Testing accommodations are specifically discussed in detail as they are likely to be the most requested and used accommodations available to students. Their impact can be significant as they may effect:

• Academic placement in the program
• Academic progression through the program
• Acquisition of a GED
• Acquisition of a career technical certification
• Acceptance into Advanced Training programs

Specific testing accommodations include an accessible testing site, distraction-free space, alternate location, variation in test schedule, extending time to complete the testing, scribed exam, sign language interpreters, readers, adaptive equipment, modification of testing format.

Testing accommodations are afforded students in the same manner as other reasonable accommodations in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Partnering agencies and organizations on the local and state level (e.g., GED test sites, career technical certification boards) are bound by the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act and, therefore, must also provide testing accommodations to students.

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Process

Applicants to the Job Corps program or students currently enrolled in Job Corps may request and obtain accommodations through the Reasonable Accommodations process.

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Documentation

Documentation of prior testing accommodations is provided in the same manner as documentation support for all other types of accommodations requests. Documentation of prior testing accommodations is usually found in a student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) from a former school or a student's Individualized Written Employment Plan (IWEP) from a disability service provider.

In circumstances when there is not enough time to acquire the required documentation as per the Reasonable Accommodations Guidelines, the disability coordinator may assist the student by obtaining verbal confirmation from a qualified professional with hard copy documentation forthcoming. This conversation must be recorded on the request for accommodations form including the name of the professional, his or her title, the type of documentation forthcoming, the agency or organization he/she represents, and the date of the conversation.

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Time Requirements

Testing accommodations requests should be made at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled test if appropriate documentation is available. If appropriate documentation is not readily available or cannot be obtained by phone, then the accommodation cannot be provided until the necessary documentation/confirmation has been obtained. Local and state testing entities typically require a much longer notification period.

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Types of Testing

Testing accommodations may be requested for the following types of testing, including, but not limited to:

• The Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE)
• Computer Managed Instruction (CMI)
• General Education Development Test (GED)
• Academic Classroom Testing
• career technical Testing
• Certification Testing
• Assessment Testing

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TABE Testing Accommodations

Students may request accommodations to take the TABE test. Before providing TABE testing accommodations, make sure the student:

• Has documentation to support the request and is receiving only accommodations supported by the documentation

• Is entered in the disability data collection screen

• Has an accommodation plan that lists the specific testing accommodations

Make sure staff are:

• Made aware of the accommodation plan and specific testing accommodations

• Providing the appropriate accommodations

• Updating the accommodation plan on a regular basis (Disability Coordinator or designee)

Click here to get information for TABE Administrators accommodating students with disabilities. For more information on providing accommodations for the TABE test visit, CTB McGraw-Hill.

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Testing by Outside Entities

Students may request testing accommodations from outside state agencies or private organizations (e.g., GED, state and career technical certifications). The disability coordinator should assist the student in securing the accommodations. Many agencies require specific applications and detailed documentation (that may be different from the documentation required by Job Corps to grant an accommodation request) to consider a testing accommodation request. The disability coordinator should become familiar with documentation requirements and obtain a supply of applications.

The agency administering the test may request documentation of eligibility and advance notification of disability-related needs; however, the process involved in documenting disability and requesting accommodation may not impose discriminatory time lines on the individual with a disability. Similarly, applicants with disabilities have the responsibility to meet the same registration deadlines (including submission of documentation) as people without disabilities.

GED Testing Accommodations

In late 2005, the GED test accommodation process was modified and new forms were released. For some students it may now be easier to secure testing accommodations for the GED.

For more information on requesting accommodations for the GED test (e.g., what forms are needed, how to contact your local testing service, etc.) visit, GEDTS (General Educational Development Testing Service). Also available is the Tips for Candidates with Disabilities brochure.

For more information on how to complete the GED test accommodation form visit, LDOnline.org.

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Costs

The law requires that the agency or entity administering the examination must provide any necessary modifications and/or auxiliary aids at NO cost to the test taker. It should be noted that the costs of most of the common accommodations for testing that will be requested are negligible (e.g., extended time, reader and/or scribe, large print examinations). More costly accommodations involve adaptive equipment, interpreters for deaf test takers, and sometimes, brailled examinations (check with the publisher to see if the test is available in alternate formats).

To operate efficiently without knowing what your costs for a budget year might be, it is critical to plan ahead. Network with other organizations (e.g., disability providers, colleges, adult education programs, school systems, volunteer organizations) to develop linkage agreements where adaptive technology, accessible sites, or alternative versions of materials may be shared. Some adaptive equipment may be provided by a referring or coordinating disability service provider. ASK for their assistance during accommodation request meetings and interdisciplinary team meetings.

Each center may need to purchase certain pieces of adaptive equipment in order to meet the appropriate accommodation needs of the students. Adaptive equipment can be used over and over again, thereby, reducing your long term cost for providing certain types of accommodations.

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Testing Accommodations and Data Integrity

The academic (and career technical) manager and/or testing administrator should play an active role in the testing accommodation process. He/she should have a list of all students receiving testing accommodations and what the accommodations are (this should exactly match what is in disability data collection screen and accommodation plans), should be providing academic/career technical staff with accommodation information and getting feedback from staff about the effectiveness of the accommodations.

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