Making Assessments Accessible

using

Assistive Technology Devices

Accessibility describes the degree to which a product,

device, service, or environment is available to as many

people as possible.

What Does Accessibility Mean?

The extent to which an assessment and its constituent

item set eliminates barriers and permits the test-taker to

demonstrate his or her knowledge of the assessed content.

Assessment Accessibility involves an interaction between

features of the assessment and individual test-taker

characteristics.

What is Assessment Accessibility?

As a result of No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, assessment developers have needed to create assessments to ensure all students, including those with special disabilities are given the opportunity to demonstrate the extent to which they have mastered the content measured on state assessments.

National Center on Educational Outcomes

Why is Assessment Accessibility Important?

Section 508 requires that electronic and information technology that is developed by or purchased by the Federal Agencies be accessible by people with disabilities.

Legislation 508 Supports Accessibility of Information

Providing Multiple Means of Representation Graphics, digital text, text to speech, and

multimedia Providing Multiple Means of Expression and

InteractionKeyboarding, graphic organizers, voice recording,

and speech to text Providing Multiple Mean of Engagement

Choice of material, simulation environment, and representation and expression options

How Can Universal Design for Learning Support Making Assessments Accessible?

Deaf or Hearing Impaired Blind or Visually Impaired Mildly Cognitively Impaired Dyslexic Physically Impaired Asperger's Syndrome

Inclusive Population Accessing Assessments

using Assistive Technology

An assistive technology device is any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, off-the-shelf, modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain or improve a person’s functional capabilities.

What is an Assistive Technology Device?

Text-to-Speech Software Document Images Screen Magnification Alternate Keyboards Text-Help Read and Write Microphones Voice Recorders Spell Checkers

Assistive Technology used to Access Assessments

National Center on Educational Outcomes

(2012). universally designed assessments. Retrieved on March 26, 2012 from, http://www.cehd.umn.edu/

References