[nfbcs] A+ Certification

Sat Apr 29 03:36:13 UTC 2017

I agree with your assessment that the test could be rewritten to be more blind people friendly. However, welcome to the real world. My apologies to the inclusive designers among us,  but The world is not, and will likely never be, designed with accessibility in mind. 

Jim

Written While on the Move

> On Apr 28, 2017, at 8:24 PM, Robert Spangler via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I'll just take the exam.  But my opinion is that there should be a version
> of the exam where I can demonstrate how to reach various parts of the
> operating system just by doing it on the computer.  The point is that the
> exam is designed with the visual test taker in mind, not the non visual test
> taker.  The questions just need to be reworked and they should be.
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bryan Schulz via
> nfbcs
> Sent: Friday, April 28, 2017 5:38 PM
> To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Bryan Schulz <b.schulz at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] A+ Certification
> 
> Hi,
> 
> You/we are assuming that the interface is designed well with h tags, radio
> buttons, etc.
> Assuming that it is most likely specialized with no thought about
> accessibility and especially if it is similar to the ms office exams, the
> test taker will not even get past the first question because the interface
> is not true windows. The ms word exam interface was a simulated session of
> word with your work area at the top 2/3 and the question and answer choices
> were at the lower 1/3 of the screen and there was no way to switch between
> the sections. A reader had to read the task/question then hit next while I
> performed the task.
> 
> Robert, you will not even get past the first question as you have to look at
> pictures of motherboard components and pick the correct name from four
> choices so tell me how jaws will rescue you then!
> Bryan
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Alyssa Gourley
> via nfbcs
> Sent: Friday, April 28, 2017 12:55 PM
> To: nfbcs at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Alyssa Gourley
> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] A+ Certification
> 
> 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>
> 
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