Ann Marie ,
Having trouble concentrating and not being able to concentrate because of disability are two different things. You have probably seen students without disabilities struggle with reading words on tests, but you wouldn't equate their difficulty with that of a blind student who cannot SEE the words on the tests, right? That's the situation here.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
This has always been an issue with me. I feel like there are two sides to this arguement, and both make sense. On one hand, I understand the need for a person with ADHD to need additional time, but sometimes in a test situation all students have trouble concentrating.
Darcie,
Your second statement is true, Darcie. The first one... not so much! The evidence indicates that extended time is necessary for equal ACCESS for some students with disabilities. Because they have equal access, they may perform more successfully -- but remember, that is NOT the reason extended time is give. Whether or not most students would do better with more time (and the research suggests they would not) is irrelevant.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I think in general most students would do better with more time. Students with learning disabilities need more time to process the information.
Richard,
You are right on target here. I like the phrasing you use -- equal access, not equal results. We HOPE all students will be successful, but that isn't why we provide accommodations.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
The purpose and mandate of the law is to provide equal access not equal results. Of course the results would tend to be better for all with more time, however, the results is not the measurement of the accomodation; it is the question of equal access that is the measurement of the accomodation. Would extra time fulfill the requirement of equal access, if so, extra time is required under the law.
Robin,
I'm not sure what you are saying here, Robin. Are you suggesting that it would be better for the student if they learned to function without accommodation, because they MIGHT not get accommodations in the future? That kind of defeats the purpose.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
With some students extra time really would be a benefit. However some students are awarded extra time but as it turns out the extra time was not utilized. It's far more important for students to learn their role in taking on their own responsibilities now rather than have scrapped knees and bloody noses, I think.
Susan,
And I would agree with you, wholeheartedly. Go get 'em!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I would say, "Students with a disability do not get extra time because they have a disability. They might need extra time to process and organize their thoughts before they actually answer a questions. Some students with a disability read and process information more slowly and need the extra time to ensure that the question has been read correctly." Then I would say, "If you did not study the information that will be tested, all the extra time in the world will not help you come up with the correct answer."
Callie,
Yep! The standing response within the field of disability services to the concern that "...everyone would do better if they had extra time" is to smile politely and say, "If you don't know the answer, no amount of time in the world is going to make a difference!" GRIN
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I whole-heartedly concur. Additional time merely permits those students who already demonstrate an understanding of the material at hand to justify their thought process. Time doesn't generate a "Eureka!" moment. Instead, it allows students to justify knowledge they already possess.
Dena,
Actually, the research shows that the "everybody would do better if they had more time" argument doesn't hold up under scrutiny. If the test is one that everyone is expected to finish in the regulation amount of time, giving the average student extra time does not significantly improve performance. It DOES make a difference for the student with a disability. Meantime, the ADA impacts on State and national certification testing, too. If the student with a disability qualifies for extended time when testing at the college, he/she can qualify for extended time on the certification test as well.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Of course, most students would do better if they were provided a time extension, however, I believe that using a time limit enables to student to prepare for certification testing. During medical assisting certification testing, a candidate has only a certain amount of time to complete the test and if's not completed within the satisfactory time, the candidate does not pass.
Actually, Cheryl, that is NOT a good solution. The idea of extended time is to provide an equivalent amount of time to focus on that test. When you take the test away and have the student come back to it at a different time, you disrupt that focus and alter the time frame. I would suggest that you speak with the person on your campus who is charged with assigning accommodations and see if you can work out another way.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I have had to deal with this particular issue this term. I have made advance arrangements with the student to hand in the test at the end of that class period and she is given extra time during another time period outside of the class period. This seems to work well for everyone and the student doesn't have the stigma of getting "extra time".
I agree as our son holds a 3.7 GPA. He does very well in school but tests are not his strong part.
Yolonda,
Your analogy is understood -- and appreciated!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
All students are required to have equal opportunities. I think allowing extra time is fair, when the student has a disability. It evens the playing field. Sort of like an adult in a race with a child and gives the child a "headstart." This may be a bad analogy because I'm not in any way equating students with disabilities to children. . . I'm just saying, anyone would think it's unfair for an adult to race a child given their differences.
I think you missed the point, Henry. It is "in the interest of fairness" that we provide additional time for students with disabilities who need it to have *as much* time as everyone else gets. The accommodation does not provide something fro students with disabilities that everyone else doesn't have -- the intent is to provide the SAME for students with disabilities that everyone else has already.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
