College accommodations refer to the adjustments or support services colleges and universities provide to ensure that students with disabilities, health issues, or specific needs have equal access to education. These interventions are designed to level the playing field without altering the fundamental requirements of a course. They can include a variety of services and adjustments tailored to individual needs. We provide evaluations that help with college accommodations for autism and ADHD accommodations for college. There are other categories, too, including support for anxiety, phobias, and depression.
The following provides a guide to college accommodations and the process involved with getting them, but feel free to contact us or schedule a consultation anytime to talk about your specific situation. We always provide a free consultation before beginning our work. While we can’t make any guarantees, we want to ensure that we think our services will help before we charge anything or start the evaluation.
College Accommodations Overview 
The following is a brief overview of college accommodations, including the types, process, and some tips for getting them.
Types of College Accommodations
- Academic Accommodations:
- Extended Time on Tests/Assignments: This allows extra time for students needing it due to processing delays, anxiety, or other factors. Depending on the issue, these are sometimes specific types of tests (such as accommodations for exams) or just certain subjects.
- Alternative Testing Environments: Quiet or distraction-free spaces for students with difficulty concentrating in large testing settings.
- Note-Taking Assistance: Access to class notes or note-taking services for students with difficulty focusing, writing, or processing information.
- Recording Lectures: Permission to record lectures for students who may struggle with taking notes in real time.
- Assistive Technology: Access to tools like screen readers, speech-to-text software, or specialized keyboards.
- Housing Accommodations:
- Service Animal/Emotional Support Animal Accommodation: Permission to have a service or emotional support animal in campus housing.
- Single Room Requests: For students who require a private space due to medical or mental health needs.
- Classroom Accommodations:
- Preferential Seating: Sitting in specific classroom areas to enhance focus or accessibility.
- Flexibility with Attendance: Adjustments to attendance policies for students with chronic disabilities that may cause sporadic absences.
How to Request Accommodations
- Contact the Office of Disability Services: Most colleges have a dedicated office to handle requests. This office will typically guide you through the process.
- Provide Documentation: You may need to submit documentation of your disability or medical condition from a licensed professional. This is where our services come in – we provide the comprehensive evaluation you may need to show that you have a disability, how the challenge affects you, and how the accommodations would help you overcome those challenges.
- Develop an Accommodation Plan: Work with a disability coordinator to identify appropriate accommodations. Our report will suggest some, and then the school will work with you to determine how they can realistically be implemented.
- Communicate with Professors: Once approved, students usually receive a letter outlining their accommodations, which they can share with their instructors.
Tips for Students
- Advocate for Yourself: Don’t hesitate to request the support you need. Accommodations are your right under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Most schools and professors have been through this before and will understand.
- Plan Early: Start the process as early as possible, ideally before the semester begins. If you are in high school, you can start the process as soon as you are accepted. In fact, contacting the school to understand their policies and processes is sometimes a way to determine which school to attend. We work closely with psychologists who provide college admission support services who can help.
- Stay Organized: Keep records of all communication and documentation related to your accommodations. We can also help with this.
ADHD Accommodations for College
Some of the most common requests are for ADHD accommodations for college. Often, clients contact us because they had IEP or 504 plan accommodations in high school, and now they want to ensure they carry over. However, in some cases, students were able to overcome their symptoms in high school, but the more challenging college environment and the lack of structure require a new evaluation. Here are some of the ADHD accommodations for college that our evaluations may point toward:
- Extended Time on Exams:
- Provides additional time to complete tests and quizzes, helping to alleviate anxiety and accommodate slower processing speeds. This may be necessary for all classes, though for some students, these ADHD accommodations for college may only be needed in verbal and nonverbal classes.
- Distraction-Reduced Testing Environment:
- Access to a quiet room or separate space for taking exams to minimize interruptions and distractions. This may be particularly true for students going to larger colleges where some classes will have many students.
- Note-Taking Support:
- ADHD accommodations for college sometimes include access to lecture notes, outlines, or note-taking services to help capture key information when the focus is challenging. Many students do not need this help in all classes but find it necessary in certain classes where things move quickly, or information is presented in certain ways (such as verbally rather than visually).
