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Learning differences & disabilities

Show what you know. Get the access you’re entitled to.

Accommodations exist so that a test, a classroom or a workplace measures your ability, not your disability. Whether you have ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, a chronic illness, a physical disability or another condition, here’s how to request support at every stage, from your first entrance exam to graduate school and beyond.

Testing accommodations College & beyond
Accommodations through the lifespan
Who decides, and the law behind it, at each stage
Overview
K–12 schoolIEP or 504 plan
Entrance & admissions testsTesting organization
College & graduate schoolDisability services office
Licensing examsTesting organization
WorkYour employer
!The big shift: in K–12, the school finds and serves you. After high school, you ask, and you provide documentation.

Information, not legal or medical advice. We don’t diagnose conditions or decide eligibility. Testing organizations and schools make accommodation decisions under their own policies and the law. For evaluations, consult a qualified professional; for disputes, your school’s disability or Section 504 coordinator, a parent training center or an attorney can help. Reviewed October 11, 2026.

Your rights

The three laws, in plain language

Three federal laws protect students with disabilities in the United States. Which ones apply depends on your age and the institution.

K–12 public schools

IDEA

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act entitles eligible students to a free appropriate public education, with special education and related services written into an Individualized Education Program (IEP). It ends when a student graduates with a regular diploma or ages out.

Any program receiving federal funds

Section 504

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act bars disability discrimination by schools and colleges that receive federal funds. In K–12, it’s the basis for 504 plans. In college, it requires appropriate academic adjustments.

Public & most private entities

ADA

The Americans with Disabilities Act covers public institutions, most private schools and colleges, employers and the organizations that run admissions and licensing tests. Religious organizations are generally exempt from its public accommodations rules.

Testing accommodations

Requesting accommodations on admissions tests

Every testing organization has its own process, and every one needs time. The most common mistake is starting too late.

TestHow to requestPlan ahead
SSAT & ISEEIndependent school entranceRequest through E3n at admission.org with an IEP, 504 or private school plan, a professional evaluation, or past approval on a similar test, each dated within three years. Approval comes before registration.Reviews take about one to two weeks once complete. Don’t register until you’re approved.
PSAT, SAT & APCollege BoardUsually through your school’s SSD coordinator, the fastest route. Families can also apply directly with a Student Eligibility Form and documentation.Allow up to seven weeks if documentation is reviewed. Once approved, accommodations generally carry through high school without reapplying.
ACTRegister in MyACT and answer “yes” to needing accommodations. Your school official then submits the request in ACT’s Test Accessibility and Accommodations (TAA) system.Starting with June 2026 tests, the request deadline is the regular registration deadline.
LSATLSACRequest through your LSAC JD Account. Approval on the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, MCAT or other listed tests can qualify you for the same accommodations with less documentation.Submit by the accommodation request deadline for your test date.
MCATAAMCRegister for a standard seat, then apply in the AAMC Accommodations Application System with a personal statement and current evaluation, in English.Initial requests are generally reviewed within 60 days.
GRE & TOEFLETSComplete the testing accommodations request form. An approval letter from another testing agency, such as the SAT, ACT or GMAT, can replace documentation.Reviews take about four to six weeks once complete.
GMATGMACApply on mba.com with documentation for your disability type, or use a confirmation of prior accommodations form for some common requests.You can’t schedule an accommodated test until you’re approved.

Processes and deadlines change. Always check the testing organization’s current policies before you apply.

Five steps to a strong request

  1. Start at least a semester early.Count backward from your test date, adding the review time and a buffer for follow-up questions.
  2. Ask for what you need on test day.Not every school accommodation applies to a timed test, and every request should connect to a specific need.
  3. Gather current documentation.Your most recent IEP or 504 plan, evaluations from qualified professionals, and a record of accommodations you’ve used.
  4. Use the right channel.Many tests route requests through a school official. Know who submits what, and confirm it was sent.
  5. Respond quickly and practice.Answer requests for more information fast, appeal if needed, and practice under your approved conditions.
Read the full guide to testing accommodations

What federal guidance says

U.S. Department of Justice guidance on testing accommodations under the ADA says:

  • Documentation requests should be reasonable and limited to what’s needed.
  • If you received accommodations under an IEP or 504 plan, you should generally receive the same ones, without extensive new documentation, when you certify a continued need.
  • Testing organizations should give considerable weight to qualified professionals who have evaluated you.
  • A history of academic success doesn’t mean you don’t have a disability.
  • Policies that flag accommodated scores in ways that impede fair competition are not allowed.
After high school

From IEP to college: what changes

Your rights continue after high school, but the system works differently. Knowing the differences before you arrive makes all the difference in your first term.

