Testing for Disabilities

Undiagnosed disabilities can affect students in many different ways.  For example, a student who has undiagnosed ADD or ADHD may have difficulty in social situations or making friends.  They may have difficulty focusing on their studies or may find themselves hyper-focusing on subjects of interest to them at the expense of their other classes.  They may be messy and unorganized, or have trouble keeping track of papers and assignments.  Any of these symptoms can cause anxiety and ultimately may undermine success in school.

Diagnosing a disability takes special knowledge and expertise.  Disability service providers usually do not have the kind of expertise required to make a diagnosis, so students who are seeking disability testing are referred to their primary physician.  A primary physician is familiar with the medical background and history of the patient and can often provide evaluation or testing for some types of disabilities.  If they are unable to test for a particular disability, they can usually make a referral based on symptoms.

If it is impossible for a student to see their primary physician, the Disability Services Office (DSO) can make a referral to a specialist in the area who can do the testing.  Any costs associated with testing are the responsibility of the student; Disability Services does not pay for disability testing for students.  A copy of the test results should be sent to the DSO, along with any recommendations for accommodations.

After the testing has been completed and the DSO has a copy of the results, a meeting is scheduled with the student to determine appropriate accommodations based on the results of the tests and the recommendations of the testing professional.