Tip of the Day

Include captions when using audio or video clips and materials.

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The Accessible Virtual Campus

Testing

Two students taking a test.

Not only is it important to consider the type of exam, but it is also necessary to give consideration to the questions asked. Included here is an ACCESS-ed AUDIT to check the design and accessibility of your test or exam.

Instructional Methods
Internal link

EqTD AUDIT

Use this AUDIT to evaluate the accessibility and usability of non-text graphics in a variety of media.

 

 

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

(Excel Document) EqTD AUDIT

(Word Document) EqTD Manual

Internal link

In-line EqTD AUDIT

Here is the AUDIT to use to evaluate the accessibility of in-line text characters that need to be treated as graphic elements for accessibility e.g. subscript,  ampersand, foreign letters.

 

 

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

(Excel Document) In-line EqTD AUDIT

(Word Document) In-line EqTD AUDIT Manual (Version 1.3)

Internal link

Test AUDIT

For evaluating the accessibility of a test.

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

(Excel Document) Test and Test Items AUDIT

(Word Document) Test and Test Items AUDIT Manual

Internal link

Doorway AUDIT

 How universally designed is that doorway?

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

(Excel Document) Doorway AUDIT

(Word Document) Doorway AUDIT Manual

Internal link

Equivalent Text Description (EqTD) Tutorial for Graphics

This short tutorial provides examples and a structure for writing equivalent text descriptions for graphic elements. 

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

(Word Document) Tutorial for EqTDs

Internal link

No Manual Formatting

In word processed documents (that are not RTF files), formatting with the use of "B" or "I" or by manually organizing content with tabs, underlines, etc. provides structure and organization that is only available to sighted readers.  Using the "styles" features of word processing software is essential to creating documents that are universally designed. 

(Word Document) No Manual Formatting

Internal link

Writing EqTDs Posterette

The essential "bare-bones" of what needs to be in an equivalent text description and where the EqTD is placed in the document. Whenever you create a document, electronic or paper, any non-text element (picture, graph, "eye-candy") is not accessible to many individuals.

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

(Word Document) Writing EqTD's Posterette

External link

Checklist for Test Administrators

While designed as guidelines for published or state tests the guidelines are applicable to any accommodative testing. Per the authors, "The administration of any test that has been reproduced in Braille, large print, or audio format requires special attention by the test administrator or test proctor."

American Foundation for the Blind

External link

Experts Discuss Universal Design for Technology-Based Assessment

This page provides the summary of the longer pdf document (link provided) about UD in testing.

The Institute for the Advancement of Emerging Technologies in Education

External link

Improving Validity of Large-scale Tests: Universal Design and Student Performance - NCEO Technical Report 37

"This paper reports the theoretical background and research results for a study conducted using Universal Design of assessment features."

National Center on Educational Outcomes

External link

Online Course on Multiple Formats

Nice tutorial to learn the WHY and basic How-to's of multiple formats.

National Library of Canada

External link

Test Access and Accommodations Guidebook

"Policy and Tools to Guide Decision-Making and Implementation", test access & accommodations for students with disabilities.

The University of the State of New York

External link

Test Access: Making Tests Accessible for Students with Visual Impairments

"The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is committed to ensuring that educational materials are accessible to students with visual impairments...This document is provided as a guide for making tests accessible in tactile, large print, and audio formats. It is anticipated that this guide will be used as a tool for implementing appropriate guidelines as test publishers, test developers, test editors, and state assessment personnel are developing and adapting tests and assessments."

Allman, C.B.

External link

Test Taking

Accommodation focus outlined by disability. Provides a brief test of your understanding of the topic.

DO-IT, University of Washington

External link

Testing Accommodations Research

Studies are grade-school based, but this site has multiple research reports.

Wisconsin Center for Education Research

External link

UD Applied to Large Scale Assessments - NCEO Synthesis Report 44

"The purpose of this paper is to explore the development of universal design and to consider its application to large scale assessments."

National Center on Educational Outcomes, University of Minnesota

Instructional Methods

It took me several years of struggling with the heavy door to my building, sometimes having to wait until a person stronger came along, to realize that the door was an accessibility problem, not only for me, but for others as well. And I did not notice, until one of my students pointed it out, that the lack of signs that could be read from a distance at my university forced people with mobility impairments to expend a lot of energy unnecessarily, searching for rooms and offices. Although I have encountered this difficulty myself on days when walking was exhausting to me, I interpreted it, automatically, as a problem arising from my illness (as I did with the door), rather than as a problem arising from the built environment having been created for too narrow a range of people and situations.

Susan Wendell, author of
The Rejected Body: Feminist Philosophical Reflections on Disability