[mnl314]

Hi there!

I was wondering if anyone out there has a learning disability that allowed them accommodations for the CPA exam?

I’m in process of getting results and submitting them with my application for consideration. I have an abstract disability and I don’t know what options the board will give me. Any advice? Experience?

[Guti]

I never had a learning disability until I started failing FAR. Now I think I have ADD, and I need to get some Ritalin or Modafinil.

mnl314, I read that they give you and extra 30 minutes to finish the exam.

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[the_revolution]

You will need to have a full neuropsychological evaluation done. If you've had one done in the last 3 years, you can submit that, but if it is older than 3 year old, you will need to pay out of pocket for a new one. This costs anywhere from $1,500-$5,000, and it is not covered by insurance.

If you haven't had a formal neuropsychological evaluation in the past, it consists of about 5-8 hours of testing to evaluate functioning in a number of areas including: intelligence, executive functions (such as planning, abstraction, conceptualization), attention, memory, language, perception, sensorimotor functions, motivation, mood state and emotion, and personality styles. A couple weeks after the testing, you get a long write-up. The write-up includes family history, medical history, test descriptions, results, diagnosis, and recommendations. These recommendations are what your ADA accommodation request should be based on.

You also have to provide evidence that similar accommodations were made for you in the past. Assuming this is the case, it is probably documented in your medical records and/or school records.

The last thing you will need to submit is the NASBA ADA Modification form (or your state's form if they don't use the NASBA form). The NASBA form can be found here: https://www.nasba.org/files/2011/08/ADA_Accommodations.pdf . This form is where you will describe the specific accommodations you are requesting. As long as what you are requesting is reasonable and necessary, NASBA will try to accommodate it. You need to be specific, though (i.e. you can't just say “extra time”… you need to say “time and a half” or “double time”, and this should correlate to the measured results and recommendations in your neuropsych. eval.). Some common ADA accommodations for learning disabilities include a scribe, a reader, extended time, a separate quiet testing room, extra unscheduled breaks, equipment modifications, etc.

If you don't have a formal diagnosis confirmed through a current neuropsychological evaluation AND evidence that similar accommodations have been provided to you in the past, your ADA accommodation request will likely be rejected.

Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck.

[mnl314]

the_revolution, thanks for the info! I am however not interested in more time. In accordance with the equal education opportunities act, I believe they should provide a different format. My concerns are far more than ADD unfortunately so more time won't really save me. I have appointments booked with a psychologist though so I appreciate the heads up on what to expect!

[TiffaNiffaNi]

I have an ADA accommodation for cognitive issues with multiple sclerosis. Here's my post: https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/i-got-an-ada-accommodation

FAR: 7/17/14- 79
AUD: 8/20/14- 91
REG: 10/1/14- 88
BEC: 11/10/14- 85

Becker Self-Study

[TiffaNiffaNi]

Also, this guy was super helpful and can help answer any questions you may have:

Adam Herjeczki

Manager, Testing Accommodations/ ADA Compliance

– – – – – – – – – – – –

National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)

150 4th Ave North, Suite 700

Nashville, TN 37219

– – – – – – – – – – – – –

Phone/Fax: 615-312-3780

Email: aherjeczki@nasba.org

http://www.nasba.org

FAR: 7/17/14- 79
AUD: 8/20/14- 91
REG: 10/1/14- 88
BEC: 11/10/14- 85

Becker Self-Study

[the_revolution]

Best of luck, MNL314.

I do want to clarify, though, that I never suggested that you were looking for extra time, nor that you had ADD. I was just walking you through the process for getting accommodations for a learning disability. For invisible (cognitive) disabilities, the documentation standards are very high for accommodation requests, and rightfully so.

Also, please note that the Equal Educational Opportunities Act is not applicable to a professional licensure exam. The EEOA only applies to federally subsidized public schools.

Are you looking for the exam to be given in a language other than English? You may be able to get a reader/translator if you have a language-based learning disability. But, again, if you don't have a formal diagnosis confirmed through a current neuropsychological evaluation AND evidence that similar accommodations have been provided to you in the past, your ADA accommodation request will likely be rejected.

And, TiffaNiffaNi is right: Adam Herjeczki at NASBA is super helpful. aherjeczki@nasba.org

[pedrocerrano]

I sat for the exam and because of a a diagnosed learning disability and diagnosed ADHD-impulsive subtype. I was granted extra time and my own room at the Prometric centers to minimize noise distractions. The standards for being granted accommodations are high , as the above poster mentions. I had about 5 days of testing to go through with a licensed professional (full IQ test and a number of cognitive diagnostics). I Hope that helps. You need the testing to be recent, like within the last 3 years, for it to qualify, and this is a big barrier for many, as the above poster is right that it is expensive and since you're no longer in school, no one (insurance or public school) is going to pay for it. I was happy to have it done though because it was great to gain an understanding of my strengths and weaknesses and cognitive strengths and what types of work environments work best for me in an office workplace.

[mnl314]

TiffaNiffaNi Thanks for the resource! I'll reach out to that individual.

the_revolution Thanks for the clarification, I wasn't aware that Equal Educational Opportunities Act is not applicable to the CPA exam. I do understand that the standards are high and quite costly to have a current diagnosis. After many horribly failed exams, I'm just looking to see what alternatives may be out there. It is quite discouraging to know the information so well but have a learning disability which holds me back from proving this on an exam. I work in public accounting and have only a few months left before I will not be able to advance in the firm without a CPA. I'm out of options!

pedrocerrano That is helpful, thanks for sharing!

[Guti]

mnl314, if you don’t mind me asking, what kind of learning disability do you have? You mentioned that you can master the material, but can’t pass the exam? Do you feel that you can’t recall facts while taking the test?

revolution, i never heard of language-based learning disability. You mentioned a translator? So you are saying that this learning disability are for people who cant learn a second language?

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[mnl314]

Gian, yes it's kind of hard to explain but it's an abstraction disability, “Once information is recorded in the brain and laced in the right sequence, one must be able to infer meaning. Most learning disabled children have only minor difficulties in this area. Abstraction – the ability to derive the correct general meaning from a particular word or symbol – is a very basic intellectual task. If the disability in this area is too great, the child is apt to be functioning at a retarded level.”

I'm not functioning at a retarded level, but I do struggle with the ability to infer meaning. I know the material and I know how to solve problems, I've mastered the Becker material. However, on the exam I'm unable to apply any of that knowledge and it's like I've never heard of it before, when in reality, it's merely presented in a slightly different way. I've struggled with this my entire life and it's never really held me back, until the CPA 🙁

[Guti]

I saw a documentary of a guy who had something similar but he also had a photographic memory. Like you said, his problem was that if material was presented in a different way, he couldn’t decipher what they were asking. His memory was impressive though. He could read a book only once and was able to tell you its contents page by page. I’m sure you will get the accommodations you need.

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[mnl314]

Gian I wish I had a photographic memory! Do you think they will have accommodations though? I'm waiting to meet with the psychologist to see what their input is, but I just don't know what options the board will have for the CPA.

[mnl314]

[Guti]

Im sure they will figure something out. If they give extra 30 minutes to people that have “ADD”, they shoud be able to accommodate you. If they give you an exam where the questions are straight forward, you should do fine.

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[Guti]

You will be surprise if you knew how many people that take that CPA exam are on Ritalin or Modafinil. Most of these people pretend to have ADD or some other issue so that can get that extra help for the exam. I’m even thinking about getting these medications, so I can compete as well. You are of the few individuals who really need the extra help, so if they do not help you out, take them to court.

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[Author]

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