[blindLaw] Accommodations for bar exam

[MIKE MCGLASHON]

Dear Ms. Lauren:

I would add one more thing to my application; (very important);
A "medical diagnosis" from a physician.  Make sure he includes his CV, and a very detailed history of your diagnosis.
Next, I would have the diagnosing physician specifically request the accommodations that you wish; according to the Bar Examiners, he is in the best position believe it or not to justify your requesting accommodations.  
Make sure you go over with your medical provider what accommodations you desire.

Also, if you really want to get in the ear of the committee for providing inaccessible forms to fill out,
I would have a "friend/judge" assist me in filling out these forms.
The reason for this is that if a judge comments on how inaccessible the forms are and that the only way you could get them filled out is with assistance, then the Bar Examiners can hardly ignore a judge completely.
If a judge brings it to their attention, the examiners are less likely to blatantly ignore it.

Please advise as you like.

Mike M.

Mike mcglashon
Email: Michael.mcglashon at comcast.net
Ph: 618 783 9331

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of James Fetter via BlindLaw
Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2022 10:46 PM
To: Blind Law Mailing List <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Cc: James Fetter <jtfetter at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [blindLaw] Accommodations for bar exam

Lauren,
I would suggest doing the following ASAP:
1. Gather all, and I do mean all, proof of accommodations you received on prior standardized tests, in college and law school, and whatever else they ask for.
2. Find someone you trust to help fill out inaccessible forms. Is this remotely fair or ADA compliant? No. Do boards of law examiners care? Also no.
3. Include in your application a letter detailing your requested accommodations and justifying each with reference to accommodations you received in the past.
4. Read, very carefully, any correspondence from your state board. And push back hard, if they don’t give you what you need to do your best. You absolutely should get an accessible electronic exam/Jaws and the ability to write essays on your computer, but your MBE answers will likely be recorded by a scribe. This is pretty standard.
Good luck! I went through the accommodations process in two different states. I still have PTSD from the Kafkaesque process in one of these states. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 30, 2022, at 8:53 PM, Lauren Bishop via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Good evening All,
> Have any of you had success with advocating for an accessible electronic version of your bar exam, and the ability to use jaws? I was looking at the Florida accommodations petition, and I noticed that the only formats that they listed or braille, large, print, or audio CD. The petition doesn’t say anything about the use of a screen reader, and, although I am proficient in braille, I need to be able to type my essays because I’ve never worked with a scribe before. Also, I use jaws more than I use braille, and in past standardized, test administrations, I have use the screen reader to take the test.   I’m also noticing that none of the petition documents are fillable I a person using a screen reader.  
> If any of you have information regarding this, I would really appreciate it.
> Lauren. 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
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