- Use of Technology:
- Permission to use assistive technology such as noise-canceling headphones, lecture recording devices, or apps for task management and organization (e.g., Todoist, Notion).
- Priority Seating:
- Another of the more common adhd accommodations for college allows students to choose a seat that minimizes distractions, such as sitting at the front of the classroom.
- Flexible Deadlines:
- Extensions on assignments or flexibility with due dates when symptoms interfere with meeting deadlines. This is a bit less common with ADHD accommodations for college than other challenges such as anxiety or depression.
- Reduced Course Load:
- Taking fewer classes per semester to help manage workload and reduce overwhelm.
- Access to Tutoring or Academic Coaching:
- Support services focused on time management, organization, and study skills specific to what our evaluation for ADHD reveals.
- Breaks During Class:
- The option to take short breaks to move around or reset focus, particularly during long lectures. (This is one of the ADHD accommodations for college that may not always be feasible, however.)
- Alternative Formats for Assignments:
- Allowing different methods of demonstrating knowledge, such as oral presentations instead of written essays.
Tips for Requesting ADHD Accommodations for College
- Documentation: The most important step in getting adhd accommodations for college is using our services or another psychological testing service to provide an “official” ADHD diagnosis, clarify how the diagnosis affects you, and make recommendations that the school can use as a starting point.
- Meet Early: As soon as possible, schedule a meeting with the Office of Disability Services to discuss your needs. It would be best if you did this before testing because they may give you specific guidance and recommendations for what tests we should choose or how we should put together the assessment battery.
- Be Specific: Even after receiving our psychological testing report, explain how ADHD affects you in a classroom or testing environment to help tailor the accommodations.
College Accommodations for Autism
College accommodations for autism can help address communication, social interaction, sensory sensitivities, and executive functioning challenges. Here are some common accommodations and tips for how to get them:
College Accommodations for Autism List
- Extended Time on Exams:
- This is one of the more common college accommodations for autism, providing additional time to reduce stress and accommodate differences in processing speed. It may be more necessary in certain classes than in others.
- Alternative Testing Environments:
- A quiet or low-stimulation room for tests to help students focus without sensory distractions. This may also reduce social anxiety for some students as well.
- Flexible Attendance Policies:
- This is also one of the more common college accommodations for autism. It allows for some leniency in attendance requirements, acknowledging that sensory overload, anxiety, or other challenges may affect the ability to attend class consistently.
- Clear, Structured Instructions:
- Professors provide detailed and explicit instructions for assignments and projects to minimize ambiguity.
- Priority Registration:
- This and other logistical college accommodations for autism allow students to register for classes early and select courses and schedules that best suit their needs (e.g., avoiding crowded times or certain classroom environments).
- Access to Lecture Notes and Recordings:
- Helps students who may struggle with processing spoken information quickly or need additional time to review material.
- Assigned Peer Mentor or Support Person:
- A peer or staff member can assist with navigating social situations, campus resources, or group work.
- Single Room or Sensory-Friendly Housing Options:
- Reduced sensory stimuli in living environments, such as a single dorm room or quieter campus housing areas.
- Assistive Technology:
- Use of tools like noise-canceling headphones, fidget devices, or apps for time management and organization.
- Flexibility in Participation Requirements:
- Adjustments for classroom participation, such as allowing written responses instead of verbal participation or alternative methods to demonstrate engagement.
- Sensory Accommodations:
- Options for taking breaks during class to avoid sensory overload or providing a quiet space for decompression.
Tips for Students on the Autism Spectrum
College accommodations for autism are required and important, and communicating your difficulty is vital. Our testing for the need for college accommodations for autism is a good first step, and then we can also help with the following:
- Communicate Your Needs Clearly: Be as specific as possible when explaining your challenges and preferred college accommodations for autism. If you feel more comfortable, have a family member or peer help with this communication.
