[blindlaw] LSAT Prep Materials

Wed May 20 19:04:34 UTC 2009

Hello Stephanie,

This is very interesting. I agree that seeking a waiver of the LSAT would
put a blind student or  a student with another disability at a disadvantage.
But your post makes me wonder about the program Michigan recently
established, whereby certain applicants (I believe they had to have gone to
UMich for undergrad, but I don't remember the details) could be exempt from
the LSAT if they met certain other requirements. As far as I know, none of
these involved a standardized test. Do you remember the program to which I'm
referring? Maybe others do and can comment on this. 

Angie

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Stephanie Enyart
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 2:37 PM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] LSAT Prep Materials

Although Richard Bernstein's ability to not take the LSAT was a good thing
for him, it is not a viable option for blind pre-law candidates today
because the Law School Admission Council in conjunction with the ABA Section
on Legal Education an Admission to the Bar have created policies that
triangulate the applicant in taking the LSAT for admission to ABA-accredited
schools.

The LSAC is the entity the American Bar Association charges to administer
the LSAT and conduct the admissions process for all ABA-accredited schools
and some state accredited schools. Section 503 of the ABA regulations read, 
"A law school shall require each applicant for admission as a first year
J.D. student to take a valid an reliable admission test to assist the school
and the applicant in assessing the applicant's capability in satisfactorily
completing the school's educational program. In making admissions decisions,
a law school shall use the test results in a manner that is consistent with
the current guidelines regarding proper use of the test results provided by
the agency that developed the test."

Law schools see thousands of disabled applicants each year who have taken
the LSAT despite accommodations issues. Since schools have a wide array of
candidates to choose from among those who have taken the LSAT, it positions
the blind pre-law applicant that wants a waiver at a significant
disadvantage because the admissions office would not only have to make an
exception for them, they would also have to use the results of another
standardized test that is valid, reliable and measures the aptitude for
completing law school. So the aftermath of people like Richard inspired the
LSAC and ABA to draft these rules which have ultimately given LSAC quite a
bit of power over disabled applicants - applicants must take a standardized
test, no other tests meet the criteria required by the ABA and the LSAC, as
the agency administering the test, has the power to offer the schools
guidelines on test interpretation (i.e. the text of the letter I sent to the
list that started this thread). 

To read Section 503 in the ABA regs go to:

http://www.abanet.org/legaled/standards/20072008StandardsWebContent/Chapter%
205.pdf 

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Rod Alcidonis
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 7:07 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] LSAT Prep Materials

I only know of one blind attorney, Richard Bernstein, who successfully 
convinced North Western to wave his LSAT when he applied. He is the guy who 
was sighted as the attorney challenging the traffic signals. So, it can be 
done. With excellent grades and excellent recommendations was how he did it.

With excellent grades and many professors speaking highly of him, he 
effectively neutralized any negative impact of the LSAT in his application 
package. He didn't even take the exam -- he told them that it was an unfair 
way of evaluating his abilities. This is public knowledge so I can share it 
outside of my conversation with him.

Rod Alcidonis
Juris Doctor Candidate, 2009
Roger Williams University School of Law
10 Metacom Ave., Box: 9003
Bristol, RI 02809
Home: 401-824-8685
Cell: 718-704-4651
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve P. Deeley" <stevep.deeley at insightbb.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 7:11 AM
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] LSAT Prep Materials

> Since there seem to be so many accessibility issues with the LSAT 
> preparation format and the actual exam, why not just request that the law 
> school wave the test?
> Steve
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Rod Alcidonis" <roddj12 at hotmail.com>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 9:03 PM
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] LSAT Prep Materials
>
>
>> your alternative would be, if it is financially feasible for you, to 
>> enroll
>> in a prep program where you will get questions to practice from. This is 
>> not
>> the ideal but really the easiest way to avoid the current frustration.
>>
>> Rod Alcidonis
>> Juris Doctor Candidate, 2009
>> Roger Williams University School of Law
>> 10 Metacom Ave., Box: 9003
>> Bristol, RI 02809
>> Home: 401-824-8685
>> Cell: 718-704-4651
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Angie Matney" <angie.matney at gmail.com>
>> To: "'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 7:34 PM
>> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] LSAT Prep Materials
>>
>>
>>> Hello Haben,
>>>
>>> Publishers are not required to provide Braille copies of books under the
>>> ADA, unfortunately, I know that the books on Bookshare are older, but I
>>> believe at least one contains actual LSAT's. This might be a good 
>>> starting
>>> point. I do understand your frustration. Good luck to you.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>>> On
>>> Behalf Of Haben Girma
>>> Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 2:55 PM
>>> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
>>> Subject: [blindlaw] LSAT Prep Materials
>>>
>>> Good Morning,
>>>
>>> Are there any LSAT prep materials in braille that are really recent? The
>>> Library of Congress has nothing. Bookshare.org has three LSAT prep books
>>> that were published in either 2002 or 2005. I purchased the print copy
>>> of the 2009 Cracking the LSAT book, which is published by the Princeton
>>> Review. I called them up today asking that they provide me with a
>>> braille copy. "Sorry, we don't have a braille copy," the customer
>>> service woman replied. There are many books currently unavailable in
>>> braille, but in the case of this book I feel unable to acknowledge this
>>> reality. Preparing for the LSAT is absolutely important, I want the best
>>> prep books in my most comfortable reading media: braille. I left a
>>> message with the Editorial staff asking for a braille copy or at least
>>> an electronic copy so I can emboss it myself. Shouldn't the Princeton
>>> Review be required to provide a braille copy of their book, as a
>>> reasonable accommodation under the ADA?
>>>
>>> Those of you who are currently studying for the LSAT or have recently
>>> taken it, what study methods and materials did you use?
>>>
>>> p.s. I can't use audio material because I'm hard-of-hearing.
>>>
>>> Haben
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
>
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