Sounds like you have the answers down pat! Go get 'em, Tiger!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I would first respond to the question - "Wouldn’t all students do better if they had extended time?" - by telling the inquirer it's interesting that (s)he should ask that and then taking the opportunity to discuss the concept of universal design. Then I would respond to the concern about extended time by explaining that extended time is not about giving a student with a disability "extra" time to complete an exam, but it's about giving them the time needed to demonstrate their knowledge. And while it may not seem fair it is "just".
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Helmi,
You are right, of course. If you look up the words "fair" and "just" in the dictionary, you will find that, in this context, "fair" means "the same to everyone" while "just" means "each according to his need." It is not by coincidence that the Department of JUSTice has enforcement authority over the ADA. This is a law that is all about "case-by-case"!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I would respond by simply saying it must be on a case by case bases. Just because one person has the same disability as someone else, they are still different. Say 2 people are in a wheel chair, 1 might have been in it thier whole life while the other one might have been involved in an accident and caused him into one a month ago. Thier are so many different variables so it must be reviewed case by case.
Randy,
Wow! That answer could have been written by someone who had been in the field of disability services for 20 years. You are EXACTLY on target. I am most impressed!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Not necessarily, no. The purpose of testing is to determine if the material has been absorbed. Sufficient time to process the questions on the test and then construct answers is all that is required of the test taker. If you don't know the answer, then having 24 hours to prepare it isn't going to be of any more help to you than 5 minutes. If an individual has difficulty processing the question and organizing their thoughts, then it is incumbent upon us to accomodate them with enough time so as to complete the task...otherwise we are testing their disability as opposed to their absorbtion of knowlege...which is the actual purpose of testing.
Nick,
Yep... you are almost there. WHY the student needs extended time on a standardized test will differ with the type of disability. For a student who is LD or ADHD, they may need to understand, gather thoughts, explain (as you suggested). For a student who is blind, the extra time may be needed just to ACCESS the test (using a screen reader, dictating and checking answers through assistive technology, and so on). But you are right -- on a paper-and-pencil test, it would be extremely rare that extended time could not be made available as a reasonable accommodation. Extending time on practical examinations is something else again!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Just to clarify: It is necssary to grant extra time for a standardized timed test. The student may need the time to understand the questions gather their thoughts and explain it. With regard to a practical test that is dependant on time, there is not need to grant extra time. I understand that.
Based on that, I would gather that it would rarely (if ever) be appropriate to not extend time on a timed test to a qualified individual unless the test was practical in nature on a skill they would need in the field where time would be of the essence.
Nick,
Again, you have missed a key element of the example and come away with a mistaken impression. The example was not of a time test on emergency medicine -- it was an evaluation of skill in a TASK that is time-dependent (applying a tourniquet). If the evaluation had been a written test asking for a description of how to apply a tourniquet, there would be no reason that extended time could not be granted. Any standardized test for licensure or certification will (by law) include the possibility of extended time for students with disabilities. It is WHOLLY appropriate to give a student extended time on a practice test as will be available on the actual exam.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I like the example used in the lesson. The example was used for a timed test on emergency medicine; the emergency is not going to wait! Likewise, we prepare students to take a standardized test, which is timed. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to give a student extra time on a practice test training for the real exam.
Yours is an interesting hypothesis Bill. I like the way you reason out both how students with disabilities use extended time on tests, and why it is appropriate. As to preparation time -- I think you are right. Students with disabilities ARE at a disadvantage. But I think that disadvantage is the disability itself, not the amount of time they have to study. You are right on target when you say it may take more time for them to study, but they have the time to do so. They aren't short of preparation time, they are just working longer within the available time period. As I read that, it sounds like a circular argument. Hope it is clear enough! ;-)