- Establish a Routine: Consistent schedules and routines can be helpful, so work with your academic advisor to build a predictable timetable.
- Utilize Campus Resources: Many colleges have autism support programs or centers that offer tailored services and additional coaching.
Other forms of College Accommodations
Most commonly, we are asked to test for the need for college accommodations for autism or ADHD, but we can also help with the following:
1. College Accommodations for test-taking anxiety
Test-taking anxiety can be challenging, and we can provide the psychological testing you need to get accommodations to reduce the anxiety and level the playing field for you. If you experience anxiety during exams, there are specific accommodations that our assessment might suggest:
Extended Time
- This helps alleviate the pressure of a timed test, allowing you more time to process and answer questions without rushing.
- Common options include 1.5x or 2x the regular test duration.
Alternate Testing Environment
- A quieter, separate room can help reduce distractions and anxiety.
- This could be a low-stimulation environment or a room with minimal noise.
Breaks During Tests
- The ability to take short breaks during an exam can help you manage stress and refocus.
- These can be flexible breaks or specified intervals, depending on what you need.
Use of Noise-Canceling Headphones or Earplugs
- For students who are sensitive to noise or easily distracted, headphones can help block out background sounds.
- This is especially helpful in a quiet room with potential small noises that might be disruptive.
Access to Coping Aids
- Bringing stress balls, fidget tools, or even calming items can help manage anxiety during testing.
- Some schools allow students to use grounding tools or techniques during exams.
Flexible Scheduling for Exams
- If taking multiple exams in one day increases your anxiety, consider asking to spread them out over several days.
- This reduces the cognitive load and helps you perform better on each test.
College Accommodations for Fears of Public Speaking
Public speaking anxiety is a common challenge, and we can provide the psychological testing you need to get accommodations to reduce the stress associated with presentations or class participation. Here are some options that our assessment may suggest:
Alternative Assignment Format
- Instead of a live presentation, you could request to submit a pre-recorded video of your speech. This allows you to practice in a controlled environment and minimize anxiety.
- Alternatively, you may be allowed to write a paper or create a multimedia presentation instead of speaking in front of the class.
Smaller Audience or Private Presentation
- Request the option to present only in front of the instructor or a small group of peers rather than the entire class.
- This can help ease the fear of speaking in front of a large audience.
Use of Assistive Technology
- You might be allowed to use notes, a teleprompter app, or a slide deck to help guide your presentation and reduce speech anxiety.
- Technology like a clicker or pointer can help you stay focused and engaged without losing your place.
Option for Virtual Presentations
- Some students may feel more comfortable presenting over Zoom or another virtual platform rather than in person.
- This can be a helpful accommodation, especially for online or hybrid courses.
Scheduled Breaks During Presentations
- If your anxiety tends to peak during longer speeches, request a brief pause or break to regain composure.
- This could be a short water break or a moment to refer back to your notes.
Written Feedback Instead of Oral Questions
- If part of your anxiety comes from the Q&A session after a presentation, you could request that questions be submitted in writing instead of being asked aloud.
- This gives you time to think and respond thoughtfully without the pressure of an immediate answer.
Flexibility with Grading Criteria
- You might ask for less emphasis on the grade’s delivery aspect and more focus on content, research, and organization.
- This can help alleviate some of the pressure associated with public speaking.
Needs for Emotional Support Animals
Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) can be a great resource for students in college dorms, particularly for those with anxiety, ADHD, autism, depression, or other mental health conditions. We can provide the assessment you need to be approved to have an ESA in college housing.
Some of the above can be combined with ADHD accommodations for college when a client has multiple needs. For example, college accommodations for autism often include the examples listed above regarding presentation anxiety.
Summary and Our Work
We can provide the evaluation your school requires, which defines your disability, describes how it affects you, and recommends the accommodations you are entitled to. The process is not guaranteed, but colleges are aware of the laws and regulations in this area and are almost always fair.
Feel free to contact us or schedule a consultation anytime to discuss any of this. We always provide a free consultation before beginning our work to ensure that we feel there is a good chance that the testing will be worthwhile.
