Hi there, I need help to identify an accessible achievement test for a braille reader. The student’s school plans to test grade-wide using Pearson’s OLSAT. According to the site, “The OLSAT is used specifically to measure abilities related to success in school, testing critical thinking and reasoning skills. The OLSAT is intended to test memory, speed of thought and ability to see relationships and patterns.” Pearson does not offer an accessible version. I am wondering: how/why can Pearson not offer an accessible version and any recommendations for a comparable accessible achievement test. The braille reader is elementary age. Your insight would be helpful! Additionally, the school uses STAR benchmark testing for ELA and math from Renaissance Learning. This, too is not accessible using a screen reader. If you have any experience with an accessible benchmark testing program, can you please share your recommendations? Thanks, from Pittsburgh Ashley Popojas TVI/COMS Sent from my iPhone

Dear Ashley, You might check out APH on this topic at http://shop.aph.org/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Category_412A1B2C_10001_11051_20706_-1_20705 You can also contact the National Center on Educational Outcomes to share your concerns. https://nceo.info/ You ask: "how/why can Pearson not offer an accessible version and any recommendations for a comparable accessible achievement test?" A similar question is raised about the publication and distribution of curriculum materials (paper or digital). One answer to both questions is that publishers are not required by law to produce accessible tests or curriculum materials, contrary widespread belief. When schools or school systems design an assessment system for monitoring student progress or measuring student achievement, why do they choose products and instruments that are not accessible for all of their students? When schools do not act affirmatively to equitably include students with disabilities in their mandated assessment practices, are they not discriminating? __________________________ Dr. Richard Jackson Associate Professor Boston College Lynch School of Education 209 Campion Hall Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3813 617-552-8429 On Wed, Oct 10, 2018 at 8:16 PM Ashley Popojas <tvipopojas@gmail.com> wrote: > Hi there, > I need help to identify an accessible achievement test for a braille > reader. The student’s school plans to test grade-wide using Pearson’s > OLSAT. According to the site, “The OLSAT is used specifically to measure > abilities related to success in school, testing critical thinking and > reasoning skills. The OLSAT is intended to test memory, speed of thought > and ability to see relationships and patterns.” > > Pearson does not offer an accessible version. I am wondering: how/why can > Pearson not offer an accessible version and any recommendations for a > comparable accessible achievement test. The braille reader is elementary > age. Your insight would be helpful! > > Additionally, the school uses STAR benchmark testing for ELA and math from > Renaissance Learning. This, too is not accessible using a screen reader. If > you have any experience with an accessible benchmark testing program, can > you please share your recommendations? > > Thanks, from Pittsburgh > Ashley Popojas > TVI/COMS > Sent from my iPhone > You are subscribed to AERNet, The Association for Education and > Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Listserv. > > To post a message to all the list members, send an email to > aernet@lists.aerbvi.org. > > Address list requests to: aernet-request@lists.aerbvi.org > > To unsubscribe from this list, go to > http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org and > follow instructions to unsubscribe. Go to the same address to access the > list archives. > _______________________________________________ > AERNet mailing list > AERNet@lists.aerbvi.org > http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org >