How Much Do Educators Know About Accessibility Features and Accommodations?

• In Event: Educator Understandings of Accesssibility: Inclusion and Accommodation in Educational Assessment SIG

Abstract

Because of a recent shift in how policy makers view accessibility, accessibility features are available to more students than ever before. However, some educators are unsure how to use new accessibility features on assessments and during instruction to improve educational outcomes for their students. This session explores the results of a survey about accessibility features that over 2,000 educators completed. Despite most respondents claiming that they felt confident making decisions about accessibility features, the results show that a large number of educators are not satisfied with the academic and professional training that they have received on the topic. After outlining the results of the survey, the presenters will discuss implications for future research and professional development related to accessibility features.

Authors

• Martha L. Thurlow, University of Minnesota

• Erik David Larson, National Center on Educational Outcomes

• Sheryl S. Lazarus, University of Minnesota

• Vitaliy Shyyan, Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, UCLA

• Laurene L. Christensen, Wisconsin Center for Education Research