As stated in my original post I started this largely due to my personal experience. I am a 27 year old female and I own my own business. On July 31, 2010 I was involved in a rock climbing (belaying actually) accident. I broke my T12 vertabrae as well as the transverse processes of L1, L2 and L3 and my 6th right rib. I was planning on taking the October 2010 test and saw no reason to change my plan, especially given all the extra time I had just acquired for studying. At first, I was told that I would be recovered in 2 months. On August 18th, I was informed that it would be 3 months and therefore I would be in a brace on October 9, 2010. I found the information on LSAC’s website for applying for accommodations. I jumped through all the hoops and I was actually approved for accommodations. However, the accommodations I received were not at all what my physician recommended. I did call LSAT accommodations first and I received more of the same run around you’ll see in my subsequent email correspondence. I have posted everything though, as I don’t have anything to hide. I omitted my name but left my LSAC number, they are pretty familiar with me. There is no accountability and they still haven’t offered a legitimate explanation.
I have decided not to take the test under conditions against my doctor’s orders. I will be rescheduling which is probably better because I won’t need accommodation and I won’t be flagged. Unless of course they flag me for this, which in my opinion would only bolster my application.
Here is the entire email correspondence:
________________________________________________
From:
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2010 1:26 PM
To: Accom Testing
Subject: Re: Accommodation Arrangement Question
Hello,
I have recently been approved for accommodated test arrangements based on my physical condition. My LSAC account number is L31080775. However, I am concerned that my accommodation letter does not address my primary condition and does not follow the guidelines set forth by my physician. The letter sites my rib fracture as the reason for accommodation, I would not be requesting accommodation for a rib fracture. However, I also have 4 spinal fractures and I am confined to an orthosis while out of bed. These are the sources of my pain and fatigue, hence my accommodation request. Sitting and standing at a podium, while a good start and very much appreciated, isn’t quite sufficient. I will need time to move about and relieve pressure hourly, as per my doctor’s recommendation. I am not asking for superfluous breaks, I just need one between section 2 and 3 and another between section 4 and section 5. I would even be content with moving the one break between section 3 and 4 and therefore only request one additional break. Please contact me if you have any further questions. I would like to have this resolved by end of business tomorrow.
Thank you for your consideration,
~
________________________________________________
On Thu, Sep 16, 2010 at 1:52 PM, Accom Testing <Accom@lsac.org> wrote:
,
Although LSAC’s policies allow you to seek reconsideration, the receipt deadline for the October 2010 LSAT has passed. If you choose to pursue your request for a future administration of the LSAT, please ensure that we receive any additional information you wish to have reviewed by the deadline associated with your future registration.
Accommodated Testing
Visit our website www.lsac.org for Accommodation Request Forms and documentation guidelines. All documentation and inquiries should include your name and LSAC account number. Please provide the last 4 digits of your social security/social insurance number, if you do not have an LSAC account number.
We advise candidates to submit documentation well in advance of the scheduled test date. The receipt deadline for all information regarding a request for accommodations, including supplementary documentation and requests for reconsideration, is the deadline associated with a candidate’s registration for an administration of the LSAT.
Candidates should visit their LSAC online account for the current status of his/her request for accommodations; it is available under Account Status.
______________________________________________
From:
Sent: Friday, September 17, 2010 12:39 AM
To: Accom Testing
Subject: Re: Accommodation Arrangement Question
I am not asking for reconsideration, I am just asking how I was approved based on one condition, hardly mentioned in my paperwork. Yet it doesn’t seem that the more serious condition was even recognized or my doctor’s recommendations were even considered. I am not sure what additional information could have possibly been pertinent. I did submit my application by the deadline, which in and of itself is miraculous, being that one month before I was lying in a hospital bed completely immobilized with an IV and a nasogastric tube (about as fun as it sounds). I realize I didn’t leave myself much time, but under my circumstances it really wasn’t an option. I wasn’t even able to take a short car ride until the 10th, I was on heavy narcotics until the 19th, I still can not drive. My doctor was very inaccessible to me, however I was fortunate in that he was able to quickly complete the paperwork once I did speak with him. I had a terrible time trying to track down my GRE scores and providing documentation for all of that. Then, I had to go to NC for September so my family could take care of me. These are just some of the constraints I’ve had to work around to submit this information. In a perfect world, I would have given myself more time, but then in a perfect world I wouldn’t have a broken back or an accommodation request. I would really appreciate you’re looking into accommodating me as my doctor requested. At the very least, I do think you owe me an explanation as to how I was approved for a condition only briefly mentioned and what additional information you could have required for consideration of my vertebral fractures. This would enable me to ensure a future complete application and also help in the blog I’m creating on LSAT accommodated testing to help others trying to navigate this apparently cumbersome process.
