[blindLaw] Exam soft

Julie McGinnity kaybaycar at gmail.com
Mon Oct 26 04:18:04 UTC 2020


At my university, anyone who uses assistive technology is expected to
take the exams in Word and then send them back to disability services
so they can upload the answers under our anonymous grading number. I
don't actually get another choice. I believe the other students also
use ExamSoft, but I was told it would lock down any assistive
technology.

You would think software like this can go into accessible mode or
something so that a student could use assistive technology. Since most
virtual tests are open book these days anyway, perhaps the software
isn't always secure, but that doesn't mean it was meant for screen
readers.

Hang in there, Lauren. Being a 1L is kind of like playing the game
where you spin a wheel and wonder which random accessibility issue
will magically pop up this week.  I haven't had that specific one, but
I feel the struggle.

Julie


On 10/25/20, Jameyanne Fuller via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I took the Massachusetts bar in July 2019. When I was setting up my
> accommodations, I expressed concern that Examplify wouldn't be accessible
> because I knew Exam4, which we used for law school exams, was not
> accessible. But I was told Examplify was accessible with JAWS now, so that's
> what we did. And then halfway through my MPT it completely stopped working
> with JAWS. We had to pause my exam and get one of the board of bar examiners
> in there to call tech support and when we finally got someone who understood
> the problem on the phone, their response was "no, Examplify is not
> accessible with JAWS what are you doing?" And my proctor had to transfer my
> exam to word so I could finish it. I didn't even know before the exam that
> taking it in word was an accommodation I could have, because my concerns
> about accessibility were just dismissed. I passed the bar, so I didn't
> pursue the matter beyond expressing my frustration at what had happened, but
> the whole thing was unnecessarily stressful.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Michal Nowicki via
> BlindLaw
> Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2020 9:47 PM
> To: 'Blind Law Mailing List' <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Michal Nowicki <mnowicki4 at icloud.com>
> Subject: Re: [blindLaw] Exam soft
>
> The only benefit I can think of on the fly is the ability to upload the
> completed exam independently. As for getting familiar with the software, law
> schools and bar exam administrators allow examinees to take mock exams
> before the test to make sure the software is working and to get familiar
> with it.
>
> To be clear, I did not mean to recommend Examplify over Word or vice versa.
> I merely sought to clarify that when I took the bar, Examplify was
> accessible in non-secure mode in light of the responses suggesting that the
> software is not accessible under any setup. I hope this helps.
>
> Michal
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tai Tomasi via
> BlindLaw
> Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2020 8:28 PM
> To: Blind Law Mailing List <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Tai Tomasi <tai.tomasi8 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [blindLaw] Exam soft
>
> Help me understand how taking an exam using exam soft or one of its
> derivatives in unsecure mode is any different from simply requesting the
> exam in word format and taking it that way. I wouldn’t want to have to
> navigate a platform like exam soft when having never used it before. Doing
> so puts the examinee at a disadvantage.
>
> Tai Tomasi, J.D., M.P.A.
> Email: tai.tomasi8 at gmail.com
> Sent from my iPhone. Please excuse my brevity and any grammatical errors.
>
>> On Oct 25, 2020, at 8:19 PM, Michal Nowicki via BlindLaw
>> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> I took the IL bar in July 2018. Although I got Word as an accommodation,
>> I discovered that Examplify — ExamSoft's newest platform at the time —
>> does work with JAWS, as long as the exam is administered in non-secure
>> mode. I don't know if anything changed since then.
>>
>> Michal
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of MIKE
>> MCGLASHON via BlindLaw
>> Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2020 8:01 PM
>> To: 'Blind Law Mailing List' <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: MIKE MCGLASHON <michael.mcglashon at comcast.net>
>> Subject: Re: [blindLaw] Exam soft
>>
>> Oh no lady!!
>> You don't want to do that;
>>
>> I am in my third year in law school,
>> They use examsoft and exam4 for their finals;
>>
>> If you do,
>> Here's what I did:Talk to eac of your professors, Get them to allow you to
>> receive the exam from them directly, Then, Make sure they agree to allow
>> you to email it back to them when you are done.
>> Also, make sure you claim that you are okay with waiving the anonymous
>> requirement; Then, Have each of th professors write to disabilities
>> department as if it were their proposal.
>> At least my dss waived on through;
>> Why wouldn't they,
>> It let's them off the hook;
>>
>> This is just my way of handling the issue with the least amount of
>> resistance.
>>
>>
>> Please advise as you like.
>>
>> Mike M.
>>
>> Mike mcglashon
>> Email: Michael.mcglashon at comcast.net
>> Ph: 618 783 9331
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Lauren
