Explain the nature of disability and why you are requesting accommodations. Include a description of the day- to-day impact of the disability—not just the impact on academic tasks such as taking exams.

Assignment Question

Attach a signed and dated personal statement describing your impairment(s) *ADHD* and how a major life activity is substantially limited. The personal statement is your opportunity to tell us how your physical or mental impairment(s) substantially limits your current functioning in a major life activity and how the standard examination conditions are insufficient for your needs. In your own words, describe the impact of your disability on your daily life (do not confine your statement to standardized test performance) and provide a rationale for why the specific accommodation(s) you are requesting are necessary in the context of this examination.

Overall Goal: 1) Prove you have a disability (per the ADA) that impacts your everyday life 2) Show what the barrier is with accessing the exams 3) State the you are requesting and why it will “ensure that the student’s performance is a reflection of the understanding and mastery of the material tested, without reflecting the disability” 4) If developmental (LD, ADHD etc…) that you have had this present you whole life (documented or not)

1. Explain the nature of disability and why you are requesting accommodations. Include a description of the day- to-day impact of the disability—not just the impact on academic tasks such as taking exams (e.g., the impact on interpersonal relationships, employment, course withdrawals, personal organization, driving record, financial management).

2. Focus on areas of DIFFICULTY rather than strengths. Emphasize and highlight what has been difficult. It is essential that you connect the requested accommodations to their successes. Be sure to state what the barrier is with accessing the exams

3. Emphasize the need for the accommodation rather than a preference. The barrier must be grounded in the nature of the condition, and substantiated by the documentation. State the accommodation you are requesting and why it will “ensure that your performance is a reflection of the understanding and mastery of the material tested, without reflecting the disability”

4. Pay close attention to the language you use to describe your needs. Avoid these common word-use “pitfalls”.

5. Discuss History of disability, if diagnosis is developmental ADHD etc…) in nature, show that you have had this present your whole life. If you do not have official documentation showing a history: Establish 1) why accommodations are necessary and 2) why now, List effective self-accommodation strategies used prior to an official diagnosis (e.g., reading texts over many times for comprehension, using extensive tutoring, utilizing a partner or study group to break down information, using reading or voice-recognition software or having a friend or family member read materials). List Informal accommodations describe what was provided how the provision came about (e.g., requested informally from professor, professor noticed that the student took longer to test and offered time) documenting this via a third party (the professor, a proctor, a dean of students)