Accessible Test

Tests & Assessments

Accessible Answer Documents

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Purpose

To provide well-designed, accessible answer documents in braille and large print for use in curricular activities, test preparation, and in actual testing situations

Project Staff

Barbara W. Henderson, Project Leader

Kerry Isham, Accessible Tests Editor, Co-Project Leader

Elaine Kitchel, Low Vision Project Leader, Project Consultant

Eleanor Pester, Braille Project Leader, Project Consultant

Debbie Willis, Director of Accessible Tests, Project Advisor

Background

As states moved toward No Child Left Behind (NCLB) compliance, materials such as accessible answer documents must be supplied if students with visual impairments are to take the test independently and successfully. The original goal was to collaborate with a major test publisher on development of a machine scorable, accessible “scannable answer sheet” or “bubble sheet,” for use by braille or large print readers. Such sheets are now totally inaccessible to blind and low vision students, preventing them from full participation in assessment opportunities alongside their peers.

A proposed timeline was submitted but the project leader was unable to bring this project into active status during FY 2006 due to prior commitments. No additional work was done on the project during that time frame.
In FY 2007, it was decided that finding a partner for research into necessary design considerations for accessible answer documents was more important than ever. Many states were moving to computerized scoring of their achievement tests and current scannable answer documents were still not usable by test takers with visual impairments. The project leader made several contacts with test publishers and research entities, but a committed partner could not be identified. Therefore, the project remained on the PARCing Lot throughout FY 2007.
In the first quarter of FY 2008, the project leader pulled this project into active development. A survey about kinds of answer documents needed by teachers and other service providers was developed, and in March 2008, it was posted on the APH Web site. The survey was also mailed and/or emailed to test publishers, education agencies, and individuals listed in the departmental database. Over one hundred and twenty three people from twenty-four states and numerous agencies submitted a survey. The project leaders analyzed survey results in the last quarter of FY 2008.
Work during FY 2009

Results of the survey were gathered into a report. A review questionnaire was developed in preparation for field-testing. A poster session was created for presentation at annual meeting in October 2009.

Work planned for FY 2010

The survey results will be posted to the web site. Co-project leader Kerry Isham will present a poster session at APH Annual Meeting in October 2009. Prototypes will be developed, and field testing sites and expert reviewers will be identified.

Brigance Diagnostic Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills, Revised (CIBS-R): Student Large Print Edition A.k.a. Brigance Green

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Purpose

To fill the need, expressed by the field, for a large print version of this trusted and widely used criterion-referenced test

Project Staff

Barbara W. Henderson, Project Leader

BISIG Impact Group, Graphic Art & Layout

David McGee, Manufacturing Specialist

Background

Based upon feedback from the field, it was determined that a student large print edition of this popular criterion-based assessment was needed as a companion piece to the student braille edition, which is already available. Numerous phone calls from teachers as well as personal requests from ex officio trustees informed the PL of this need. Access to the publisher’s files and a new process at APH for production of full-color large print made this project much more feasible than had been originally thought; subsequently, the PL brought the idea forward to the appropriate committees in FY 2005.

Publisher’s files were requested and received in the third quarter of FY 2006, and file conversion began. The project leader worked with BISIG Impact Group staff to set specifications for the large print format, and a PDC meeting was held at APH to determine product structure and timelines. Work with BISIG Impact Group staff on reformatting each of the eleven subtests continued, until a proof of the two-volume large print set was ready for the project leader to review. This review was completed in the last quarter of FY 2007.
Work during FY 2008

BISIG finalized the electronic files from January to April 2008, according to the project leader’s reviews. A specifications meeting was held in April and a production target date established, leading to final production masters in July 2008 and product availability in the last quarter of FY 2008. This project is complete.

Brigance Diagnostic Inventory of Early Development II (IED-II): Large Print Edition and Tactile Edition A.k.a. Brigance Yellow

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Purpose

To provide accessible versions of this early educational skills inventory, to be utilized by early interventionists and diagnosticians who work with infants and preschoolers with visual impairments. Assessment of very young children is difficult without specific materials, protocols, and rationales.

Project Staff

Barbara Henderson, Co-Project Leader

Rosanne Hoffmann, Research Assistant

BISIG, Graphic Art & Layout

David McGee, Manufacturing Specialist
Background

In keeping with an APH tradition, a tactile supplement to the Brigance Yellow tests was planned before the new print edition was released. The PL and the Director proposed adding a large print edition of the updated assessment. The project idea was brought before the appropriate APH committees and approved.

In FY 2005, permissions were sought. The electronic files were also requested. The publisher, Curriculum Associates, was very cooperative in providing these materials quickly and free of charge. The project staff was assigned within a few months and preliminary designs for product structure were documented.
In the first quarter of FY 2006 a PDC meeting was called in order to brainstorm methods of presentation of manipulative items and a time line was developed. BISIG worked with the publisher’s files to create a working document for editing the examiner’s manual. A separate document was created for layout of the large print examinee’s pages and for the braille transcription. The project co-leader began revising the examiner’s manual.
Work on the large print reformatting and on the braille transcription continued toward a prototype. Field review and field testing at six sites was initiated in the last quarter of FY 2007.
Field-testing continued through the first two quarters of FY 2008. Monica Turner left the department, so the PL assumed role of project leader. With a new assistant, the project leader worked to compile field test results and summarize findings. The PL categorized types of revisions needed. It was determined that an updated and annotated bibliography of resources was to be supplied along with the tactile and large print test materials.
Work during FY 2009

An annotated bibliography and updated resource list were developed by the project leader beginning in the new year. An additional field test site and expert reviewer were identified in order to address issues found with tactile materials for younger children. Results from that site were received in February 2009 and analyzed. Work on the bibliography continued. Communications with the publisher revealed that updates to the IED II will consist of graphical changes to update the “look” and will not involve changes in content.

Work planned for FY 2010

Revisions will be made to the prototypes, the bibliography and product manuals will be completed, and product specifications put in place toward production.