Accommodations Toolkit Archives

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Universal Feature:

Audio Tools:

A tool that the student can use to amplify or diminish sound. Audio aids include amplification devices, noise buffers, or white noise machines (provided by the school or student).

• The student uses amplification devices typically used during instruction.
• The student uses a noise buffer (e.g., headphones, earbuds) to minimize distraction or filter external noise during testing. Any noise buffer must be compatible with the requirements of the test (i.e., allow the student to hear listening items).
• The student uses a white noise machine typically used during instruction or assessment.

Online test: Noise cancelling headphones or ear buds may be connected to the computer. Headphones needed for testing may not be compatible with some personal audio amplification devices (i.e., hearing aids, cochlear implants). In these situations, the student may participate in online testing by playing the sound through the computer’s speakers or external speakers. Students using speakers must be tested in a separate setting in order to not disturb or distract other students.

Paper-based test: Noise cancelling headphones, earplugs, earphones, or other noise buffers not connected to an audio device may be used during paper-based testing for Reading, Writing and Speaking. For the Listening test, students may need to use the noise buffers connected directly to the device used to play the Listening and Speaking CD. Noise buffers may not be compatible with some oral presentation accommodations such as the Human Reader accommodations.

Universal Feature (Universal test conditions):

Wearing noise buffers after the scripted directions from the Test Administration Directions manual have been read.

Accommodation:

Settings accommodations: These accommodations change the physical location or the conditions under which a student engages with classwork or assessments. Location choices may include a different room, a different seating location within the room, small group instruction, or a study carrel. Conditions may include the use of sound-blocking headphones or allowing “whisper reading” as long as others are not disturbed.

Designated Feature:

Noise buffers are ear mufflers, white noise, and/or other equipment used to block external sounds.

Designated Feature:

Noise cancelling headphones, earplugs, or other noise buffers not connected to any audio device are allowed. Note: Check noise buffer compatibility with auditory presentation modes (e.g., text-to-speech) prior to testing.

Designated Feature:

Ear mufflers, white noise, whisper phone, and/or other equipment may be used to block external sounds. A student (not groups of students) wears equipment to reduce environmental noises. Students may use these supports if they are regularly used during instruction. Students who use noise buffers will need headphones unless tested individually in a separate setting.

Designated Feature:

Ear mufflers, white noise, and/or other equipment used to block external sounds.

Universal Feature:

Student uses headphones or noise buffers to minimize distraction or filter external noise during testing. If headphones are used only as noise buffers, they should not be plugged into the student's device.

Accommodation:

Change location to increase physical access (e.g., minimize background noise, face student when speaking, speak to student and not to interpreter, and increase wait time for interpreter to finish).

White noise/sound machines or music that are approved by district/school coordinators may be used to reduce auditory distractions. During testing, machines and music players must be controlled by the test administrator or proctor.

Accommodation:

Presentation accommodation: Audio amplification noise buffers and cancelling devices, headphones or other listening devices.

Setting accommodation for students who are deaf or hard of hearing: Change location to increase physical access (e.g., minimize background noise, face student when speaking, speak to student and not to interpreter, and increase wait time for interpreter to finish).

Designated Feature:

Ear mufflers, white noise, and/or other equipment used to block external sounds. Student (not groups of students) wears equipment to reduce environmental noises. Students may have these testing variations if regularly used in the classroom. Students who use noise buffers will need headphones unless tested individually in a separate setting.

Universal Feature:

The student uses headphones or noise buffers to minimize distraction, access embedded text-to-speech, or filter external noise during testing (in addition to when headphones are required for the ELA/literacy assessment). If headphones are used only as noise buffers, do not plug them into the testing device.

Universal Feature:

Headphones or Noise Buffers: Used to block out distractions. (No music is allowed to be playing or plugged in. This is for sound dampening only.) No Bluetooth features are allowed unless requested to IDOE in advance with a fidelity assurance form.

Universal Feature:

The student uses approved noise buffers to minimize distraction or filter external noise during testing.

Accommodation:

Assistive technology:

Noise buffers (Noise-canceling headphones)

Universal Feature:

Students use headphones or noise buffers to minimize distraction or filter external noise during testing. If headphones are used only as noise buffers, they should not be plugged into the testing device.

