Student Services Manual (SSM)

Effective: 5/1/1982

Revised:7/1/2012

SSM 701–05: Testing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Purpose

To facilitate federally mandated testing accommodations for qualified students with disabilities

Sources

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 United States Code §§ 701–796

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (1990, 2008), 42 United States Code § 12101 et seq.

Disability Resource Center

Policy

The process of determining reasonable and appropriate testing accommodations for qualified students with disabilities is a collaborative one between the Disability Resource Center (DRC), faculty, and the qualified student. It is the responsibility of the DRC to determine student eligibility for accommodations, to recommend reasonable and appropriate accommodations for each class, and to facilitate approved accommodations in consultation with the student and faculty. It is the responsibility of faculty to determine the course standards and to design appropriate methods to measure student knowledge. It is the responsibility of the student to request accommodations in a timely manner, to ensure that DRC official testing forms are delivered to or received by faculty, to inform them that certain individual accommodations may be necessary, and to communicate any changes to the DRC.

Students must provide required disability documentation to the Disability Resource Center (DRC) clearly supporting the need for testing accommodations. The assigned DRC professional will evaluate the documentation, determine eligibility for testing accommodations and meet with students on an individual basis to discuss reasonable and appropriate options. The DRC arranges and implements testing accommodations for qualified students with disabilities, which may include:

1. extended testing time
   
   

   Note:

   The purpose of accommodation is equal access, not advantage. In making recommendations for extended testing time, the DRC professional staff consider both student need for a reasonable time extension and fairness to the other students in the class. For this reason, untimed testing is not considered a reasonable accommodation.



2. use of a qualified reader, scribe, assistive technology, and/or alternative print format
3. a test instrument restructured by the faculty member

   and/or

4. a reduced distraction environment.

The DRC uses official forms to authorize testing, contact faculty, and confirm testing arrangements.

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Test Administration Responsibility

Instructors may choose to administer their own tests, quizzes, and exams. They should consult with the DRC office on their campus regarding appropriate accommodations and test administration procedures.

The DRC will administer academic examinations requiring low distraction environments, alternative print format, readers, interpreters, scribes, or assistive technology if faculty feel they cannot provide these services themselves. However, the DRC may not be able to provide scribes or readers in some technical fields (e.g., some foreign language, mathematics, science, and computer courses). Consequently, faculty may need to provide qualified personnel (e.g., graduate assistant, TA, or otherwise qualified student) to administer these examinations at the DRC or another approved site.

See the DRC Web site for detailed information and procedures for accessing services and accommodations available for qualified students at specific ASU campuses and sites.

Cross-References

See also:

1. SSM 701–02, “Eligibility for Accommodations—Required Disability Documentation”
2. SSM 701–07, “Alternative Format Services”
3. SSM 701–08, “Services for Students Who are Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing”

   and

4. SSM 701–12, “Laboratory Accommodations for Students with Disabilities.”

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