Procedures and Policies on the Use of Readers on the LSAT by Blind and Severely Visually Impaired Test Takers

Procedures for Requesting a Reader

1. These procedures apply to requests from blind and severely visually impaired test takers for readers on the LSAT as an accommodation for their disability. Except as provided below, all such requests shall be subject to the policies and deadlines set forth in the provisions of the LSAC Policy on Accommodations for Test Takers with Disabilities. Persons requesting the use of readers are urged to submit their requests as early in the registration process as possible.
2. Test takers granted the use of readers as an accommodation may, at their option, arrange to meet or talk with their assigned reader to become acquainted with the reader, familiarize themselves with LSAC’s policy on readers, review the procedures to be followed during the administration of the LSAT, and to schedule practice sessions as described below. Test takers who would like to contact their assigned reader may request the reader’s name, email address, and phone number from LSAC.
3. It shall be the obligation of the test taker to screen the reader to determine whether he or she is acceptable.
4. The test taker may reject use of the reader provided by LSAC, upon written notification to LSAC. If written notice of the test taker’s rejection of the reader is received by LSAC prior to 10 days before the scheduled administration of the LSAT, LSAC shall provide a substitute reader. LSAC will provide the substitute reader’s name, email address, and phone number to the test taker upon request. Should the test taker reject a reader 10 or less days before the scheduled administration of the LSAT, LSAC shall make all reasonable efforts to provide a substitute reader.

Policies on the Use of Readers

1. Readers provided under this policy shall be made available, at no cost to the test taker, to prepare for the LSAT with the test taker for a maximum of five (5) hours. Nothing in this policy shall prohibit the test taker and reader from arranging for additional practice sessions, at the test-takers’ expense, if any. The unavailability of a reader to meet with the test taker beyond the five (5) hours set forth above shall not be grounds for the rejection of the reader by the test taker. The practice session(s) with the reader may be used for taking practice tests or, at the test taker’s discretion, in any other reasonable way to prepare with the reader for the LSAT.
2. Readers shall be instructed to read the test verbatim, and will not be permitted to paraphrase, interpret, modify, or otherwise vary from the text, except as set forth below. The reader shall not define words; however, the reader may, at the request of the test taker, spell words and re-read all or part of the text or questions within the section that is being tested. The test taker is permitted to direct the reader to specific portions of the test to be read or re-read, including the order in which the text is to be read. The reader is also permitted to scan for particular words or phrases as specifically identified by the test taker to be read or re-read verbatim, and to identify the type and location of punctuation marks contained in the text.
3. Nothing in this policy shall limit the availability of other reasonable accommodations, as requested and supported by documentation supplied by the test taker.