Designated Feature:

Distraction reduction:

Noise buffers, place markers, carrels, whisper phones, or calming music, etc. may be used to minimize distractions for the student.

Universal Feature:

Headphones or Noise Buffers:

A student uses a noise buffer to minimize distraction or to filter external noise in order to maintain focus. The student uses headphones or noise buffers to minimize distraction, access embedded text-to-speech, or filter external noise during testing (in addition to when headphones are required for the ELA/literacy assessment). If headphones are used only as noise buffers, do not plug them into the testing device.

Designated Feature:

Noise buffer, such as noise-canceling earmuffs/headphones or white noise (Note: music or other recordings may not be played, unless granted as a unique accommodation by the Department. See pp. 14-15.)

Designated Feature:

Noise Buffers (ear mufflers, white noise, and/or other equipment to block external sounds):

Noise buffers are appropriate for the small number of students who need to wear equipment to reduce environmental noise. Students may have this support if they regularly use such equipment in the classroom. Students will need headphones for this support unless they are tested individually in a separate setting.

Universal Feature:

Music and noise buffers provided by the district may be used, but only by students who have used them in instructional or other assessment settings. Noise buffers (white noise) reduce noise distractions for the student taking the test. Noise buffers may include individual study carrels, headsets, earplugs, and individual portable buffers set on the student’s desk, or an audio player that generates white noise or instrumental music. Note: A white noise accessibility feature is available for the online MCA; see Tools in online assessments above.

• Noise buffers or instrumental music are provided at an individual level, not to an entire group on the assumption that all will benefit. The noise buffer or instrumental music can be accessed through headphones or in an individual setting.
• Individuals must be able to control on/off and volume.
• Audio players must be school owned, and the audio must be provided by the school.

Universal Feature (Administrative Consideration):

Noise Buffers (Earmuffs, white noise, etc.)

Designated Feature:

Ear mufflers, white noise, and/or other equipment used to block external sounds. Student (not groups of students) wears equipment to reduce environmental noises. Students may have these testing variations if regularly used in the classroom. Students who use noise buffers will need headphones unless tested individually in a separate setting.

Universal Feature:

The student uses noise buffers to minimize distraction or filter external noise during testing. Any noise buffer must be compatible with the requirements of the test. Any headphones may be used but may not be plugged into a digital source.

Designated Feature:

Ear mufflers, white noise, and/or other equipment used to block external sounds. Student (not groups of students) wears equipment to reduce environmental noises. Students may have these testing variations if regularly used in the classroom. Students who use noise buffers will need headphones unless tested individually in a separate setting.

Designated Feature:

Ear mufflers, white noise, and/or other equipment used to block external sounds. Student (not groups of students) wears equipment to reduce environmental noises. Students may have these testing variations if regularly used in the classroom. Students who use noise buffers will need headphones unless tested individually in a separate setting.

Universal Feature:

The student uses headphones or noise buffers to minimize distraction, access embedded text-to-speech, or filter external noise during testing (in addition to when headphones are required for the ELA assessment). If headphones are used only as noise buffers, do not plug them into the testing device.

Designated Feature:

Headphones used to access audio in CBT or to minimize distraction, filter external noise. Headphones used as a noise buffer may not be plugged in.

Accommodation:

Special acoustics (e.g., minimal extraneous noises)

Designated Feature:

Noise-Cancelling Headphones and Ear Plugs

• Headphones and ear plugs reduce unwanted ambient and low frequency sounds.
• Headphones must not be connected to any device (e.g., Bluetooth/wireless).

Universal Feature:

The learner may use noise buffers to minimize distraction or filter external noise during testing.

Designated Feature:

The student uses headphones/earbuds or earplugs to minimize distraction or filter external noise during testing. If students use headphones/earbuds as noise buffers, they should not be plugged into a device.

Accommodation:

Use of assistive technology (AT) devices or supports (e.g., color overlays, magnifier, pencil grips, auditory amplification devices, noise buffers, wedge for positioning, and multiplication table/chart).

