The document discusses how assistive technology devices can help make assessments accessible for students with disabilities as required by law. It explains that accessibility involves removing barriers so all students can demonstrate their knowledge. Universal design principles like multiple means of representation, expression, and engagement can support accessibility. Assistive technologies that can help include text-to-speech, screen magnification, alternate keyboards, and voice recorders. The goal is for assessments to be available to as many people as possible through interactions between individual needs and assessment features.

1. Making Assessments Accessible
using
Assistive Technology Devices

2. What Does Accessibility Mean?
Accessibility describes the degree to which a
product, device, service, or environment is
available to as many people as possible.

3. What is Assessment Accessibility?
The extent to which an assessment and its
constituent item set eliminates barriers and
permits the test-taker to demonstrate his or
her knowledge of the assessed content.
Assessment Accessibility involves an
interaction between features of the
assessment and individual test-taker
characteristics.

4. Why is Assessment Accessibility
Important?
As a result of No Child Left Behind Act of 2001,
assessment developers have needed to create
assessments to ensure all students, including those
with special disabilities are given the opportunity to
demonstrate the extent to which they have mastered
the content measured on state assessments.
National Center on Educational Outcomes

5. Legislation 508 Supports
Accessibility of Information
Section 508 requires that electronic
and information technology that is
developed by or purchased by the
Federal Agencies be accessible by
people with disabilities.

6. How Can Universal Design for
Learning Support Making
Assessments Accessible?

Providing Multiple Means of Representation

Providing Multiple Means of Expression and
Interaction

Providing Multiple Mean of Engagement

7. Inclusive Population
Accessing Assessments using
Assistive Technology

Deaf or Hearing Impaired

Blind or Visually Impaired

Mildly Cognitively Impaired

Dyslexic

Physically Impaired

Asperger's Syndrome

8. What is an Assistive
Technology Device?
An assistive technology device is any item,
piece of equipment, or product system,
whether acquired commercially, off-the-shelf,
modified or customized, that is used to
increase, maintain or improve a person’s
functional capabilities.

9. Assistive Technology used to
Access Assessments

Text-to-Speech Software

Document Images

Screen Magnification

Alternate Keyboards

Text-Help Read and Write

Microphones

Voice Recorders

Spell Checkers

10. References
National Center on Educational Outcomes
(2012). universally designed
assessments. Retrieved on March 26,
2012 from, http://www.cehd.umn.edu/