1. Assessment Accommodations
General Guidelines

2. Evaluation Tool/Guidelines and Success Criteria:
Reduce access barriers to directions and stimuli
Directions –
Provide options that enhance clarity and accessibility:
What is expected of students?
Stimuli - Assessment Materials

3. Evaluation Tool/Guidelines and Success Criteria:
Study Guides
Provided in advance of test
Enhance material knowledge
Review Time
Dedicated in-class time to answer questions
Emphasize key points to study
Strategies
Provide students with different ways to study
Give personal best practices you used to study for “big” tests
Test Type
Utilize varied types of tests
Verbal, Written, Demonstration, or Project/Performance

4. Response Accommodations
Visual Organizers:
Graph paper
Highlighters
Place markers
Scratch paper
Setting:
Reduce distractions to student/to other students
Change location in which student participates in the assessment

5. Response Accommodations
Timing/Scheduling:
Processing Time (thoughts and writing)
Concentration (need frequent breaks)
Order of Activities (change in schedule)

6. Suggestions for Test Accommodations
State questions as simply and briefly as possible (simple language/words; short simple sentences; use concrete terms)
Avoid asking questions that require multiple answers (break the question into multiple questions if necessary)
Assign point values to each question and print values on the test (this strategy helps the student budget time when taking a test)

7. Suggestions for Test Accommodations
Try to balance the test items with regard to format and value (this will give the student who has problems with multiple-choice sections a chance to pass on the basis of ability in other sections)

8. Suggestions for Test Accommodations
Underline or highlight important/key words in the test directions or in the test items (topic sentences, etc.)
Have student repeat or explain directions to check for understanding
Put less information on a page
‘Section’ the paper – draw lines, fold
Cue student to begin work and to stay on task

9. Suggestions for Test Accommodations
Try different types of paper (ex. graph paper)
Provide more space for answers
Provide note card to reduce quantity of print that is visible
Provide visual cues on board for all verbal directions

10. Ideas/Examples of Different Methods of Testing:
Original Format – Matching or Definition
Alternate Formats –
Group the matching sets in small groups (5-6) instead of a longer listing
Option of oral test
Print only the words on the page and give the definition orally
Provide equal number answers to item choices

11. Adapting Testing Methods
Original Format: Fill-In The Blank or Completion
Alternate Formats –
Oral Test
Provide key words (Word Bank)
Original Format – Multiple Choice
- Read questions and answers aloud
- Emphasize key words in the questions
(Underline, Bold, Italicize, etc.)

12. Adapting Testing Methods
Original Format – True or False
Alternate Formats –
Use only simple, straightforward statements
Avoid double negatives
Original Format – Essay
- Audio recorded oral response
- Modified essay/short answer (ex. Briefly describe the ___ steps in the writing process)

13. Adapting Testing Methods
Original Format – Identification or Labeling
Alternate Format –
- Use testing procedures which ask the student to “point to” or “select” the correct item described
Example:
Write the names of the items that improve aerodynamics in the correct location on the vehicle.
Choose From: Decklid Spoiler / Door-Mounted Mirrors / Contoured Air Dam

14. IF POSSIBLE…
For all verbal directions encourage students to write notes/memos to themselves concerning important ideas
Give verbal as well as written directions
Consider adjusting presentation and evaluation modes
Shorten work periods
Give more objective than subjective items
Immediate feedback is important

15. IF POSSIBLE…
Give the same test to all students, but score some on the priority items only (see SDIs)
Avoid penalizing for grammar, handwriting, and spelling
Increase allowable time for test completion
Circulate to ensure focus

16. “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
Albert Einstein