1 Aaaa ALL ABOUT ACCOMMODATIONS Debbie Bergtholdt COABE
1 Aaaa ALL ABOUT ACCOMMODATIONS Debbie Bergtholdt COABE Professional Development June 2017 GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Agenda • Overview • Disability Types • Testing Accommodations • How to Advocate • Process to Request • Review Incomplete Requests • Questions GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com Debbie Bergtholdt Manager, Accommodations
What is an “Accommodation”? • The duty to accommodate: Ensures that people with disabilities can participate as fully as non-disabled people. • Accommodation means making changes to the environment to ensure that there is a reduced negative effect because of the person's disability. • The goal of an accommodation is to enable equitable participation. GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Accommodations Overview • The purpose of accommodations is to provide candidates with full access to their test • Accommodations are not a guarantee of improved performance or test completion • Test accommodations are individualized and considered on a case-by-case basis • All candidates requesting accommodations must provide appropriate documentation GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
What is a “Disability”? • A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. (ADA As Amended in 2008) • “Major Life Activities”: Ø Include activities that are central to daily life, such as seeing, hearing, walking, reading, learning, working, and concentrating. GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
ADAAA: “Learning” as a Major Life Activity – Learning in general is a major life activity, but not all learning tasks are MLAs. – What are NOT major life activities: • Spelling • Test-taking • Handwriting or typing skills • Familiarity with the computer • Recall of math facts GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
What is NOT a Disability? • ESL • “Slow Learner” • Active substance abuser • Test anxiety • Homemade diagnoses – “Spelling Disorder” – “Math Fluency Disorder” – “Cognitive Impairment NOS” GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com 7
Disability Types § Intellectual Disabilities § Learning and Other Cognitive Disabilities § Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder § Psychological and Psychiatric Disorders § Physical Disorders and Chronic Health Conditions GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Commonly Requested Accommodations • Extra time (25%, 50%, 100%) • Extra “stop-the-clock” breaks – 30 minutes testing/5 minute break – 45 minutes testing/10 minute break • Separate room • Reader • Recorder/scribe GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Accommodation vs Accessibility • Accommodation = modifications based on a disability • Accessibility = always on features • Universal Access features adjustable font, highlighting, and color contrast 10 GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Assistive Technology Includes: • Magnification: Zoom. Text • Adaptive equipment (e. g. , special keyboards, trackball mouse) • Screen reading – JAWS 11 GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Current Issues • Accommodation vs Fundamental Alternation • Accommodations vs Security – Devices – Item Harvesting 12 GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
DOJ Technical Assistance Document • In September, 2015 the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a technical assistance document specifically targeted at testing agencies that provide testing accommodations on high-stakes tests. • Some key points: (http: //www. ada. gov/regs 2014/testing_accommodations. html) – Determination of whether a person has a disability should not require extensive analysis. – Any documentation requested by a testing entity to support testing accommodations must be reasonable and limited to the need. – The impact on test takers’ ability due to side effects of medication must be considered. – Determination of what constitutes a substantial limitation to a major life activity is based on a comparison to “most people in the general population. ” – A person with a history of academic success may still be a person with a disability who is entitled to testing accommodations under the ADA. GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
How We Review at GED/Pearson VUE • Team of expert reviewers and external consultants • Post our documentation guidelines online • Review and consider all documentation provided • Provide written explanations to the test taker about incomplete and denied accommodation requests • Provide training for internal and external reviewers 14 GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Our Accommodations Team 15 GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
How can you help your students? • Encourage students to start the process early • Assist with paperwork • Act as an advocate • Comfort aid list • Lower cost testing clinics – gedtestingservice. com/accommodations GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Online Request System • Benefits – Paper forms are replaced with 6 easy steps – Immediate feedback – Secure environment – No need to pay for faxing services • Paper request forms available at http: //www. gedtestingservice. com/educators/howtoguidesindex 17 GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Incomplete Documentation 18 GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Reviewing for Completeness 19 GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Documentation from evaluator is too brief and does not meet guidelines 20 GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Documentation is too brief 21 GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Inappropriate or Unclear Requests 22 GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Inappropriate or Unclear Requests GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Evaluator is Unqualified is unqualified § Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist diagnosed ADHD § Pastoral Counselor diagnosed Bipolar Disorder § School Counselor diagnosed a learning disability § Family physician diagnosed a learning disability § Teacher § Parent § Neighbor GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Unqualified Evaluator GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Outer Limits of Accommodations • The accommodation cannot be so extreme that test validity is compromised Ø 6 X standard time • The accommodation cannot fundamentally alter the test’s purpose Ø Waiving a portion of the test • The accommodation cannot jeopardize test security or the safety of staff/others Ø Testing at home Ø Administer medical care GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Questions? GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
Contact Information: 28 GEDtestingservice. com • GED. com
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