Reasonable adjustments for inability to tell the time?

[Clymene]

My son has autism and is sitting his GCSEs this summer. He gets additional time in his exams.

He has a mock today and we were going through a past paper which says 'you should spend about X on this part of the paper' and I was explain that would a bit longer for him as he has extra time and then remembered that he can't read a clock! Believe me I've tried but he just can't do it. I'm ashamed that it hadn't crossed my mind before.

I don't think you're allowed to wear a watch. He can't be the first autistic child who has an issue with this.

Any suggestions?

Analogue clocks are more visual - you can see the time remaining rather than have to calculate it. A digital clock would disadvantage my child as she struggles with maths so working out 13:48 means 12 minutes left until 2 o’clock (or even worse, that it is 18 minutes until 14:06 as they started late) would be a struggle, take time and attention away from the exam and the number would be meaningless. Seeing the hand move around to 2 o’clock is much easier to comprehend and can be seen at a glance. You don’t need to know the time, just where the hands will be when the time is up and how far they are away now.

So I guess there should be both an analogue and a digital clock.

Totally normal these days for there to be a digital clock displayed in exam hall for all to see. Often as well as a analogue. It's unbelievable how many kids and teens cannot read an analogue click these days.

Invigilators announce times at certain points. He will also have a TA to prompt him if he has that on his plan

An analogue clock

Sorry about typos

He has struggled with timekeeping!

Not necessarily- some schools give a 5 minute warning but others don't and not all schools have a digital clock.
OP- you need to speak to Learning Support asap.

He cannot wear a watch. However the school can provide a digital clock. It is not just him with this problem. Universally I am finding more and more students cannot read analogue time.

A good practice is for him to sit and feel how a minute feels. How five minute feels. Time himself doing some basic things such as eating breakfast so he starts getting a feel for time.

I have tried and tried to teach him how to tell the time. He can't parse phrases like 'I'll meet you 20 minutes before' either - I have to tell him what that means.

I chunk time at home into 15 minutes so he is much better than he used to be but we all know that exam time doesn't work like real time!

He has time blindness. Not uncommon within the neurodiverse community. You need to get in touch with the SENCO and exams officer asap as the deadline is fast approaching for applications unless they have a digital clock for the whole cohort. I would also ask for a prompter which is a centre delegated award and thus doesn't need them to do applications or paperwork.

JCQ have tightened up the rules on a lot of things recently, including access arrangements like having a separate room, prompters, etc.

I think you need to talk to the SENCo and the exams officer urgently about what would be possible at this stage, given they will need to evidence it before exams start.

I'd be phoning them on Monday to discuss, and they will be able to give you up to date information and let you know about the layout of the exam hall etc.

Rules have tightened up a lot since covid, and even more this year, so advice from even a few years ago can be out of date.

People with time blindness can't just learn it. It's not something you can get better at by "trying harder".

I have to use clocks, written down schedules and timers. My DH also prompts me if we need to be somewhere important. None of its fail safe as it isn't inbuilt, and try as I mount it can't be learnt.

OP your son needs a prompter. A very normal exam adjustment. My DS who has autism and ADHD, had for his exams:

• prompter to keep him on track in the exams timewise and distraction wise.

• separate room - as he needed a promoter and because he gets distracted by others and because he talks out loud when concentrating. Prompter also reminded him to do things like read the question properly and to go back and check his work if he had time.

• use of keyboard as his handwriting is so poor

• supervised breaks if needed.

• Extended time.

There are loads of possible exam adjustments. Speak to the SENCO if you feel they are further adjustments he needs that are not being provided.

@InattentiveADHD I wasn't saying that people with time blindness can learn time by trying harder. You have misinterpreted me butperhaps I was unclear as have been teaching from 7.30 am until 6I this evening so brain is fried. I was trying to say that It's just a thing that is really hard for certain people. However, there are now significant numbers of students without the full time blind experience but who have aspects and find analogue time very hard. Therefore it may be that some schools are now providing digital clocks as a norm. However, if he is in a smaller room or needs a clock on his desk just for him then that needs a specific application to the boards.