College policy about LD evaluation

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

Hi,

I have a question if anyone know what the usual university policies are regarding paying for evaluation for a LD. I am actually a medical student and have a diagnosed LD. I am appliying for accommodation to the USMLE step 1 and would like a very comprehensive report to be done for submission for testing accommodation. My university is refusing to pay for my evaluation (testing and report writing) and this usually cost $700- $1200. I ask this question because my undergraduate college paid for my evaluation of an LD.

I looking for peoples’ advice about pursing this topic with my medical school. Where does the law stand about paying for LD evaluation/diagnosis/report writing.

Thanks in advance

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 07/03/2001 - 5:01 PM

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hello anon i have never heard of that. Most universities dont have there psycharists there, when i was in college i had to bring my own documentation of my learning disability and then from there the college can decide what accomdation you will need. For your last question I hardly recommend reading up on Section 504 of the rehabiltitation act of 1973, it explains alot. DO you have any old documentation of your disability from any other colleges that you may have gone to. See when i went to school i had mine already done, then when i transfered into another college i just got copies and they were sent to my new school. i hope this helped you out.

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 07/03/2001 - 11:30 PM

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Anon,
Congratulations on your fortitude and success to date! Unfortunately, I do not have the answers that you are looking for. I have some Qs for you though. I have a child in high school and looking into colleges. May I ask you which college you went to, it sounds as though they were really there for you. From what I have read the college doing an evaluation for free is highly unusual. Was it done by interns (students) or faculty? Were they trying to get you into a fee based ld program within their school? Did the college give you the accomo dations and needed supports to earn your degree? Was it fee based services? This is big business for colleges today. From what I am reading getting supports can easiliy cost a student w a ld an additional 5,000. Anyway, none of this answers your Qs I am afraid. I would guess (and this is a guess) that if yousubmit a diagnosis from one private professional with expertise in the area of disability who is allowed to diagnose 504 should allow for accomodations.
I wish you much luck and success!

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 07/05/2001 - 3:37 PM

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If by chance your diagnosed LD is attention deficit disorder, you may not need a comprehensive evaluation but would only need a signature to attest to that.

Just a thought.

Another would be you’ve clearly already passed many standardized tests to get this far. You took SATs and MCats. Did you have accomodations for those?

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 07/11/2001 - 6:22 PM

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Anon,
Unfortunately for you, the university is not obligated to provide or pay for disability documentation including learning disabilities. You were fortunate that your undergraduate college had something available, not many colleges or universities actually conduct or pay for testing. You might try contacting the person who did your original testing to see if they could work some kind of payment plan out with you. There may be tests they don’t need to repeat (I can’t tell from your email how old the original testing is.) Also, the original evaluator has already demonstrated their willingness to do this kind of testing and may be a little more ‘empathic.’ I would recommend focussing your efforts on finding out how to get current, appropriate testing done. You are unlikely to get far fighting with your medical school. There’s no requirement that they provide this.

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