[NFBCS] Pearson VUE Testing Acomodations for the ISC2 Certified Information Systems Professional (CISSP) Exam

Mon Jan 22 18:00:12 UTC 2024

As somebody who has used several versions of Packet Tracer, It is now
quite accessible. Night and day from what is was a few years ago.

Best regards,
Wendy Walker

On 1/21/24, b.schulz--- via NFBCS <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm sorry for your accessibility roadblock.
> I raised these issues back at the 2018 convention and this division turned a
> blind eye to the problems with cisco packet tracer and exams from certiport
> and Microsoft so what do you expect from the nfb?
> Bryan
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Beth Fogle-Hatch via
> NFBCS
> Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2024 2:04 PM
> To: Harry Staley via NFBCS <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Beth Fogle-Hatch <beth.chocolategeek at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NFBCS] Pearson VUE Testing Acomodations for the ISC2 Certified
> Information Systems Professional (CISSP) Exam
>
> Hello Harry,, all,
>
>
> Harry, I'm sorry for the experience you had with Pearson Vue. I had a
> similar experience back in 2015, so I'm disappointed and discouraged to hear
> about yours. I asked Pearson Vue to allow me to use JAWS to take the
> CISSP(Certified Information Systems Security  Program) exam in 2015.
> I believe the test measured my computer experience and knowledge in many
> areas and therefore, I should have been able to take the test using a
> computer ans assistive technology. I exchanged many letters with ISSC2 (the
> certifying body) and Pearson Vue, (testing provider.) Each blamed the other
> for the difficulty I had with arranging accommodations, getting an
> accessible test with JAWS, and taking the test. Although human readers are a
> valuable and efficient means of accommodation, I did not want to use double
> time (at that time it could have been up to 12 hours because in 2015 sighted
> people were given six hours to take the
> 250 question test) the computer would be quicker and more efficient for me.
>
>
> Consequently, after much discussion and negotiation, a PDF version of the
> CISSP test was produced for my use and I took the test with a proctor in the
> room with me. The test contained static answers, meaning they did not change
> based on the previous answers I provided. I was told the "dynamic" nature of
> this test, and the inaccessible Pearson Vue test was why I couldn't take the
> same test as my sighted peers.
>
>
> The problem was made worse when I learned I did not pass the test in my
> opinion due to mislabeled choice answers. For example,the second check box
> should read the answer and then "2 out of five" to show how many choices
> were available while reading each choice for a particular question. Instead,
> though I knew I was on the second question, the description would say "three
> out of five." Hence, it was difficult to know if I was choosing the second
> or third answer.
>
>
> I wrote Pearson Vue and ISSC2 again and explained my problems with the check
> boxes and was told they hired an accessibility expert to make this file. If
> I did not pass the test due to my lack of study or knowledge, that's on me,
> but the test was not accessible due to its errors.
>
>
> I approached the NFB for support, and although the staff understood my
> stress and frustration, they decided not to take my case. Now that there are
> many of us doing these certification exams, I hope we will fight this now as
> it is imperative blind people have the same opportunities as our sighted
> colleagues do to  take and pass these high stakes certification exams as
> they are required for our career advancement.
>
> Best
>
>
> BethISSC2  1/20/2024 1:24 PM, Harry Staley via NFBCS wrote:
>
>> BLUF:
>> Pearson VUE IMHO does not provide equal access for people with
>> disabilities.
>>
>> SITUATION:
>> The CISSP exam is a professional Cybersecurity exam that costs $750.00
>> every time you sit for the exam regardless of your passing status. Also
>> not that only %20 of test takers pass the exam on their first try. The
>> exam is a 125 to 175 Computer Adaptive Exam (CAT) where the answers you
>> give early on in the exam determine what questions you get further on in
>> the exam and an algorithm is used to determine whether giving you more
>> questions would help the algorithm determine your pass or failure on the
>> exam.
>>
>> ACCOMMODATION REQUEST AND SCHEDULING:
>> After several months of study and preparation I requested reasonable
>> accommodations in the form of extended time and the use of large white
>> board markers, and a reader on the exam. I was not told that I needed to
>> provide anything for the exam in fact I was told that I should not bring
>> anything into the testing area unless explicitly instructed to.
>>
>> ISC2 and Pearson approved the accommodations.
>>
>> I scheduled my exam in early November requesting a date in December and
>> was told that I would need to wait 3-5 days for Pearson to contact me to
>> offer me an available date that was convenient for them. I was contacted 5
>> days later and was offered a date that was in less than 10 days from that
>> date. I asked for a different date possibly in January. I was contacted
>> the following week and was given a January 8th exam date and I accepted
>> the appointment.
>>
>> This process is just quite simply a bad process and is not conducive to
>> those who are working professionals in the cybersecurity field.
>>
>> EXAM DAY:
>> I arrived at the testing center 45 minutes prior to my exam start time. I
>> got checked in for my exam and was told that I was to provide the large
>> white board markers for the exam and I would forfeit my exam time if I
>> left the center to go purchase the item and came back due to the extended
>> time going past the hours of operation for the center. The center
>> attendant had numerous of these pens on her desk asking about them she
>> reiterated that I needed to provide them for the exam.
>>
>> I was able to phone my wife and she bought some pens from the store and
>> brought them to me. I got started on the exam and the reader was reading
>> the Non-Disclosure Agreement prior to starting the exam and the exams
>> suddenly stopped letting us know that we did not agree to the NDA in the
>> allotted time limit.
>>
>> The software did not show a timer nor was there a pop up notifying myself
>> or the reader that we had a time limit to read and accept the NDA. The
>> exam administrator escorted me and the reader out of the testing area
>> stating that she could not reset the exam and that I would need to contact
>> Pearson and ISC2 support.
>>
>> I have contacted Pearson VUE and they have denied me the ability to
>> reschedule the exam without providing a new voucher or paying for the exam
>> again. I contacted ISC2 and gave them the situation and the promptly
>> provided me with a new exam voucher so that I can take the exam.
>>
>> I have rescheduled the exam and am waiting to hear back as to when it is
>> convenient for Pearson VUE to allow me to test.
>>
>> I would hope that the NFB would take up this cause because there are lots
>> of high stakes testing situations that are minimally required for us as
>> Blind people advance in our careers as technologists.
>>
>> Harry Staley
>> (330) 718-1876
>> Hstaley at nfbtx.org
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>
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