[nfbcs] A+ Certification

Nancy Coffman nancy.l.coffman at gmail.com
Mon May 1 12:18:40 UTC 2017 

I think a practice run before any high-stakes test is a good idea. You can teach the reader how you want them to work. It helps when they know what you want, and it helps when you know how they prefer to work. I still also think it helps to verify that they know enough of the subject matter to read it. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 1, 2017, at 2:55 AM, Christopher Chaltain via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Well, that's great. Although I don't have experience with this exam, my experience with other exams and other testing centers is that the knowledge of the reader and scribe, both regarding the subject matter and the skills needed to be a good reader and scribe, can vary quite a bit. I'm glad to hear that isn't the case with this exam and the testing centers where it's administered.
> 
>> On 30/04/17 22:53, Bryan Schulz via nfbcs wrote:
>> Hi,
>> 
>> The a+ exams tell an employer you generally know what you're doing in the
>> computing field.
>> The testing company will not be ignorant and provide someone who knows
>> nothing about computers!
>> If you are prepared, a blind test taker can complete the exams without extra
>> time while using the reader!
>> Bryan
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Christopher
>> Chaltain via nfbcs
>> Sent: Sunday, April 30, 2017 8:47 PM
>> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
>> Cc: Christopher Chaltain
>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] A+ Certification
>> 
>> I'm not sure about the exams we're talking about here, but I don't find
>> that a reader and a scribe are as efficient as a sighted person reading
>> and taking an exam or even as efficient as a blind person using a screen
>> reader and an accessible exam. Explaining formatting, rereading answers,
>> dictating answers and waiting for them to be recorded, and so on, all
>> takes a bit more time then a sighted person takes when taking a test.
>> This is even more true if the reader isn't familiar with the material.
>> 
>>> On 30/04/17 19:05, Bryan Schulz via nfbcs wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>> 
>>> There is no need for this paranoia!
>>> The person reads the question exactly as it appears on the screen.
>>> If you know the topics, the person can finish the exams without extra
>> time!
>>> Bryan
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nancy Coffman
>> via
>>> nfbcs
>>> Sent: Sunday, April 30, 2017 4:57 PM
>>> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
>>> Cc: Nancy Coffman
>>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] A+ Certification
>>> 
>>> Hello
>>> 
>>> I would definitely ask for the opportunity to practice with the reader
>> they
>>> have chosen. I would emphasize that I need to figure out how best to
>>> communicate with that reader, so that my answers and their way of asking
>> the
>>> questions is understood.
>>> 
>>> Nancy Coffman
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>>> On Apr 29, 2017, at 12:30 PM, David Andrews via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> You are right that this is a generational thing, to a great extent. Those
>>> of us who are older came of age using readers. It was often the only
>>> solution we had.
>>>> 
>>>> As others have pointed out, using a reader can be a viable solution, and
>>> with a good reader, and a user who is comfortable utilizing that reader,
>> it
>>> can be as quick, or quicker than a screen reader.
>>>> 
>>>> Access has come a long way, there are often multiple approaches to
>>> something.  Younger people have gotten used to doing stuff on their own,
>>> which is good.  However, there will be occasions when other alternatives
>> may
>>> need to be considered, or used.
>>>> 
>>>> I would urge younger people to learn to use all tools available to them,
>>> and be flexible in their approach.
>>>> 
>>>> Dave
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> As At 02:38 PM 4/27/2017, you wrote:
>>>>> There are many reasons why a human reader is not the same as using a
>>> screen
>>>>> reader.  If you need to review a question multiple times, who feels
>>>>> comfortable asking a reader to do this?  Plus, a screen reader is much
>>>>> faster.  How is someone supposed to pass an exam with two minutes per
>>>>> question with a human reader?  Maybe I'm just being a product of my
>>>>> generation and I have different expectations for accommodations than all
>>> of
>>>>> you who got through college with human readers.  I admire you for this,
>>> but
>>>>> technology is such now that I should not have to accept this any more as
>>> a
>>>>> solution.  And I won't.
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jim Barbour
>>> via
>>>>> nfbcs
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2017 3:29 PM
>>>>> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Cc: Jim Barbour <jbar at barcore.com>; Bryan Schulz
>> <b.schulz at sbcglobal.net>
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] A+ Certification
>>>>> 
>>>>> Who supplies the reader? I went through college for my  computer science
>>>>> degree using nothing but human readers. Why is A human reader not equal
>>>>> access The exam?
>>>>> 
>>>>> Jim
>>>>> 
>>>>> Written While on the Move
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Apr 27, 2017, at 11:46 AM, Bryan Schulz via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I explained it before and you still don't understand what a time limit
>>> is.
>>>>>> Even with being allowed double time, you won't be able to complete
>>>>>> both exams because of the interface even if allowed to install jaws
>>>>>> which isn't an option.
>>>>>> Depending on how much you study, both exams can be passed with only
>>>>>> normal time and a reader.
>>>>>> What type of jobs do you hope to apply for?
>>>>>> Obtaining a+ didn't help one bit to obtain a help desk position.
>>>>>> Bryan
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> -----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
>>>> 
>>>> 
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>>> 
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/nancy.l.coffman%40gmail.c
>>> om
>>> 
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>> 
> 
> -- 
> Christopher (CJ)
> chaltain at Gmail
> 
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