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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">These issues will continue to be raised as we enter the era in which an increasing number of entities implement online testing. Here in Louisiana, we are part of the PARCC Consortium as opposed to Smarter Balanced.
The tests which have been given online are provided in hardcopy Braille for our blind students. Simply put, tactile graphics cannot be rendered using refreshable Braille displays—nor can textual materials which may need to be formatted spatially to convey
effect (e.g., lines of poetry spaced well apart to convey theme or meaning). <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">I don’t have any answers for the California quandary except to say that a complaint should certainly be lodged about the lack of timely accessibility. Sadly, as fewer and fewer students are given comprehensive
Braille instruction and thus become Braille readers, the fight for accessibility for those few who still use Braille as a primary literacy medium may be waged by a dwindling base of support. But that is why it is so important that we remain active in the Federation
and that we be ever vigilant and supportive of each other.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Eric Guillory, Director of Youth Services<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Louisiana Center for the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">101 South Trenton Street<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Ruston, LA 71270<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Voice: 800-234-4166 (extension 3009)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Fax: 318-251-0109<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">Skype: brllovingdad<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">“Together, we are changing what it means to be blind.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> Pibe-division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>DrV<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 21, 2014 3:21 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> braille-n-teach@mlist.cde.ca.gov; Professionals in Blindness Education Division List<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Pibe-division] Smarter Balanced testing (SBAC)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue">Dear Educators,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue">My son’s high school/district decided to do a ‘pilot test run’ of the new Smarter Balanced testing (SBAC) for
11th graders only this year, as the STAR testing has been phased out. The testing is scheduled for tomorrow.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue">I just received an email that though a braille version was requested, the materials have not been received
& apparently the “accessibility kinks” haven’t been worked out yet.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue">I have requested elaboration from the district, but haven’t heard back yet.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue">It would seem like the testing should be accessible.
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue">Can anyone provide some guidance/insights into what to do on a practical level & how this is being addressed
on state/national level from other blind students?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue">Who is addressing the accessibility issues in CA/nationally?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue">Sincerely,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue">Eric</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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