Developing Equitable Assessments: Creating Standards for Accessibility/Accommodations and Enhanced Item Innovation Brian Tosky Elizabeth Barker | Fusion Accessibility

Purpose: To share knowledge of current standards, lack of standards, and overcoming challenges with accessibility and assessments | Fusion Accessibility

Guest Speakers ASDB: Lisa Jackson APH: Debbie Willis VFO: Glen Gordon ETS/IMS: Cary Supalo | Fusion Accessibility

Accessibility and Standardization All to everyone Reality of accessibility Different Assistive Technology Different technical foundations Curriculum to assessments The need to standardize and remain flexible | Fusion Accessibility

Standardization within NWEA

The importance of why we are here…share a story | footer

Dr. Lisa Jackson ASDB About ASDB We were looking for a tool that would: Not be based on time – unlimited Give useful information for students who are academically above grade level, at grade level, and below grade level Adjust to the students’ academic level Have useful and meaningful results for all academic levels Is available for testing in ELA, Math, and Science Be accessible to all of our students. | footer

Dr. Lisa Jackson ASDB Challenges with MAP Testing and Solutions: VI Challenge: Access to images, graphs, diagrams, and other visual elements needed to have full access Possible solution: Use of refreshable braille, Use of Text-to- Speech, Use of audio description VI Challenge: Nemeth Math Possible solution: Use of refreshable braille, Use of Text-to- Speech, More to come VI Challenge: Students between reading mediums Possible Solution: Use of Text-to-Speech, Use of audio description D/HH Challenge: Greater understanding in ASL, not English Possible Solution: ASL options built into test | footer

Questions for the Panel | footer

Question 1 Considering the focus of your various organizations, where do you see a need for standardization for accessibility? And can you tell us why you feel that need is important. | footer

Question 2 Most of us are familiar with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 guidelines, besides WCAG, when it comes to access, what accessibility standards do you use or look to apply on a regular basis? | footer

Question 3 One area we all struggle with is online braille for mathematics. What do you feel are both the short and long term solutions? | footer

Question 4 When working with students to remove barriers with instruction and curriculum, how do you prepare them for the style of access they might receive on various assessments? For example, some assessments offer online braille and screen readers while others are paper/pencil braille. Are most students interacting with both forms of access within their curriculum? | footer

Question 5 Early learning. What is lacking in the accessibility industry in terms of pre-K to 2nd/3rd grade? And how do you feel we can start incorporating access of early learners, especially with assistive technologies? | footer

Question 6 What are software providers doing to work with teachers, assessment, and curriculum vendors to ensure usability with students? For example, most assessments are incorporating new items types such as Technology Enhance Items (TEI’s). The claim is that these item types, which may include drag n’ drop or text entry will give a more authentic experience to the student. Is this something your organization helps to support? | footer

Question 7 Other than students with visual impairments or blindness what other areas of access do you see/feel are lacking in the online curriculum and assessment space? | footer

Question 8 What is your organization/school doing to make or support curriculum and instruction to be accessible? What are some of the challenges you face? Is it a handmade solution or is assistive technology available? If the latter, what type of AT do you rely on? | footer

Question 9 When it comes to accessibility and accommodations at NWEA, we have utilized accessibility experts such as the National Center of Accessible Media at WGBH, but that is a very small piece of the access world. What other organizations are you aware of that work with accessibility issues that incorporate educational software, curriculum and assessments providers? | footer

Question 10 In your opinion, what has been the greatest development in your organization for visual impairment and blindness in the last 5 years? What are you hoping is coming next? | footer

Question 11 How can we make the greatest impact together for our students? | footer

Questions from the audience | footer