In K–12In college and graduate school
The school identifies and evaluates youYou contact the disability services office and request accommodations
An IEP team decides services, with your parentsThe disability office decides, working with you, the adult
The curriculum can be modifiedAccommodations provide access; essential requirements stay the same
The school pays for evaluationsYou may need to provide current documentation yourself
Your IEP follows you from year to yearIEPs don’t transfer, though they’re useful supporting documents
Teachers are told about your planYou give accommodation letters to each instructor, every term

Register early

Contact disability services as soon as you’re admitted. Accommodations generally aren’t retroactive, so grades earned before you’re approved usually stand.

Bring your history

Your IEP or 504 plan, evaluations and the Summary of Performance your high school provides at graduation all help, even if they aren’t sufficient on their own.

Graduate & professional school

Medical, nursing and other clinical programs publish technical standards. Ask how accommodations work in clinical settings, and plan ahead for licensing exams, which have their own processes.

Read the guide to accommodations after high school
Applications

Should I mention my disability when I apply?

It’s your choice, and there’s no single right answer. Disclosure is always voluntary. Colleges covered by Section 504 generally may not ask applicants whether they have a disability before admission, though they can ask after you’re admitted, confidentially, to plan accommodations.

Some applicants choose to share because it’s central to their story or explains something in their record. Others prefer to let their achievements speak for themselves. Either way, testing organizations such as the College Board, ACT and LSAC don’t mark accommodated scores on reports sent to schools.

If you decide to share

  • Lead with what you’ve learned and built, not with the diagnosis itself.
  • Use it to explain context, such as a grade dip before a diagnosis, in the additional information section.
  • Ask your counselor whether a brief note in their letter would help.
  • Keep it brief and factual unless it truly is the heart of your essay.
  • Research support early. Talking with disability services before you apply is a good way to judge fit.
Every stage

Support across the lifespan

Choosing a high school

Learning support varies widely among independent schools, from basic accommodations to specialized programs. Ask what support is included and what costs extra.

High school admissions

Choosing a college

Compare disability services, not just rankings. Some colleges also offer fee-based comprehensive support programs beyond required accommodations.

College admissions

Returning as an adult

Your rights apply at any age. If your last evaluation is old, ask the disability office what documentation it accepts. Your state vocational rehabilitation agency may help.

Lifelong learning

At work

The ADA also requires reasonable accommodations from most employers. The Job Accommodation Network offers free, confidential guidance.

Job Accommodation Network
International students with disabilities have the same right to accommodations at U.S. schools and colleges. Plan extra time to translate documentation into English, and ask testing organizations about their international procedures. See our international students guide.
How we help

Guidance that plans for access from the start

We work alongside your school, your evaluators and disability offices, not in place of them.

Deadlines built in

Accommodation reviews added to your testing and application timeline, so nothing arrives late.

Schools that fit

School lists that weigh learning support and disability services alongside academics and outcomes.

Your story, your choice

Thoughtful help deciding whether and how to share your experience in applications.

Our free Lite assessment lets you add accommodation steps to your timeline. That choice stays in your browser and is never sent to us.

Official sources

Where to go for authoritative answers

FAQ

Accommodations questions

Do I need a diagnosis to get testing accommodations?

Testing organizations generally require documentation that you have a disability and that it affects you in the testing situation. For many students, a current IEP or 504 plan that includes the requested accommodations is the most important piece. Others need an evaluation from a qualified professional. Each organization publishes its documentation requirements.

Will colleges know I tested with accommodations?

The College Board, ACT and LSAC don’t indicate accommodations on score reports sent to schools, and federal guidance says flagging policies that impede fair competition aren’t allowed. Whether to share your disability in your application is your decision.

My request was denied. What now?

Read the decision carefully. Denials often cite missing or outdated documentation, which you can address. Most testing organizations offer reconsideration or appeals. Act quickly, since appeals take time and test dates don’t move. At college, use the disability office’s appeal process or the school’s grievance procedure, and you can file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights.

Does my IEP automatically carry over to college?

No. IEPs end when you graduate from high school. In college, you request accommodations from the disability services office, which decides based on its own documentation standards. Your IEP, 504 plan and Summary of Performance are still useful evidence.

What accommodations are common?

On tests: extended time, extra or longer breaks, a separate room, large print, a reader or screen reader, or a scribe. In college: testing accommodations, note-taking support, accessible materials, assistive technology, and sometimes reduced course loads or priority registration. Decisions are individual.

Is the information I share with Admit Path kept private?

Yes. In our free Lite assessment, your accommodations choice stays in your browser and is never sent to us, even if you share your snapshot. If you choose to tell an advisor, we use it only to plan your support. See our privacy policy.

Every learner deserves a fair chance to show what they can do.

Start with a free snapshot and a timeline that includes your accommodation steps.

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