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Access to Alternate Assessment. As if making the general assessment is not enough…. This is a REALLY small population!!. 1% of total population A good number will have vision issues.
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Access to Alternate Assessment As if making the general assessment is not enough…
This is a REALLY small population!! • 1% of total population • A good number will have vision issues. • Remember that these students are significantly cognitively impaired and generally have other disability issues.
Some Test Designs • Checklist format • Performance Assessment • Individual Administered items scored by teachers
Considerations • Braille will be at a minimum, if at all, for this significantly cognitively impaired population. • Braille may consist of some basic tactile shapes or graphs and some words (uncontracted braille). • Use of manipulatives • Same access issues
Things to pay attention to… • Bias, sensitivity and content review groups need to include persons with VI and HI and PI background. • Methods of accessing material-- reading of stems and foils • Use of manipulatives—avoid models of real things (elephants, cars) • Avoid tactile material that is the drawing of a model (dog, cat, person). • Methods of responding—verbalize answer, point to or pick up object, communication boards. Use what the student uses in classroom. • Picture descriptions—can you do it without giving the answer away. • Scripts for teachers who administer test
Some examples • Identification of symbols such as stop sign or $ • What is the animal doing in this picture? Eating, sleeping or bathing • Tell me a story about this picture. • Matching, ratios, fractions using objects or colors—change to shapes, counters, boxes, etc.
The bad news • You have to do it all again for this assessment, too!! • More challenging because almost heavy use of pictures is the norm for AA.
The good news… • More flexibility may be allowed in presentation of alternate assessment (accommodation need assumed) • Students are learning academic skills…and they can do it!!
A Final Word: Students must get instruction: • test taking skills (use of practice test materials) • scanning material or desk top (exploring what is presented to them) • reading and producing graphic material • responding to questions that fit the student’s ability and classroom use • academic skills that are on the test • independent manipulation of rulers, protractors, audio equipment, technology, and test materials.