Extended Time Evaluation Requirements
The requirements of applying for extended time on standardized tests are demanding, and vary from one testing organization to another. It is your responsibility to know these requirements and gather the proper materials within the time necessary for submitting the application for extended time. Testing is very important, but is not enough. Historical documentation is also very important. Be advised that there is no guarantee that the testing results will turn out a certain way. When enough testing is done to determine the likelihood of getting accommodations, you can decide whether you want to continue and complete the writing of the report.
Please have school records, ideally dating from grammar school through high school, sent directly to the staff member with whom you are working. (This is because sometimes the schools will send me information, such as IQs, that they will not send the parent or student.) You will probably have to give the school(s) a written release to do this. Start this procedure as early as possible. Bring, or mail to the clinic, test reports and letters which document your learning problems in your past. Letters from doctors, teachers, school officials, even relatives and parents, attesting to the learning problems are helpful. The report will be much stronger and more likely to be successful if there is a history of your disability; we need to show that you are not just trying to get an extra advantage by getting extra time.
You need to appreciate the view that it is difficult and inconvenient for testing services to grant you extra time; it costs them extra money and time (to hire people to monitor you, rent extra space, etc.). Because of this, you need to make a very strong case. Part of your case involves documenting your history. The more historical documentation, the stronger your case is. The other very important part of your case involves the testing. The requirement is that the testing must be current, within the last several years (this varies by organization).
Sometimes you are asked to write a personal statement, telling your story about your learning problems throughout your life; this should be about 1 page, and emailed to me. If you have little or no formal proof about your learning difficulties growing up, you need to explain why you did not get accommodations. How is it you were not identified as being learning disabled as a child? What struggles did you go through? Did you get informal accommodations from teachers (like extra time on tests), or did someone help you a lot with homework (parent, tutor, grandma)? This narrative should be emailed to me at: nurosvcs@aol.com. Include your medical and developmental (childhood) history, which is also required.
All of the above is required in the report asking for extended time. The most efficient way to deal with these essential elements is by handling them as recommended above. Otherwise billable time will have to be spent interviewing you and/or the parents with respect to completing the history of the case.
Please note that these reports take time to write, as they often end up being over 15 pages long. Do not expect the report to be done shortly after submitting the final materials; a report without complications will take a week or two to write. A deposit of $500 is necessary to schedule the first appointment. Complete payment is due at the final testing session.
It is assumed that the above noted terms are understood and agreed upon by you.
Check List for providing documentation for requesting extra time on Standardized Tests:
__ Previous evaluations, with the reported scores
__ Transcripts of school records, especially noting test scores in reading, and noting special education placement, or placement in any special Resource Room of any kind
__ Letters from any school official that you were designated as needing extra time, especially from the Disability Office
__ Letters from former teachers who gave the person informal accommodations, such as extra help, letting take longer to finish tests than for others, tutoring after school, etc.
__ Letter from anyone who helped you as a child doing homework, and that you had trouble reading or learning at the proper rate. In other words, that you were slow in learning, even though you were quite intelligent
__ Letter from parents describing how it was difficult for the learning disabled person to learn, and all the extra help that was needed
__ Report cards, as long as they note that there were problems the person had as a child. This can include learning problems as well as behavioral problems, especially in the case of Attention Deficit Disorder, in which being inattentive and distractible are sometimes noted in school records.
And now, putting all this documentation together. Gather up all these records and make copies which we can mark up. Highlight in yellow highlighter the problems which relate to this evaluation. Remember, you must assume that those people granting accommodations think that you are lying, and you must point out, with historical documentation, what the truth is about your case. You must be able to prove, as if you were going into court, that you have had this learning disability or attention deficit disorder all your life. And here is the documentation to prove it! This is how these kinds of cases are won.
Click this link for a printer-friendly PDF version of this page. Click here for a printer-friendly PDF version of the Check List. (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
In order to schedule an appointment for extended time testing, a signed policy agreement and a deposit of $500 is necessary. You can download and print the Full Evaluation Policy Agreement (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) or, if you email me your address, a hard copy form can be mailed to you.