Extra Time in Exams

I think those with severe disabilities should get extra time, and use of a laptop if need be.

Employers cannot discriminate against disability.

Having extra time does not mean you're not as clever (I am in the top 3 in my school at IT!).

For instance, I have severe dyspraxia, which means my handwriting is ectremley slow, and if I try and write fast then it gets illegible and my hand aches. My hands start to ache after a couple of sentences, and then my arm, then my whole body, and then my hand will tremor (shake) and lock up meaning I cannot make a mark on the page.

I also have a slow processing speedn and poor short term memory, because of this I get allocated use of a computer and 25% extra time. This was gave to me because my ta, senso, parents, ot, ed physch, doctor, physio, consultant and my headteacher, exam board all agreed this is what I needed to fufill my potential, without it, I would been put at a unfair disadvantage.

I am also statemented and this is included.

What I don't get is when its handed out to people who don't jump through the same hoops, who don't need it, who don't have any diagnosis of a SEN (let alone severe!) who are given it unjustly by someone who is unqualified to hand it out, just because ,say they are left handed!!! (Seriously, its true!).

Having extra time does not mean you're not as clever (I am in the top 3 in my school at IT!).

For instance, I have severe dyspraxia, which means my handwriting is ectremley slow, and if I try and write fast then it gets illegible and my hand aches. My hands start to ache after a couple of sentences, and then my arm, then my whole body, and then my hand will tremor (shake) and lock up meaning I cannot make a mark on the page.

I think those with severe disabilities should get extra time.

Where do you draw the line on what's severe and what isn't? Whilst my disability isn't severe, it does mean that reading is very tiring, that I am a slow reader and slow at writing.



That's just wrong.

Left handers write more slowly if theywish to stay legible because their hands smudge what they have already written.

Surely someone who's left-handed would/could just write with a biro or similar then, rather than an ink pen which smudges.

Whereas someone with a disability/learning difficulty/illness etc which might mean they have probelms with reading/writing speed etc can't just use another body or another brain or whatever.

And i could use as many different kinds of pens as i want, but the problem that my fastest writing speed is still just shy of 25% slower than the average writing speed for everyone else is still there.

Thats what i think the difference is and that you shouldnt get extra time simply because your left handed (although i've never actually heard of this happening myself!) - of course, if they have some other reason then of course. [btw dont mean to offend if i have (dont know if i have or not :s ) - thats just my opinion]

Cool! I'm not concrete sure yet, but something web design/graphic design or maybe even an IT consultant or IT teacher...not quite sure yet!!

Did you know that some employers actually seek out people like us (I heard it on the news somewhere- must find the article!) because we tend to be better at IT than the average person, and possess certain skills that alot of people don't tend to...must pull it out

I think some of it was things like IT skills, attention to detail, we tend to be more concentrated/less distractable- that sorta thing.

Left handers write more slowly if theywish to stay legible because their hands smudge what they have already written.

So does mine (I'm right handed). That does not justify extra time. I recommand ball pins which dry quickly.

Edit: I see you said they still smudge. My right hand rubs so much on the paper it actually has developed a small dump on the side of my little finger (I'm prone to this). But with ball pens my hand writing is rarely ruined.