Reasonable Accommodations on the Bar Exam_ Leveling the Playing Field or Providing an Unfair Advantage?

If you ask law students what they think about examination accommodations provided to students with disabilities, including learning disabilities, most students will tell you that it is unfair that some students get more time to take an examination. The misconception that accommodations provide an unfair advantage may stem from the fact that not all students understand the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), its purpose, and the reasons why individuals receive such accommodations. In fact, the ADA has applications beyond the employment context. Specifically, the ADA ensures that students with disabilities who graduate "from medical school, law school, and other professional programs" cannot be discriminated against in their educational programs and are entitled to "nondiscrimination and reasonable accommodation in the licensing process."