Thank you,
Attachments: Attached are some photos from my MRIs so maybe you can appreciate the severity of my condition. I know it is too late to submit further information, at the very least it will be a talking point for you at the office tomorrow. The first three are pictures of my fractured lumbar vertebrae, L1, L2 and L3 respectively. The next one is a midsaggital view of my entire vertebral column, showing my t12 in comparison to the rest of my vertabrae. After that there is another midsaggital view focusing on the injury. The next one, ng is a chest view also showing my nasogastric tube, if you knew what you were looking for you might be able to see my broken rib, but I can’t. The final four are pictures of my T12 ‘burst’ fracture with a being the most cranial and d being the most caudal.
Below are the pictures I forwarded to LSAC, although out of order.
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On Fri, Sep 17, 2010 at 8:42 AM, Accom Testing <Accom@lsac.org> wrote:
,
Your documentation does not support your request. Your evaluator needs to provide detailed information regarding the nature, severity, extent and treatment of your disorder and its functional limitation on your ability to take the LSAT. Please refer to our email dated September 16, 2010.
Accommodated Testing
Visit our website www.lsac.org for Accommodation Request Forms and documentation guidelines. All documentation and inquiries should include your name and LSAC account number. Please provide the last 4 digits of your social security/social insurance number, if you do not have an LSAC account number.
We advise candidates to submit documentation well in advance of the scheduled test date. The receipt deadline for all information regarding a request for accommodations, including supplementary documentation and requests for reconsideration, is the deadline associated with a candidate’s registration for an administration of the LSAT.
Candidates should visit their LSAC online account for the current status of his/her request for accommodations; it is available under Account Status.
_______________________________________________
From:
Sent: Friday, September 17, 2010 11:47 AM
To: Accom Testing
Subject: Re: Accommodation Arrangement Question
Here is how I perceive the situation:
#1
You approved my request, therefore my documentation must have been sufficient. You actually approved my request based on a rib fracture which was only mentioned once in the supporting paperwork. Obviously then, the T12 fracture mentioned 5 times with far greater detail would have to be approved as well.
#2
Based on the fact you approved my request you should follow my doctor’s recommendation.
Please explain to me how conclusions 1 and 2 do not necessarily follow.
Thank you,
~
_______________________________________________
On Fri, Sep 17, 2010 at 2:01 PM, Accom Testing <Accom@lsac.org> wrote:
,
Accommodations are made on a case by case basis. Please be advised that based on the information provided to date, our decision is final.
Accommodated Testing
Visit our website www.lsac.org for Accommodation Request Forms and documentation guidelines. All documentation and inquiries should include your name and LSAC account number. Please provide the last 4 digits of your social security/social insurance number, if you do not have an LSAC account number.
We advise candidates to submit documentation well in advance of the scheduled test date. The receipt deadline for all information regarding a request for accommodations, including supplementary documentation and requests for reconsideration, is the deadline associated with a candidate’s registration for an administration of the LSAT.
Candidates should visit their LSAC online account for the current status of his/her request for accommodations; it is available under Account Status.
_______________________________________________
On Fri, Sep 17, 2010 at 2:47 PM, wrote:
Good thing there is a separate department of true professionals dedicated to writing the questions for the LSAT because clearly logical reasoning is not the forte of this department.
This is a chance for you to redeem yourself with a logical explanation as this email correspondence doesn’t read well on your behalf to this point. The responses I have received from your department haven’t come close to a rational explanation of your decision. First, you tell me that the deadline for reconsideration has passed. When I tell you I’m not seeking reconsideration, only an explanation of your decision your response is that my paperwork wasn’t sufficient (which is also untrue but a point of debate I chose not to pursue). When I point out the flaw in your logic, as you approved me, you simply state that the decision is final. I wish my job had such little accountability. Are you guys hiring?
One more time I am going to ask for an explanation of your decision.
~
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no response received as of yet
