America's elite colleges have an extra-time-on-tests problem
9 days ago
- #disability
- #education
- #fairness
- The rise in disability accommodations at universities has led to logistical challenges, with testing centers often at capacity.
- Accommodations, originally intended to level the playing field, are now seen as potentially unfair, with some students exploiting the system for extra time on exams.
- The increase in accommodations is driven by more diagnoses of ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and by easier access to accommodations.
- Elite universities have the highest rates of students registered as disabled, raising questions about the fairness and necessity of accommodations.
- The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and its 2008 amendments broadened the definition of disability, leading to more students qualifying for accommodations.
- Some accommodations, like extra time on exams, can provide an unfair advantage to students without disabilities, complicating the fairness of academic assessments.
- There is skepticism about the accommodations system, with research showing that many students receiving accommodations have no prior history of disability diagnoses.
- Wealthy families are more likely to secure accommodations for their children, exacerbating inequalities in the education system.
- The system may encourage students to pathologize normal academic challenges, seeing themselves as less capable than they are.
- Despite concerns about exploitation, disability advocates argue that the system is working by providing necessary support to those who need it.