[blindkid] Gifted testing

[Arielle Silverman]

Hi Laurie,
I wonder if you can take a look at the test questions first before
deciding whether or not to sign the exemption? In my experience, often
what a sighted teacher claims is "very visual" is still accessible to
a blind student when transcribed into Braille. I think you should at
least be able to look at the test before you decide. Even if some of
the problems are impossible to transcribe into Braille, why not let
her take the test anyway? Even if she doesn't qualify, you would still
leave that door open for her to test again later when her Braille
knowledge is improved and, ideally, when you can get the test in an
accessible format. Also, would she be allowed to have the test read to
her and taken orally or is that considered "altering" the test too
much?
Arielle

On 2/1/12, L <lburns24 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
> So my 5 year old is in a regular kindergarten class.  The SCOPE program
> (gifted) has been coming into the classroom and working with the students
> and hannah's VI teacher and aide have adapted all materials for her.  Well,
> now they will be testing ALL kindergarten students for the program.  The
> test is not allowed to be altered in any way and they have no version for
> blind students/low vision.  I was told it is a very visual test.  The
> principal has stated that Hannah is not to take this test at all and they
> want me to sign an addendum to exempt her from this test.  This is not
> necessarily an issue I really want to fight right now, because I don't think
> Hannah will qualify at this time for gifted services.  BUT I feel that it is
> completely unfair that they just want to exempt her from the test when all
> the other students are taking it.  I also don't want to say okay and exempt
> maybe this year and next year while she is still learning all her
>  braille, but what if in the future I feel like she should take it and they
> say "well you always exempted her before..."  Any thoughts?  Thank you!
> Laurie Wages (Hannah's mom)
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