RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF BAR EXAMINERS RHODE ISLAND SUPREME COURT CLERK'S OFFICE Licht Judicial Complex 250 Benefit Street Providence, Rhode Island 02903 Phone: (401) 222-3272 Fax: (401) 222-3599 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR REQUESTING TEST ACCOMMODATIONS The Rhode Island Board of Bar Examiners (BBE) encourages persons with disabilities to apply for test accommodations. Reasonable test accommodations will be made on the Rhode Island Bar Examination for qualified applicants with disabilities. The Rhode Island Bar Examination is a 2 (two)-day timed examination designed to test the knowledge and skills necessary for one who seeks admission to the Rhode Island Bar. It is the policy of the BBE to administer the bar examination and all other services of this office in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended (ADA). A qualified applicant with a disability who is otherwise eligible to take the bar examination, but who cannot demonstrate under standard testing conditions that he/she possesses the knowledge and skills to be admitted to the Rhode Island Bar, may request reasonable test accommodations. The BBE will make reasonable modifications to any policies, practices, and procedures that might otherwise prevent individuals with disabilities from taking the bar examination in an accessible place or manner, provided such modifications do not result in a fundamental alteration to the examination or other admission requirements, impose an undue burden, or jeopardize examination security. In order to accommodate disabled persons, the BBE may furnish additional testing time, auxiliary aids, and other accommodations when necessary to ameliorate the impact of the applicant's disability on the applicant's ability to take the bar examination. No additional charges will be assessed to individuals with disabilities to cover the costs of reasonable accommodations. Requests for test accommodations will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The applicant must submit documentation from one or more qualified professionals that provides information on the diagnosed impairment(s), the applicant's current level of impairment, and the rationale for the accommodations requested on the bar examination. In addition, the applicant must submit verifying documentation of his or her history of accommodations, if any. All documentation will be retained by the BBE and may be submitted to one or more qualified professionals for an impartial review. Accommodations granted elsewhere do not necessarily entitle an applicant to accommodations on the bar examination, although the BBE gives considerable weight to documentation relating to past accommodations received in similar testing situations or in response to an IEP or Section 504 plan. DEFINITIONS 1. Disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of the applicant. In the bar examination setting, the impairment must limit an applicant's ability to demonstrate, under standard testing conditions, that the applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities tested on the bar examination. Page 1 of 4 GEN INST 10/12 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 2. Physical impairment is a physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the body's systems. 3. Mental impairment is any mental or psychological disorder such as intellectual disability (formerly termed "mental retardation"), organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, or any specific learning disability. 4. Major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working. 5. Reasonable accommodation is an adjustment or modification of the standard testing conditions, or an appropriate auxiliary aid or service, that ameliorates the impact of the applicant's disability without doing any of the following: a. fundamentally altering the nature of the bar examination, including but not limited to compromising the validity or reliability of the examination; or b. imposing an undue burden on the BBE; or c. jeopardizing examination security. 6. Qualified professional is a licensed physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other health care provider who has appropriate training in the field related to the applicant's disability. FILING DEADLINE Requests for accommodations will be considered after receipt of all required information. The Applicant Checklist, located in Section V of Form 1: Applicant Request for Test Accommodations must be submitted with the application. The applicable items specified in the Applicant Checklist must be completed and received by the BBE on or before the filing deadline of the exam the applicant wishes to take. Applicants with disabilities are subject to the same application deadline as individuals without disabilities. Because some of the accommodation request forms require input from third parties, the appropriate individuals should be asked to complete the forms well in advance of the deadline. A timely request for test accommodations for the February administration of the Rhode Island Bar Examination must be received not later than December 1. A timely request for test accommodations for the July administration of the Rhode Island Bar Examination must be received not later than May 1. There is no provision for late filing. Requests for test accommodations and supporting documentation may be submitted to the Bar Administrator at 250 Benefit Street, Providence, RI 02903. RETAKE APPLICANTS Applicants who retake the examination must submit Form 1: Applicant Request for Test Accommodations each time they apply for the bar examination, even if they previously requested and were granted accommodations by the BBE. It is not necessary to resubmit supporting documentation that was submitted with a previous request, provided the applicant sat for the Rhode Island Bar Examination Page 2 of 4 GEN INST 10/12 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com within the preceding year and (1) is requesting the same accommodations that were received previously on the Rhode Island Bar Examination and (2) has had no material changes in his/her condition. New supporting documentation is required if there is any change in the accommodations requested. An update to prior medical documentation is required assessi