Do you want to take a high-stakes standardized test, but something is holding you back from doing your best? I can help. I’ve successfully gotten ADA accommodations, such as extended time, for dozens of students nationwide. And I can help you get test accommodations and avoid common pitfalls. The ACT, SAT, LSAT, New York bar, CA bar, MCAT, and NBME know my reputation and respond positively to my unique approach. You CAN get ADA accommodations, pass the bar exam and score at the top with the right advocacy.
Students hire me from coast-to-coast because of my singular background and approach. My unique personal background as well as my experience as a former special education teacher make me different. While I have quite a bit of litigation experience, I know that suing is often not a realistic approach. As my client, you’ll spend time speaking with me one to one. I’ll gain a good understanding of how your unique deficits impact your test performance. And I’ll help you see what life experiences have legal significance.
My carefully curated package includes my very thorough letter putting your unique educational profile into a legal context. My letters are highly individualized incorporating key details which are legally persuasive. For years I’ve worked with decision-makers at testing boards and they know and trust my work. I can also help expedite the response to your application. Check out Allison’s 5 star reviews!
Most students with learning disabilities and ADHD have psycho-ed evaluations, but they don’t have the right one. Evaluations need to show that your disabilities “substantially limit a major life activity” under the ADA. If your evaluation scores are in the average range or above, either you’re not disabled under the law or the evaluation is not serving you well. I can refer you to an evaluator who knows how to test high-achievers, like yourself.
High achievers often are not diagnosed until later in life. Testing boards, such as the ACT, SAT, LSAT, New York bar, CA bar, MCAT and NBME, often see late diagnoses as illegitimate. A term they use for that is an “eleventh hour” disability. The best way to combat that is to provide specific records proving that you had symptoms for years, even if you were only recently diagnosed. Most people don’t realize that they have, or can get, those records and I’ll show you how.
While it’s certainly advantageous to have a formal 504 or IEP accommodations plan in school, there’s no legal requirement to have one in order to qualify for accommodations on a standardized test. You need to explain how you were able to compensate without an accommodations plan.
Testing boards often look askance at applicants for accommodations whose only disability is ADHD because there’s no simple test for it, and its symptoms can often be confused with other disorders. Anxiety, depression and certain types of learning disabilities can also be difficult to document, but it can be done. Most applicants need a comprehensive psycho-educational evaluation which demonstrates the extent to which their ADHD or other disability limit the student academically.
I’ll present your educational history in a clear and concise way, but in the context of the law. Testing boards get hundreds of applications for extended time for each test date. And they often don’t have time to carefully review each one. They often skim for red flags, like a late diagnosis, to try an easily dismiss an application. I make my letters easy to follow, but at the same time extremely thorough. I anticipate their objections to your case and counter them with legal argument. Getting ADA accommodations could allow you to show your true ability level and change the course of your life!
We don’t accept every case. I only take clients who I believe are entitled to accommodations because I don’t want to waste your time and money. That’s why I have one hour consultations before we decide to work together. Once you schedule a consult using the link below, email me some key documents – usually that’s your most recent psycho-educational evaluation, school accommodation plan and denial letters, if you have them. At the consult I’ll have reviewed your records and I’ll give you legal advice on the strength of your case and how it can improve. I advise you on what specific records you need to succeed. If we decide to work together, we’ll take it from there.
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This blog site is published by and reflects the personal views of Allison Hertog, in her individual capacity. The purpose of this blog site is to provide information and insight about special education law. The information and insight contained in this blog site are provided only as general information for educational purposes. No representation is made about the accuracy of the information. By using this blog site you understand that this information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship. This blog site should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed attorney in your state. This blog and any related web sites are not intended for those viewers in any state where the blog or web sites fail to comply with all laws and ethical rules of that state.