>> Bishop via BlindLaw
>> Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2020 8:42 PM
>> To: Blind Law Mailing List <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Lauren Bishop <laurenbishop96 at icloud.com>
>> Subject: Re: [blindLaw] Exam soft
>>
>> Thank you so much. This whole situation makes my blood boil. They work
>> with about 2000 organizations. I hope they’ll eventually decide to make
>> their programs accessible.  I am working with my disability services
>> office to get some alternative arrangements in the works.
>> Lauren
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Oct 25, 2020, at 8:34 PM, Seif-Eldeen Saqallah via BlindLaw
>>> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Same here; bar jurisdictions that use it need give different
>>> software accommodations in place of examsoft and examplify.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>> On 10/25/20, Tai Tomasi via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> Last I knew, examSoft is not accessible with any screen reader.
>>>>
>>>> Tai Tomasi, J.D., M.P.A.
>>>> Email: tai.tomasi8 at gmail.com
>>>> Sent from my iPhone. Please excuse my brevity and any grammatical
>>>> errors.
>>>>
>>>>> On Oct 25, 2020, at 6:57 PM, Lauren Bishop via BlindLaw
>>>>> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>> I have some take-home finals that will be using exam soft.  When I
>>>>> tried to navigate out of the window to open my notes during a mock
>>>>> exam, my computer would not speak to me when I reentered the
>>>>> exemplify window. Are used jaws and NVDA with the same results.
>>>>> Have any of you had any luck using this software?
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> Lauren
>>>>>
>>>>> Sent from my iPhoneHave any of you had any luck using this software?
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> Lauren
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> BlindLaw mailing list
>>>>> BlindLaw at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>> for
>>>>> BlindLaw:
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/tai.tomasi8%4
>>>>> 0
>>>>> gmail.com
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> BlindLaw mailing list
>>>> BlindLaw at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>> for
>>>> BlindLaw:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/seifs%40umich.
>>>> e
>>>> du
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Seif Saqallah
>>> (Pronouns: he/him/his.)
>>> University of Michigan
>>> Juris Doctor/
>>> Masters in Middle Eastern and North African Studies J.D/M.A Candidate
>>> | 2021
>>>
>>> International Studies, Arabic Studies, and Judaic Studies; Law,
>>> Justice, and Social Change B.A | 2017
>>>
>>> 248-325-7091 | seifs at umich.edu
>>>
>>> Student Attorney | International Transactions Clinic
>>>
>>> Student Attorney | Civil-Criminal Litigation Clinic
>>>
>>> University of Michigan Law School
>>> www.law.umich.edu/ITC
>>> www.law.umich.edu/clinical/generalclinic/Pages/default.aspx
>>>
>>> The information in this transmittal (including attachments, if any)
>>> is confidential and may contain privileged information protected from
>>> disclosure by law. If you are not the intended recipient and have
>>> received this transmittal in error, please notify the sender
>>> immediately by reply email, delete this communication, and destroy
>>> all copies of the transmittal, including attachments. Receipt of this
>>> message is not intended to waive any applicable legal privilege.
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> BlindLaw mailing list
>>> BlindLaw at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> BlindLaw:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/laurenbishop96%
>>> 4
>>> 0icloud.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> BlindLaw mailing list
>> BlindLaw at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> BlindLaw:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/michael.mcglasho
>> n%40comcast.net
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> BlindLaw mailing list
>> BlindLaw at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> BlindLaw:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/mnowicki4%40iclo
>> ud.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> BlindLaw mailing list
>> BlindLaw at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> BlindLaw:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/tai.tomasi8%40gm
>> ail.com
> _______________________________________________
> BlindLaw mailing list
> BlindLaw at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> BlindLaw:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/mnowicki4%40icloud.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> BlindLaw mailing list
> BlindLaw at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> BlindLaw:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/jameyanne%40gmail.com
>
>
> --
> This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
> https://www.avg.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> BlindLaw mailing list
> BlindLaw at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> BlindLaw:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/kaybaycar%40gmail.com
>


-- 
Julie A. McGinnity
MM Vocal Performance, 2015; American University Washington College of
Law, JD Candidate 2023




More information about the BlindLaw mailing list