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The Benefits of Being Tested |
By NCLD Editorial Staff
Published: February 23 2009
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Many adults who struggle to learn are not aware that they have learning disabilities. Once they have been tested and discover that they have learning disabilities, they often report feelings of relief. They now know that their difficulties in learning and performing certain tasks are not their fault and their frustration and struggles can be attributed, at least in part, to their hidden learning disability.
If you decide to be evaluated for learning disabilities, you will learn a good deal about yourself. Some of the benefits you can realize from being tested include:
- A detailed account of your areas of weakness and strength.
- Some specific strategies, including accommodations and modifications, to help you perform more effectively at work, in school, and in everyday life.
- Recommendations for support services, such as counseling, vocational assessment, and job training.
- Recommendations for instructional strategies that will be of most help to you.
- Civil rights protection that ensures your right to accommodations at work and in school.
- Documentation that will help you be an effective self-advocate.
The Cost of Being Tested
If your documentation is more than a year old, you may have to assume the costs of being tested. The following are some suggestions that you may consider to help pay for an evaluation by a qualified professional:
- Check with your health insurance company. Some policies will cover part (or all) of the costs of an evaluation, particularly if there are other problems like emotional disorders or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders listed as reasons for referral.
- If you belong to an HMO, check to see if there is a psychologist or other professional on staff who can conduct an evaluation.
- Look into Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services. VR may offer evaluation services if your learning difficulties have caused you problems in getting or keeping a job. The key here is that you must be looking for employment.
- Find out if any local universities with graduate programs in special education or psychology have clinics that conduct evaluations. (These are often offered at substantially reduced cost.)
- Check with your local county or state adult education office. Sometimes, they will know of private practitioners who perform evaluations on a sliding scale or at reduced cost.
- Ask prospective evaluators about sliding-scale fees, payment plans, and other payment options.
If you are a recent high school graduate and have up-to-date documentation of your learning disability, no additional testing should be required to qualify you for services and supports as an adult with LD.
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