Writing Effective Educational and Test-Taking Accommodations for the Classroom and
鈥淗igh Stakes Examinations鈥 (Live Webinar)
Monday, April 8, 2024 (this event has past)
Speaker: Donald P. Masey, PsyD, Clinical Associate Professor, 黑料传送门
Speaker: Sabria Kegler, MA, Associate Director, Disability Services, University of Pennsylvania, Weingarten
Center
Number of Credits: 1 (APA & NBCC Accreditation)
Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Educational Objectives
Based on the presentation, the participants will be able to:
- Describe the rationale for considering realistic and appropriate accommodations for
students in classroom settings or when planning to take 鈥渉igh stakes鈥 examinations.
- Identify specific evaluation requirements for various 鈥渉igh stakes鈥 examinations.
- Apply at least two strategies for improving equity and access to examinations for
diverse students in support of securing accommodations.
Program Description
This presentation focuses on the purpose, process, and individualized features of
accommodations in college classroom settings and on various 鈥渉igh stakes鈥 examinations.
The intent is to clarify these considerations for psychologists and neuropsychologists
conducting evaluations and preparing effective documentation of findings.
An equally important goal is to highlight the needs of Disability Services staff as
they work with students and facilitate accommodation processes. The presentation reviews
documentation requirements for school entrance examinations such as the ACT, SAT,
LSAT, MCAT, and GRE, as well as professional licensing exams including the UBE (law),
EPPP (psychology), and USMLE (medicine).
Consistent with ADA guidance, the presentation emphasizes that diagnoses alone do
not necessarily constitute a disability and that evaluations should describe functional
limitations using multiple assessment methods from different sources. Equity and inclusion
issues related to accessing appropriate educational accommodations are also addressed.
Presenter Information
Donald P. Masey, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist with expertise in clinical neuropsychology
and serves as a Clinical Associate Professor at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic
Medicine. For more than two decades, he has taught, trained, and supervised doctoral
students in neuropsychological assessment and has extensive experience conducting
evaluations related to educational and professional testing accommodations.
Sabria Kegler, MA, is the Associate Director of Disability Services at the University
of Pennsylvania鈥檚 Weingarten Center. She works closely with students seeking accommodations
in academic settings as well as on professional and licensing examinations.
Suggested Reading
Gotlib, D., Saragoza, P., Segal, S., Goodman, L., & Schwartz, V. (2019). Evaluation
and management of mental health disability in post-secondary students. Current Psychiatry Reports, 21(6), 43.
Keenan, W. R., Madus, J. W., Lombardi, A. R., & Dukes, L. L. (2019). Impact of Americans
with Disabilities Act Amendments Act on documentation for students with disabilities
in transition to college. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 42(1), 56鈥63.
Lovett, B. J. (2021). Educational accommodations for students with disabilities: Two
equity-related concerns. Frontiers in Education, 6, Article 795266.
Mascarenhas, M. A., Cocunato, J. L., Armstrong, I. T., Harrison, A. G., & Zakzanis,
K. (2023). Base rates of non-credible performance in a post-secondary student sample
seeking accessibility accommodations. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 1鈥21.
Meeks, L., Jain, N. R., & Lewis, C. (2020). Requesting accommodations on certification,
licensing, and board exams. In L. Meeks, N. R. Jain, & E. P. Laird (Eds.), Equal access for students with disabilities: The guide for health science and professional
education (2nd ed., pp. 153鈥186). Springer Publishing.
Petersen, K. H., & Meeks, L. M. (2021). The student who fails the medical board exam.
In L. Neal-Boylan & L. M. Meeks (Eds.), Disability as diversity (pp. 141鈥151). Springer Publishing.
Weis, R., & Bittner, S. A. (2022). College students鈥 access to academic accommodations
over time. Psychological Injury and Law, 15(3), 236鈥252.
Weis, R., Hombosky, M. L., Schafer, K. K., Shulman, D., & Tull, J. K. (2021). Accommodation
decision-making for postsecondary students with ADHD. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 43(4), 370鈥383.