Claiming a disability on the SAT/ACT - have people been gaming the system?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Before you bitch about things being “unfair” , please let me tell you that I feel it is very unfair that my child was born with a moderate learning disability. I have no idea what causes it, but it affects his ability to understand language.
My child literally does not understand words when people speak them. That’s unfairness. It impacts almost all aspects of his life. So please don’t begrudge him extra time on a test and educate your children not to do so either.

No one is begrudging your kid’s extra time. And u of all people should know how unfair it is for kids who are disadvantaged economically and have disabilities but yet don’t have accommodations. So why won’t u support untimed tests for all kids? Why let the abusers get away with this?

[Anonymous]

The fakers have ruined it for those who really need it. Just like the emotional support animal ppl have ruined it for those with legit service animals.

I know parents who brag about their kids getting accommodations for fake disabilities. They’re all so proud of gaming the system.

[Anonymous]

This thread was very eye opening. I didn't really experience anyone using accommodations until I went to a mediocre private law school and noticed some of the rich kids received unlimited time on their exams for some unspecified disability that also happened to require those "study aid" drugs. Based on that, I thought testing accommodations were simply given out along with whatever diagnosis people could get from a doctor. I had no idea that children with actual learning disabilities and disorders were being denied testing accommodations.

Anyone know the diagnosis the scam artists used in the recent college cases to get the private hotel accommodations? There must be an "easy path" that the rich use to get these testing accommodations without any actual disability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Before you bitch about things being “unfair” , please let me tell you that I feel it is very unfair that my child was born with a moderate learning disability. I have no idea what causes it, but it affects his ability to understand language.
My child literally does not understand words when people speak them. That’s unfairness. It impacts almost all aspects of his life. So please don’t begrudge him extra time on a test and educate your children not to do so either.

No one is begrudging your kid’s extra time. And u of all people should know how unfair it is for kids who are disadvantaged economically and have disabilities but yet don’t have accommodations. So why won’t u support untimed tests for all kids? Why let the abusers get away with this?

I am for untimed tests, but wonder about how they would be administered. Do you have any ideas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Before you bitch about things being “unfair” , please let me tell you that I feel it is very unfair that my child was born with a moderate learning disability. I have no idea what causes it, but it affects his ability to understand language.
My child literally does not understand words when people speak them. That’s unfairness. It impacts almost all aspects of his life. So please don’t begrudge him extra time on a test and educate your children not to do so either.

No one is begrudging your kid’s extra time. And u of all people should know how unfair it is for kids who are disadvantaged economically and have disabilities but yet don’t have accommodations. So why won’t u support untimed tests for all kids? Why let the abusers get away with this?

I am for untimed tests, but wonder about how they would be administered. Do you have any ideas?

I am sure if we can send a man to the moon, better minds can figure this out

[Anonymous]

This post is enlightening and I can see both sides of issue. I never thought much about this issue while I was growing up and I too would have thought it was unfair.

But now I have a child with Aspergers and ADHD. I am acutely aware that life will be harder for him so I work really hard to make sure he can survive in the real world. We just did a neuropsych exam and his math problem solving skills are literally off the charts...but his math fluency is below average. So right now he is smart enough to get good grades but it will eventually catch up to him. Accommodations are critical for a kid like him. When I was growing up a kid like him could have easily fallen though the cracks. I always get comments from his teachers that they are fascinated by the way he thinks...as am I. And companies are starting to understand the value that kids like him can deliver so I am hopeful for his future - but the accommodations he receives today are not gaming the system.

And in case you are wondering, we are a slightly upper middle class family who spends a ridiculous amount of time and money and mental energy on testing and therapy - We drive old cars, visit family for vacations and would much rather be doing fun things with our family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Before you bitch about things being “unfair” , please let me tell you that I feel it is very unfair that my child was born with a moderate learning disability. I have no idea what causes it, but it affects his ability to understand language.
My child literally does not understand words when people speak them. That’s unfairness. It impacts almost all aspects of his life. So please don’t begrudge him extra time on a test and educate your children not to do so either.

No one is begrudging your kid’s extra time. And u of all people should know how unfair it is for kids who are disadvantaged economically and have disabilities but yet don’t have accommodations. So why won’t u support untimed tests for all kids? Why let the abusers get away with this?

