[blindlaw] [blind law] LSAT Prep Materials

Wed May 20 20:13:28 UTC 2009

Oh, and one more thing - 503-3 requires an examination (or multiple exams)
at the culmination of pre-admissions programs. So there is a test involved.

-----Original Message-----
From: Stephanie Enyart [mailto:stephanie_enyart at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:10 PM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [blindlaw] LSAT Prep Materials

Angie, 

I do remember hearing about it but I don't recall the details.  Within the
link to the ABA regs (which was an accessible PDF that I couldn't highlight
and paste) there is a note that pertains to pre-admission academic programs
- it is Interpretation # 503-3.  

I also know that Michigan was approached by a blind applicant recently who
sought an LSAT waiver and in the end they did not accept the applicant.
About a year later I heard about the program you are referencing. I am not
sure if there is a correlation between the events but it does make me wonder
if that is how Michigan chose to respond.

~Stephanie 

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Angie Matney
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:05 PM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] LSAT Prep Materials

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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sightbb.com

>

>

>

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