Disability Policy

The Kentucky Fire Commission will offer reasonable and appropriate accommodations for the electronic cognitive component of the IFSAC Accredited Certification examination for those persons with documented disabilities.

Those persons requesting accommodations for the written component of a certification examination must submit documented evidence of a learning disability. Appropriate documentation must be submitted by the applicant and must be received 30 days prior to the examination.

Documentation of a specific learning disability must include one of the following:

Evidence of a previously documented learning disability in reading decoding, reading comprehension, or written expression. Such documentation is described as follows:

Diagnosis of a learning disability in the area(s) of reading decoding, reading comprehension and/or written expression, based upon the results of standardized psycho educational assessment including an Individually administered standardized measure of intelligence and an individually administered standardized measure of achievement in reading decoding, reading comprehension and/or written expression.

All persons requesting special accommodations for the electronic cognitive assessment will be required to submit the scores obtained on individually standardized measures of intelligence and achievement. Both standard scores and grade equivalent scores are required.

A learning disability diagnosis should be made by a qualified professional, according to the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994).

The following should also be included in the documentation: developmental and academic history, current cognitive functioning, thorough investigation of deficit areas; reasonable consideration of alternative diagnosis and rationale for diagnosis.

Results of previous psycho educational evaluations and IEPs (Individual Education Plan) will be helpful information to include. However, a recent evaluation (within the past five years) must be included. If no such assessment has been conducted, then the applicant is responsible for obtaining such documentation before any decision can be made by the Kentucky Fire Commission regarding the applicant’s request for special accommodations.

No person will be granted special accommodation on the electronic cognitive assessment if he/she does not meet the minimum standards for performance as determined by analysis of the requirements of the job and as documented by standardized measures of aptitude and achievement. Please contact the Kentucky Fire Commission for further information regarding minimum standards of performance.

Types of Accommodations:

The types of accommodations which may be requested by persons qualifying for special accommodations on the electronic cognitive assessment due to documented learning disability in reading decoding and or reading comprehension are as follows:

1. The Kentucky Fire Commission will permit those persons who qualify for special accommodations on the electronic cognitive assessment due to a documented learning disability in reading decoding, reading comprehension, and/or written expression to take a recorded format of the examination and receive an extended amount of time in which to complete the examination. Applicants selecting this option will receive an allotted time based on recommendations of the IEP to complete each exam.
2. Additional accommodations may be provided as appropriate.

Disability Procedures and Documents