Why is there a need for test takers to send in cognitive and achievement testing for disabilities such as ADHD or psychiatric disabilities?
A disability or a diagnosis alone, such as ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or a generalized anxiety disorder, is not sufficient to support the need for testing accommodations. The ADA requires that the disability result in a substantial limitation to learning. For ETS purposes, this means that the current functional impact of the disability on test taking must be clearly indicated. Objective cognitive tests that measure information processing, memory, and organizational and sequential thinking skills under both standard timing and extended-time conditions can be very helpful in supporting the need for the requested accommodations. While the disability may not disappear over time, current academic achievement measures are necessary to determine whether the functional limitations in learning persist despite remediation, intervention, or treatment.
