CBS News – LSAT Extension Denied For Long Island Woman With Cognitive Disorder

FORT SALONGA, L.I. — It’s down to the wire. With just three days left until the law school entrance exam a Long Island woman with special needs has been denied extra time to take Saturday’s test. In response she is filing a federal lawsuit.

Lisa Rousso wiped away tears as she spoke to CBS 2′s Jennifer McLogan on Wednesday.

Click here to watch the CBS interview.

Rousso suffers from a cognitive disorder. She had planned to take the Law School Admissions Test, more commonly known as the LSAT, on Saturday.

“It’s something I’m very, very passionate about. I have to overcome this hurdle to do it”, said the 41-year old wife and mother of three.

Rousso’s disability stems from a brain lesion that was surgically removed six years ago. In an attempt to get more time to take the test Rousso provided the Law Council with medical documentation of her condition and the risky operation that she underwent to have the lesion removed.

“I’ve been working like crazy to prepare for this test between prep courses, studying on my own in the library, doing everything I can to be fully prepared,” she said. “What I asked for is basically extended time on the test. Due to the surgery, my processing speed is significantly slower.”

But just days ago the Law Council denied Rousso’s request on the grounds that “her condition would likely improve.”

Rousso said that without the additional three hours to take the test, she will not be able to handle all of the reading and writing, and that she will fail. Rousso has hired an attorney and the two have filed the suit.

If Rousso’s lawsuit is denied and she is not granted the extra time on Saturday, she is seeking a full $263 application refund from the LSAT council.

Ruosso claimed that she isn’t seeking a leg up; she simply wants a level playing field and a chance to realize her dream.

“I want to practice special ed law — it’s my background as a school psychologist. It’s what I did before I got sick. I want my children to see, when you work hard it pays off, that there is justice.”

A spokeswoman for the Admissions Council, which runs the LSAT, told CBS 2 that it does not comment on lawsuits.

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