Yeah! Any accommodations her kid gets must be abuse unless my kid gets them too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fakers have ruined it for those who really need it. Just like the emotional support animal ppl have ruined it for those with legit service animals.

I know parents who brag about their kids getting accommodations for fake disabilities. They’re all so proud of gaming the system.

I know parents who brag that their kid qualifies for accommodations but they didn’t accept them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread was very eye opening. I didn't really experience anyone using accommodations until I went to a mediocre private law school and noticed some of the rich kids received unlimited time on their exams for some unspecified disability that also happened to require those "study aid" drugs. Based on that, I thought testing accommodations were simply given out along with whatever diagnosis people could get from a doctor. I had no idea that children with actual learning disabilities and disorders were being denied testing accommodations.

Anyone know the diagnosis the scam artists used in the recent college cases to get the private hotel accommodations? There must be an "easy path" that the rich use to get these testing accommodations without any actual disability.

That detail wasn’t in the indictment but it would have had to be more than just ADHD to get unlimited time testing. That is truly unusual, as is double time. Most common is 1.5 time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SAT and ACT is testing speed. I don’t care who says it’s not. The SAT and ACT have said it is.

So I have a problem with accommodations that completely take that out of the equation.

SAT: our test is designed to test scholastic aptitude under timed conditions.

Parent: but my kid does poorly under timed conditions.

SAT: well, then your child won’t do as good on this test. Er. Wait. No. Strike that. Then we will give your child more time?

This will never be fair to me. No dog in the fight, though.

You know, there are disabilities that have nothing to do with processing speed or testing speed that require accommodations. My DC has a disability that means they frequently have to go to the bathroom, sometimes multiple times within an hour, and when they have to go, they have to go. Much of the time it is unpredictable when this will happen. This DC's accommodations included extra time.

I have to say that is ridiculous.

It’s all ridiculous unless your child can have it.

[Anonymous]

The indictment said they tried twice to get ACT accommodations for Caplan’s kid and were rejected both times. Law enforcement had to step in and tell ACT Inc to grant them.

But of course, you know dozens of kids who had accommodations granted illegitimately. .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This post is enlightening and I can see both sides of issue. I never thought much about this issue while I was growing up and I too would have thought it was unfair.

But now I have a child with Aspergers and ADHD. I am acutely aware that life will be harder for him so I work really hard to make sure he can survive in the real world. We just did a neuropsych exam and his math problem solving skills are literally off the charts...but his math fluency is below average. So right now he is smart enough to get good grades but it will eventually catch up to him. Accommodations are critical for a kid like him. When I was growing up a kid like him could have easily fallen though the cracks. I always get comments from his teachers that they are fascinated by the way he thinks...as am I. And companies are starting to understand the value that kids like him can deliver so I am hopeful for his future - but the accommodations he receives today are not gaming the system.

And in case you are wondering, we are a slightly upper middle class family who spends a ridiculous amount of time and money and mental energy on testing and therapy - We drive old cars, visit family for vacations and would much rather be doing fun things with our family.

So then u understand the poor kids, the inner city kids, the rural kids, and kids whose parents basically do not have a clue (immigrants) are at a disadvantage. We should push for untimed tests for all. Why are allowing the wealthy families w their bought diagnosis game the system? Why are we allowing them to continue to take advantage of the system?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The indictment said they tried twice to get ACT accommodations for Caplan’s kid and were rejected both times. Law enforcement had to step in and tell ACT Inc to grant them.

But of course, you know dozens of kids who had accommodations granted illegitimately. .

Again, unless u r part of a private school w many wealthy families, u have no clue. U really don’t.

[Anonymous]

Extra time for everybody? Why don’t we just make it a take home test and call it a day? IQ tests are timed for a reason....processing speed is a component of intelligence. And in the real world it matters in 99% of professions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Extra time for everybody? Why don’t we just make it a take home test and call it a day? IQ tests are timed for a reason....processing speed is a component of intelligence. And in the real world it matters in 99% of professions.

So u prefer the current system where some get it and some get it through abuse of the system? Really?