services and Accommodation) plan. Students should provide faculty with a copy of their VISA. Faculty can also request confirmation of the accommodations by contacting the McBurney Center.
Students can also choose to work directly with faculty and independently negotiate their accommodations. Faculty members have the right to work with students directly or refer students to McBurney. McBurney staff is also available to consult with faculty regarding the requested accommodations.
- Who provides AT accommodations?
Like regular exams, most AT accommodations are provided by the faculty or teaching assistant. Providing test accommodations within the department offers disabled students comparable access to instructors during tests, ensures greater test security, and facilitates last minute changes or additions to exam questions. It also eliminates grading delays and minimizes confusion in exam delivery and return.
Exams requiring more complex accommodations (e.g., a Brailled exam, an adaptive computer or workstation, a scribe, etc.) can be provided through the Testing and Evaluation Office. The Testing and Evaluation Office also assists faculty when unusual circumstances preclude faculty from providing this disability-related service. Exams taken at the Testing and Evaluation Office require students and faculty to work together to complete web-based request forms in a timely manner and coordinate exam delivery to and from the exam location. Throughout the AT process, the student's right to confidentiality shall be maintained (see McBurney website for more information about confidentiality with regard to disability documentation and the accommodation process). - When and where are accommodations provided?
Generally, exams overlap the time of the regularly scheduled class exam. Occasionally, due to schedule conflicts or back-to-back classes, students may take exams before or after the regularly scheduled class time.
Test sites in the department include adjacent classrooms, faculty offices, libraries or conference rooms.
Exams administered through the Testing and Evaluation Office are generally proctored in their offices. During heavy exam periods, alternate sites may also be used. The Testing and Evaluation Office proctors exams in the evening and on weekends when regularly scheduled exams occur at those hours. - What happens if faculty feel the requested accommodation is inappropriate? Who has the final authority to determine appropriate test accommodations for students with disabilities?
Ultimately, the institution has the authority to decide the appropriateness of accommodations through a multi-level appeals process; however, most decisions are arrived at via communication between the student and faculty with additional input from the McBurney staff as needed.
Students communicate the test accommodations recommended by their McBurney Accommodations Specialist which are based on the interaction between the student's disability and general test conditions. McBurney staff may consult with faculty when an accommodation request is unusual or there is concern that the accommodation could fundamentally alter the intent of the exam.
Faculty may accept, modify or deny the recommendation. If accepted or modified to the satisfaction of the parties involved, the authority can be thought of as residing within the collaborative process.
If there is not a mutually agreed upon accommodation, or if a faculty member denies an accommodation, the student may appeal the decision. While an appeal is in process, faculty should provide the best possible accommodation unless doing so would create an undue burden for the faculty or department or a demonstrably unfair advantage to the student per Faculty Document 1071. Refer to the Policies page for detailed information. - What happens when a student makes a last minute request for AT?
Students are responsible for providing adequate notice to faculty or the Testing and Evaluation Office in order to receive test accommodations. Students who are aware of a need for accommodation at the beginning of the semester should arrange test accommodations within the first three weeks of a semester.
When a student makes a late request for AT (i.e., less than a week's notice), faculty should first consider whether the accommodation can be arranged or worked into existing arrangements for other students with disabilities receiving AT. In these cases, faculty can honor the late accommodation request. Faculty may also consider and then deny the accommodation if reasonable justification can be made for the denial. For both faculty and the Testing and Evaluation Office, insufficient time to do the following may justify denial: a) consult with the student or student's Accommodations Specialist, b) identify space and proctors or, c) adapt the exam (e.g., provide a Braille or taped copy). Faculty should then work with the student to identify arrangements for the remaining exams in the semester. - Where can faculty direct questions about alternative testing?
- STUDENT: Faculty members are encouraged to first ask their questions of the student. Students receive training at the McBurney Center on the alternative testing service and may be able to answer questions or concerns.
- MCBURNEY: Questions about the impact of the disability or the appropriateness of a requested accommodation can be directed to the McBurney Accommodations Specialist identified on the VISA at 263-2741.
- TIMETABLE REPRESENTATIVE: Questions regarding locating space in the department for proctoring an exam can be directed to your Timetable representative; call 262-6345 if you need the name and number of your representative.
- TESTING AND EVALUATION OFFICE (T&E): Questions regarding exam scheduling, exam pickup and delivery, or other mechanics of providing the accommodation through the T&E can be found on Testing and Evaluation's Web site at or by calling T&E at 262-5863.
- ACCESS AND ACCOMMODATION RESOURCE COORDINATOR (AARC): The departmental AARC provides basic information to both faculty and students about the requirements of the laws governing reasonable accommodation, institutional policies, and procedures applicable to accommodation requests. Visit their Web site for a listing of AARCs.
- MCBURNEY WEB SITE: The McBurney Web site provides information regarding disability issues, confidentiality, campus policies and procedures and relevant disability links.