The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of providing extra time as an accommodation to students with learning disabilities (LD) in higher education institutions. The results, which are based in the setting of a South African accountancy programme, provides a unique context where time, in time-constrained assessments, are often…

This study investigated the effectiveness of four Digitalized Interactive Components (DICs) designed based on cognitive principles to accommodate individual differences among students with learning difficulties in geometry during computer-based assessments. The four DICs were annotations (allowing students to make notes on the screen), pop-up…

This study investigates the time-use patterns of students with learning disabilities during digital mathematics assessments and explores the role of extended time accommodations (ETA) in shaping these patterns. Using latent profile analysis, four distinct time-use profiles were identified separately for students with and without ETA. "Initial…

This study's primary purpose was to determine how students with a learning disability (LD) in mathematics react in different testing environments, and whether changing the testing parameters can improve the outcomes. Quantitative data was collected through questionnaires, heart rates, and math fluency probes. These data were used to test the…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disability that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges yet it is defined and diagnosed by the absence or presence of behaviors described in, for example, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5. Descriptions of the disorder include symptoms such as intellectual…

Prescreening children for specific learning disabilities, e.g., dyslexia, is essential for effective intervention. With a quick and reliable prescreening result, special education coordinators (SENCOs) can provide students with early intervention and relieve their learning pressure. Unfortunately, due to the limited resources, many students in…

A recent, widely publicized scandal involved students who obtained fraudulent diagnoses of learning disabilities in an effort to get accommodations on college admissions tests. Although the exact circumstances of the scandal are unusual, the methods used to obtain diagnoses and accommodations illustrate widespread problems with current policies.…

This research synthesizes studies that used a Digitalized Interactive Component (DIC) to assess K-12 student mathematics performance during Computer-based-Assessments (CBAs) in mathematics. A systematic search identified ten studies that categorized existing DICs according to the tools that provided language assistance to students and tools that…

Reading disorders, including reading comprehension disorders, are among the most common referrals for evaluation in schools. If that evaluation involves individually administered tests of reading, the examiner is faced with selecting at least one reading comprehension subtest that is inherently associated with specific task demands, such as a…

In this state, one constant that students with disabilities have experienced has been the lack of accessibility to the high-stakes standardized test, the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). The purpose of this Action Research study was to investigate and improve the access, to MCAS testing for students with disabilities in…

Higher education students with specific learning disorders (SLD) often experience difficulties in basic learning skills, including typing on computers, which has become the most common writing mode for academic purposes. This may affect their academic performance. We compared the typing performance, product, and technique (screen gaze, finger use)…

Dyscalculia is a Specific Learning Disorder that affects ones' ability to comprehend, retain, and recall mathematical principles and basic facts. Approximately five million students in the United States have dyscalculia; these students are eligible to receive interventions and accommodations in math class. This study examined the efficacy of extra…

Timed examinations continue to be a common educational assessment method employed to evaluate a student's knowledge, ability and skills in their subject area. Extra time is the most common adjustment that students with specific learning difficulties (SpLD) are granted in these exams. This adjustment aims to provide students with SpLD parity with…

Academic accommodations for students experiencing disabilities are increasingly available at postsecondary institutions. More studies of the efficacy of accommodations for student success are warranted, however. Given the increased gender gap in university participation, more focus on the unique impact of gender is also needed. Using a sample of…

As schools move into a new era of technology, assessment is evolving as well. With the introduction of high-stakes tests based on the Common Core State Standards, annual assessments are increasingly delivered via computer-based systems. This method of delivery could have a significant effect on students with learning disabilities. This column…