[nfbcs] A+ Certification

[Alyssa Gourley]

Hi,
I've taken both the A+ and Network+, and in both cases I used a human reader. I also got extra time to take the exams. I agree that for the most part it would be easier to take the exam with Jaws in terms of being able to read the questions yourself and review them as much as you want. However,in my experience, both tests included simulations that had lots of pictures and things. As we all know, Jaws does not play nice with things like that, so that's where you would need the human interface.  Now if there were a way to make the simulations accessible, I'd say go Jaws all the way.
Now as for whether or not to make a big deal out of this or just go take the exam, my advice would be to just go take the exam since you need to have it done in a year. If you had more time, you could do the whole litigation thing, but that would take time, not to mention the time it would take to get screen readers set up on the computers wherever you're taking the test. Good luck.

Alyssa

Sent from my iPhone

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Robert Spangler
via nfbcs
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2017 12:38 PM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'
Cc: Robert Spangler; 'NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List'
Subject: [nfbcs] A+ Certification

Hello everyone:

I will be applying to take the A+ certification exam.  I know I asked about
this a while back.  Someone responded and told me that the only
accommodation that they will offer for this exam is a human reader, which to
me is not acceptable.  I would prefer to take the exam on a computer with
JAWS/NVDA.  I know this same issue was brought up with the BAR exam and it
was solved through litigation.  I am prepared to raise the same stink in
regards to blind people receiving fair and just accommodations.  I would
like your opinions - is it worth it?  Why wasn't the decision on the BAR
exam case binding on other testing companies?  If I did succeed in being
able to take the exam on the computer with a screen reader, would the exam
be accessible?  I look forward to your responses.  I'm getting pretty damn
fed up with the belief that a human reader is providing equal access.

On the other hand, there is part of me that just wants to take the exam and
get it over with...

--
Robert Spangler
Secretary, Miami Valley Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of
Ohio
Spangler.robert at gmail.com<mailto:Spangler.robert at gmail.com>