Midterms are just around the corner, and soon our Vandal peers will be cramming during every last second to ensure they receive an “A” in their classes. Within testing at the UI, we have great resources on campus from peer tutoring, Vandal Success, or just sitting in a quiet place to study in the library. But what about the exams themselves — what resources does UI offer? For that, the answer is CDAR.
CDAR, which stands for Center for Disability Access and Resources, helps with accommodations for students who may have difficulty taking tests in the usually given ways. This can look like getting extra time to complete the exam, or even having a small, quiet place to take the test instead of a 200+ student lecture hall. CDAR states that of UI’s student body, 984 students utilize CDAR, or about 11% of the population.
When speaking with employees of CDAR, Assistant Director Kaitlin Gash was more than happy to give an insider perspective on how the center impacts the lives of the students at UI. When asked to explain how the program works, she said “I think our main goal at CDAR is to make sure that all students can access their education. We want to make sure that everyone can go to college with the correct resources, and level the playing field.”
Gash also discussed some heavy misconceptions about the CDAR program. She said, “A big misconception is that when you get an accommodation through us you automatically pass the class, but that is not the case. We just give you access; it is not about getting you an advantage.”
While unfair advantages are a potential issue, an even bigger one is the fear of others finding out about students’ specific accommodations and disabilities. With common CDAR accommodations going to Autistic students or those with dyslexia, some people are not comfortable with their diagnosis being shared. But Gash cleared up this concern, saying “Your information is only shared with our office. We never share your diagnosis with anyone, and the documentation you supplied stays within our office. All that professors are told that you have accommodations, and nobody can ever ask you what you have.”
Gash mentions great points about how misconceptions can make people afraid of showing up and getting the accommodations that they may need. If you need assistance, you should not be afraid to reach out to CDAR or anyone in general on campus who can get you the accommodation that you need. Keep that in mind as we approach midterms, and good luck to all our Vandals!
Joey
Extra time on exams is an unfair advantage.