“Quiet” ≠ “Distraction-Reduced”
If an accommodation is written to minimize distractions, "quiet" is just one slice of the pie.
What’s the Accommodation?
“Student will test in a quiet, distraction-reduced environment.”
Who Needs This Accommodation?
While all students can benefit from testing in quiet, distraction-reduced environments, this accommodation is essential for students who are impacted by attention struggles, sensory sensitivities, processing challenges, and/or fatigue. Minimizing distractions supports focus, concentration, and comfort, and can help prevent fatigue and the need for more time. Examples include:
Students Who Have ADHD: Distractions like background noise and students playing outside an open window may impact focus and lead to test fatigue and increased testing time.
Students Who Are Sensitive to Noises: Unpredictable, sudden, and/or repetitive noises (like typing, hallway noises, or loud chewing) may lead to distress and/or difficulties concentrating.
Students Who Have Reading or Processing Challenges: These students may work slowly and use more mental energy to process text. By the time they finish a passage, they may already be tired. Extra noise and movements may add to cognitive load and increase fatigue.
How Should It Be Implemented?
The student will test in a distraction-reduced environment.
This might sound straightforward, but it isn’t. Too often, “empty room” becomes the definition of “distraction-reduced environment” when it may be just the opposite.
“Quiet” ≠ “distraction-reduced”. It’s one slice of the pie. The other slices include minimal visual movement/stimulation, considerate proctor behavior, and strategic room location.
Case Example: Accommodation Not Being Followed
A student was assigned an empty room for testing. The proctor was the only one in the room with him. During the test, the proctor opened a bag of chips, rattled the bag throughout the test, ate loudly, played games on his phone, and typed on his computer. In addition, noise came in from the students and staff just outside the room, because it was a conference room in a high-traffic office area. At one point, a fight among students broke out.
Yes. This happened.
Even though the room was empty, it wasn’t quiet. For the student, the noises were just as loud as a garbage truck driving over potholes—and more distracting.