Recently, a good friend of mine contacted me because she needed some information about accommodations for her special needs son who wants to take the SAT exam. She was not sure what, if any, accommodations he would qualify for during the exam. She also needed to know how to begin the process.
I spoke with her about some of the options she has, and I instructed her to contact her son’s case manager and his guidance counselor to find out what specific options he has available to him.
As I thought about our conversation, I also wanted to share some of the more common accommodations that are available for special needs students here. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and is meant for basic informational purposes only.
The most common accommodation has to be extended time. Students with special needs may be eligible for extra time to complete the exam. This can range from time and a half to double time.
Another important accommodation is taking the SAT exam in a separate testing room. Some students may require a separate testing room to help reduce distractions and create a more comfortable testing environment.
Students with visual impairments may require larger print test booklets or Braille materials. Students who require Braille materials may be able to use a Braille test booklet and a refreshable Braille display.
Finally, one of the more common accommodations includes assistive technology. Assistive technology may include such devices as a computer, a screen reader, or a scribe.
In order to request accommodations, you will need to contact the College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office. They will require documentation from a qualified professional, such as a doctor or a psychologist, to verify your child’s eligibility for accommodations. It is important to make these requests as early as possible to ensure that the accommodations can be provided on test day.