Designated Feature:

ELA/Mathematics:

Ear mufflers, white noise, and/or other equipment used to block external sounds. Student wears equipment to reduce environmental noises. Students may have these testing variations if regularly used in the classroom. Students who use noise buffers will need headphones unless tested individually in a separate setting.

Science:

Auditory amplification devices, hearing aids, external speakers, noise buffers: The student adjusts the volume control beyond the computer’s built in settings using headphones or other non-embedded devices. Students may use amplification assistive technology (e.g., headphones, FM System, noise buffers, white noise machines) to increase the volume provided in the assessment platform. Use of this resource may require a separate setting. If the device has additional features that may compromise the validity of the test (e.g., internet access), the additional functionality must be deactivated to maintain test security.

Accommodation:

Noise Canceling Headphones or Ear Buds:

Some students benefit from wearing noise buffers to minimize distraction and maximize concentration. The headphones/earbuds may not be connected to Bluetooth or any other connection that may allow for information to be conveyed to the student during the assessment. “Other” is bubbled for this accommodation.

Universal Feature:

Auditory supports:

Volume control, amplification device, FM system, noise buffer, noise-cancelling earmuffs/headphones, white noise machine.

Universal Feature:

Audio aids:

A tool that the students can use to amplify or diminish sound. Audio Aids include amplification devices, noise buffers, non-Bluetooth headphones, noise canceling headphones (non-Bluetooth) or ear plugs.

• The student uses an amplification device typically used during instruction.
• The student uses a noise buffer (e.g., headphones, earbuds, ear plugs) to minimize distraction or filter external noise during testing. Any noise buffer must be compatible with the requirements of the assessment.

Designated Feature:

Ear mufflers, white noise, and/or other equipment used to block external sounds. For use by students who are distracted by external noises in the testing environment. Student (not groups of students) wears equipment to reduce environmental noises. Students may have these testing variations if regularly used in the classroom. Noise buffers used during testing should not interfere with the testing of other students. Headphones may be needed unless tested individually in a separate setting.

Universal Feature:

Universal test administration conditions include:

• wearing noise buffers after the scripted directions have been read.

Designated Feature:

Accessibility features include:

• giving permission for a student to use tools to minimize distractions or to help maintain focus (e.g., stress ball, noise-reducing headphones, or instrumental music [no lyrics] played through an individual student’s headphones or ear buds.

Accommodation:

Minimize distractions:

Some students need help reducing distractions and/or maintaining focus while they are accessing and interacting with information presented during instruction or assessment. A student may wear noise buffers, such as earphones, earplugs, or headphones, to reduce distractions and improve concentration. Study carrels may also be used.

Designated Feature:

Ear mufflers, white noise, and/or other equipment used to block external sounds. Student (not groups of students) wears equipment to reduce environmental noises. Students may have these testing variations if regularly used in the classroom. Students who use noise buffers will need headphones unless tested individually in a separate setting.

Accommodation: 

A student with a disability may wear noise dampening headphones, ear muffs, or ear plugs to reduce distractions while taking an [Standards of Learning] assessment.

Designated Feature:

 Ear mufflers, white noise, and/or other equipment used to block external sounds. Student wears equipment to reduce environmental noises. Students may have these testing variations if regularly used in the classroom. Students who use noise buffers will need headphones unless tested individually in a separate setting. This option should be based on a student’s individual needs and should not be applied on a group basis.

Accommodation:

Ear mufflers, white noise, and/or other equipment used to block external sounds. Student (not groups of students) wears equipment to reduce environmental noises. Students may have these testing variations if regularly used in the classroom. Students who use noise buffers will need headphones unless tested individually in a separate setting.

Designated Feature: 

Ear mufflers (e.g., noise cancelling headphones) and/or white noise used to block external sounds. Student (not groups of students) wears equipment to reduce environmental noises. Students may have these testing variations if regularly used in the classroom. Students who use white noise will need headphones unless tested individually in a separate setting.

Designated Feature: 

Ear mufflers, white noise, and/or other equipment used to block external sounds. Student (not groups of students) wears equipment to reduce environmental noises. Students may have these testing variations if regularly used in the classroom. Noise buffers used during testing should not interfere with the testing of other students. Headphones may be needed unless tested individually in a separate setting.