Academic Accommodations: Yes, you need them!
- Dr. Ashley L. Conklin
- Aug 26, 2018
- 3 min read
The purpose of academic accommodations is to level the playing field so that individuals with disabilities such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, etc. are able to perform at a level that is commensurate with their abilities.
The sooner you establish eligibility for accommodations with your school, the better. Once you have been approved, you will need to discuss your approved accommodations with each professor and determine when and how you will arrange each accommodation.
I always advise my clients to start out using their accommodations such as extended timed testing and testing in a separate room at the beginning got the semester. It's better to start out strong and realize you don't need the accommodations than to not use them and realize you should have. Below is a list of some of the most common accommodations and why they are important.
ACCOMMODATIONS TO REQUEST
o EXTRA TIME: Having extra time will allow you to slow down, finish your test, check your work, and be able to think through and process questions and answers. Having extra time may reduce anxiety by relieving the pressure of a time constraint and allow you to relax and perform better. Some people “go blank” when they experience anxiety and extra time will allow you to work through this and still have enough time to take the exam.
o SEPARATE ROOM TESTING: Testing in a separate room will help you be less distracted and, therefore, better able to focus, sustain your attention, and demonstrate your knowledge.
o LECTURE NOTES PROVIDED: Using a copy of lecture notes will help you fill in the gaps in your own notes in instances when your attention might have waned or you were struggling to write fast enough.
o PRIORITY ENROLLMENT: Early registration will make it more likely that you can design your schedule so that your classes are at times when your medicine is in effect. It will also allow you access to the better professors and more desirable class times.
o PREFERENTIAL SEATING: Sitting in the front of the class will help minimize distractions so you can remain focused during lectures.
o WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS: Written instructions for all assignments will be beneficial for making sure you know what is expected on any given assignment. Having the instructions written also will allow you to show them to a coach to double check that you are understanding the instructions correctly and addressing each part of the assignment or prompt.
o FINALS ACCOMMODATIONS: Not having to take more than 2 finals on a given day will help prevent you from being overwhelmed by testing for 9+ hours in a single day (since most final exams are 3 hours)
o FULL-TIME STATUS: Being considered a full-time student when taking a reduced course load means that you might still be allowed to participate in events like recruitment even if you drop below 12 hours.
DISCUSSING ACCOMMODATIONS WITH PROFESSORS
Arranging accommodations with professors requires students to use their self-advocacy skills. While some universities will notify professors on behalf of students to alert them to the need for accommodations, others will not and will expect students to be responsible for advocating for themselves. Professors are used to working with students who use accommodations and probably won’t have too many questions or, if they do, will likely ask because they are genuinely interested in determining how best to work with you. A few tips for discussing accommodations with professors:
o Be honest and explain what you need and why you need it.
o Do not minimize your need for accommodations due to embarrassment, shame, or discomfort.
o Practice what you are going to say in advance so you will be less nervous.
o Send an email in advance to tell them what you want to discuss so they already have an idea of what you want to convey. This takes some of the pressure off of you. Print your email and take it with you to make sure you cover all of your bases.
SCHEDULING TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS
Each university has different rules regarding how far in advance testing accommodations need to be scheduled. Make sure you know your school’s policy and schedule accordingly. At the beginning of each semester, it's a good idea to set alerts in your phone/calendar to remind you to schedule your accommodations before each exam. Some schools will even allow you to arrange all of your testing accommodations for the entire semester at once. If you have this option, go for it! That way everything is set up and you only have to worry about rescheduling tests if an exam is moved. Otherwise, you are ready to go!
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