[blindlaw] Bar Exam Accommodations

[Jack Chen]

I took the state portions in New York and New Jersey

New York simply placed me in a room with a proctor.  New Jersey actually
came and inspected my computer before the test started each day to see
whether there were any legal files on it.  Neither state required me to wipe
my computer clean.  Hope this helps.

jack

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "McCarthy, Jim" <JMcCarthy at NFB.ORG>
To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 10:14 AM
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Bar Exam Accommodations


> Ronza,
> One option is for you to attest in an affidavit that you do not have any
> programs, software, files and so forth that could be used to aid you in
> completing the exam.  Maryland takes this approach.  Years ago, I took
> the exam in Wisconsin and the chair of the board personally looked where
> I instructed him and deleted any legal-seeming programs.  It is easy
> enough for you to back up everything from your document folders on to a
> cd, flash card or other storage media.  I suppose you could borrow a lap
> top for the test.  In that case, have it in time to know it works.
> Also, bring a USB keyboard so you do not need to learn a strange lap top
> key board, at least that is what I am doing.  Best of luck!
> Jim McCarthy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of AZNOR99 at aol.com
> Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2006 6:49 PM
> To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [blindlaw] Bar Exam Accommodations
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I wondered if those of you who've already taken the Bar Exam can give me
> some advice.  I'm scheduled to sit for the exam this February in
> Illinois.
> Until recently, all the plans for accommodations seemed to be  going
> fine.  Last week, the Board of Admission to the Illinois Bar rep who
> handles ADA matters contacted me to let me know that I would be allowed
> to use  my Jaws-enabled laptop to write the essay portion of the exam
> with the condition  that my computer be wiped of everything except one
> word processing program and  Jaws.  I wrote back to ask her to be more
> specific about their  requirements.  For example, who would be doing the
> wiping - the Board or  myself?  Do they literally want everything wiped
> and all programs  uninstalled, or do they want to just make sure I don't
> have any BarBri/PMBR  documents or law school files that would be
> useful for cheating purposes?   Obviously, I am not willing to waste
> valuable
> study time to wipe my computer,  and I certainly lack the expertise to
> figure out what is crucial and what is not  for my laptop to operate.
> Also, I don't think I want to wipe five years of  work and programs for
> one day's use.  If they want to do the wiping, I'm  not sure I trust
> anyone with the personal information I have on my computer, and  again,
> depending on how long they need to do it, it might interfere with
> valuable study time.
>
> In Illinois, the Board gives students who don't need accommodations the
> option to type the essay portion of the exam using software called
> SofTest.  The software works as a word processing program, and it also
> lockes all other applications so the user can't access anything but
> SofTest.  I can't use SofTest because it would lock Jaws out and also
> because there are concrete time limits on each exam, meaning I would not
> have  extended time.
>
> As an alternative, I suggested the Board get a copy of Jaws and install
> it on one of their own machines so they'd be able to regulate what is on
> the machine themselves.  The rep said they'd consider that option, but
> they  believe that it would probably be cost prohibitive.
>
> What did you all do about the essay portion?  I've never used a live
> reader before on an exam, and I don't think the Bar Exam is an
> appropriate time  to experiment with one.  If I had concrete examples of
> how other states  deal with this issue, it might help convince Illinois
> to find a sollution that  works for all of the parties involved.
>
> Thanks,
> Ronza
>
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