Psychological Disorders and Functional Limitations

Psychological disorders lead to functional limitations that can impact a student's performance in school. These students are eligible for accommodations if they can demonstrate that a specific disability exists and that it substantially limits one or more major life activity. The most common functional limitations reported by this population manifest as difficulties with attention, stamina, and physical symptoms and can be related to the symptoms of the psychological disorder or its treatment (e.g., medication side effects). Accommodations can be provided that modify how a student can respond to the test, how the test information is presented, the test's setting, and timing and scheduling aspects of the test. The specific accommodations are directly related to the functional limitations supported by the student's documentation that are applicable to psychological disorders.