If a student receives accommodations in high school and wants to continue receiving accommodations in college or the workplace, having an updated neuropsychological evaluation is critical. A good assessment can help the student and the college/employer understand what supports are necessary for effective work or classroom success.
When applying for accommodations through the school’s Office of Disabilities (this department has different names at different schools), you should consider two main points. First, determine when the student’s last evaluation was completed. Colleges want to ensure the requested accommodations are based on a student’s current functioning, so most require that an assessment be completed within three years of applying for accommodations. However, most schools will provide some grace if the assessment is within a few months of the three-year mark. Second, it is essential to know how old the student was at the time of their last evaluation and what tests were administered. Colleges require adult-normed assessments, meaning a student’s functioning is compared to adults, not children. For example, suppose a student’s last evaluation utilized the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children (WISC). In that case, the student must be re-evaluated using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales (WAIS), which can be administered after a student turns 16 years old. If you have any questions, be sure to call the College’s Office of Disabilities as soon as possible so you have enough time to schedule an evaluation if necessary.
It is important to note that these evaluations do not need to be completed before application or acceptance to any college unless your student is applying to specialized programming within the college or a supportive educational setting. Most colleges and universities will ask for the evaluation to be submitted to their Office of Disabilities following a student’s acceptance. The documentation is kept on file within the Office of Disabilities and not shared with faculty, as they will only share what accommodations must be given and will not disclose why these accommodations are granted. Finally, a recommendation within an evaluation is usually required but does not necessarily guarantee that any specific accommodation will be granted. Knowing which accommodations a student may need and which schools can and will provide such accommodations should be considered during the application and selection process.
Franklin Academy’s Evaluation Center is currently accepting appointments and has a limited number of immediate openings. Current Franklin Academy families who choose to use the Evaluation Center receive the added benefit of real-time feedback from faculty and staff as well as an understanding of student performance in and outside of the classroom. If you have any questions regarding evaluations for college or workplace accommodations or would like to schedule an evaluation, don’t hesitate to contact me at ja******************@fa***.org, 860-873-2700 x1402.
