ERIC Number: EJ842377
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1046-6819
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Enduring and Unresolved Issues in the Test Accommodation Decision Process for Individuals with Learning Disabilities: Test Validity and Documentation of Learning Disabilities
Ofiesh, Nicole S.; Bisagno, Joan M.
Learning Disabilities: A Multidisciplinary Journal, v15 n3 p147-151 2008
Given the high number of requests for test accommodations and the myriad of test accommodations available, test agencies give considerable attention to the process involved in the provision of test accommodations for high stakes tests. The decision to provide an accommodation to an individual with learning disabilities is based largely on the information in the applicant's psychoeducational evaluation. It is simply not feasible for personnel at test agencies to meet or collect data on every individual who requests for an accommodation in the same manner as a psychologist does. Thus, decision regarding the reasonable nature of a request are made based on the fundamental aspects of the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) using an individual's psychoeducational document as the primary source of information. These aspects include (a) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more life activities; (b) documentation of such impairment through a diagnosis or statement of disability; and (c) being regarded as having such impairment whether or not the impairment substantially limits major life activities. This article aims to examine one of the less frequently discussed issues related to the use of psychoeducational evaluations for decision making: the concept of test validity.
Descriptors: Testing Accommodations, Learning Disabilities, Test Validity, High Stakes Tests, Primary Sources, Psychoeducational Methods, Special Education, Postsecondary Education, Reading Difficulties, Writing Difficulties, Evaluation Methods, Elementary Secondary Education, Student Evaluation
Learning Disabilities Association of America. 4156 Library Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15234. Tel: 412-341-1515; Fax: 412-344-0224; e-mail: info@ldaamerica.org; Web site: http://www.ldaamerica.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Americans with Disabilities Act 1990
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A