Disability-Related Accommodations

The TOEFL and TSE programs are committed to serving test takers with disabilities by providing services and reasonable accommodations that are appropriate given the purposes of the tests. Nonstandard testing accommodations are available for test takers who meet ETS requirements.

All requests for accommodations must be approved in accordance with TOEFL/TSE policies and procedures and must be made on the Request for Nonstandard Testing Accommodations form, which can be found in the Guide for Test Takers With Disabilities. The Guide contains all necessary instructions and forms needed to request nonstandard testing accommodations. If you are unable to download the Guide, you may obtain a printed copy by contacting Educational Testing Service as follows:

• Phone: 609-771-7780, TTY: 609-771-7714
  Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. USA Eastern Standard Time
• Fax: (609) 771-7165
• Email: stassd@ets.org
• Mail:
  TOEFL/TSE Disability Services
  Educational Testing Service
  PO Box 6054
  Princeton, NJ 08541-6054 USA

Test takers who require only minor modifications do not need to complete the Request for Nonstandard Accommodations form but instead must submit a letter of support from a medical doctor or other qualified professional stating the nature of the condition and the minor modifications requested. Minor modifications include special lighting, adjustable table or chair, and breaks for medication and snacks. Documented medical needs may include diabetes, epilepsy, or chronic pain.

Send the letter with the registration form and fee to Educational Testing Service, TOEFL/TSE Disability Services, PO Box 6054, Princeton, NJ 08541-6054.

Because of ETS’s need to review documentation in order to provide appropriate accommodations, all test takers must register through TOEFL/TSE Disability Services. Documentation review may take up to six weeks. Therefore, we urge you to submit your request as early as possible. Standby registration is not available.

Accommodations that may be provided include the following:

Computer-Based Testing

• Extended testing time (All tests are timed.) 
• Additional rest breaks
• Test reader
• Recorder/writer of answers
• Sign language interpreter (for spoken directions only)
• Alternate test formats:
  · Audio recording
  · Braille
  · Large print (16 pt.)
  · Large print answer sheet
  · Listening Comprehension section omitted (for deaf or hard-of-hearing applicants only. NOTE: For candidates who do not take the Listening section of the test, no listening or total score will be reported. Structure and Reading section scores will be reported.)
• The following can be made available to those who are familiar with their use.
  · Kensington Trackball Mouse
  · HeadMaster Plus Mouse
  · Intellikeys Keyboard
  · Keyboard with touchpad mouse

TOEFL Paper-based Testing

• Extended testing time (All tests are timed.)
• Additional rest breaks
• Writer/recorder of answers
• Test reader
• Audio recording
• Sign language interpreter (for spoken directions only)
• Alternate test formats:
  · Audio recording
  · Braille
  · Large print (16 pt.)
  · Large print answer sheet
  · Listening Comprehension section omitted (for deaf or hard-of-hearing applicants only. NOTE: For candidates who do not take the Listening section of the test, no listening or total score will be reported. Structure and Reading section scores will be reported.)

Test of Spoken English

• Extended testing time (All tests are timed.)
• Additional rest breaks
• Test reader
• Sign language interpreter (for spoken directions only)
• Alternative test formats:
  · Braille
  · Large print (16 pt.)
  · Nonaudio (without oral stimuli)

Before requesting nonstandard testing accommodations, you may want to contact each institution or fellowship sponsor to which you are applying to ask if it is willing to waive the TOEFL or TSE requirement and consider your application based on information other than TOEFL and/or TSE scores.

How to Register
The Guide for Test Takers With Disabilities contains all necessary instructions and forms to request nonstandard testing accommodations.
For the TOEFL paper and TSE tests, as with all paper-based test administrations, you should submit your request to ETS at least six weeks prior to your planned test date. Early registration for a paper-based testing administration will provide ETS time to arrange for your approved testing accommodations.

All requests for testing accommodations must be reviewed and approved prior to scheduling your test. All materials must be submitted together or your registration will be returned to you unprocessed, which may cause your test date to be delayed.

Re-registration
If your request for accommodations has been approved by ETS within the last two years, and your documentation is still current, you may request the same testing accommodations for any test (GMAT, GRE, Praxis, or TOEFL) during the following two testing years. To reregister, submit a registration form, the appropriate fees, and Parts I, II, and III only of the Request for Nonstandard Testing Accommodations form which can be found in the Guide for Test Takers With Disabilities. Be sure to indicate the previous test name and test date. NOTE: If you are registering for a different test, the same accommodations will be granted if they are appropriate for that test.

ETS Documentation Criteria
Documentation on file for the applicant must:

• clearly state the diagnosed disability or disabilities
• describe the functional limitations resulting from the disability or disabilities
• be current, i.e., completed within the last five years for LD, last six months for psychiatric disabilities, or last three years for ADHD and all other disabilities (NOTE: This requirement does not apply to physical or sensory disabilities of a permanent or unchanging nature)
• include complete educational, developmental, and medical history relevant to the disability for which testing accommodations are being requested
• include a list of all test instruments used in the evaluation report and relevant subtest scores used to document the stated disability. (This requirement does not apply to physical or sensory disabilities of a permanent or unchanging nature)
• describe the specific accommodations requested
•  adequately support each of the requested testing accommodation(s)
• be typed or printed on official letterhead and be signed by an evaluator qualified to make the diagnosis (include information about license or certification and area of specialization).

Applicants with learning disabilities, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, refer to the ETS Web site www.ets.org/disability/ for documentation requirements: “ETS Policy Statement for Documentation of a Learning Disability in Adolescents and Adults”; “ETS Policy Statement for Documentation of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adolescents and Adults”; or “ETS Guidelines for Documentation of Psychiatric Disabilities in Adolescents and Adults.” Printed copies of these documents are available from TOEFL/TSE Disability Services.

Scoring and Reporting
Nonstandard test administrations are conducted under varying conditions and for only a small number of test takers, so the degree of comparability of the resulting scores with those achieved under standard conditions is not always known. When an approved testing accommodation affects a test construct that is measured, a statement is included with the score report indicating that the test was taken under nonstandard conditions. It interpreting results, score recipients are reminded that test scores should be considered only one part of an applicant’s record.

Source: http://www.toefl.org/toeflcbt/cbt_disabilities.html

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