Alternative Assessment Strategies for Students with a Disability

This information is available to download in a word document - Strategies for student with a disability.

Alternative assessment arrangements can be formally made through the service to enable students to meet course requirements. The Disability Support Service will supply Course Co-ordinators with an official report recommending a 'reasonable' alternative or adjustment to the measurement of competency if this is deemed necessary.

This is determined by:

	Reviewing medical documents and the nature of the disability
	Weighing these against the range of skill competencies required
	Negotiating with the student and teaching staff
	Maintaining the integrity of academic standards

Staff are encouraged to consider alternatives in the light of the assessment practices within their own courses.

		Common Assessment Related Difficulties
		If the Student Fails an Alternative Assessment
		Possible Forms of Assessment Variation
		Examples of Practical Strategies

Please feel free to contact our service for further information.

Common assessment related difficulties

	Inability to write using a pen
	Difficulty relating to others in group work/assignments
	Limited vocabulary and comprehension
	Medical conditions exacerbated due to anxiety
	Impaired concentration (eg medication)
	Lower endurance for writing and/or reduced writing speed
	Problems accessing information that is in written/print form
	Inability to express knowledge in written form
	Difficulties with numbers and numerical concept
	Inability to manipulate immediate environment (e.g. turn page, insert computer disks)
	Extreme examination-related stress
	Inability to communicate orally
	Reduced speech speed, or stuttering, or speech that is hard to understand

What if the student fails the alternative assessment?

It is possible that despite adjustments being made, the student with a disability may not pass an examination or assignment. Like any other student, this student may not have mastered the course material to the necessary standard, and this would mean that a fail grade was appropriate.

Possible forms of assessment variation

Method of assessment
Examples include:

	Assignments instead of examinations
	Short answer instead of multiple-choice examination
	Different styles of assessment with question and response modalities in the form of audio taped or videotaped material instead of written answers

Procedures for conducting the assessment:
Examples include:

	Additional time in exams, or extension of deadlines for assignments
	Permitted use of a dictionary or person to clarify terms
	A reader/scribe
	Use of a separate venue or re-sit of assessment at a later date without penalty

Examples of Practical Strategies

Oral presentation

	Replace with written assignments for students
	Presentation done by another student (if presented in pairs/groups)
	An Auslan interpreter may translate the presentation
	Presentation recorded onto an audio/video tape

Written Assignments

	Reduce word limit
	Replace with oral assignments for students
	Be flexible with deadlines and allow more time if necessary

Class participation

	Adjust attendance requirements
	Individual assignments may be more suitable than group work
	Allow for students being late due to mobility and access problems
	Students may have scribes and personal assistants

Written examinations

	Extra time, with rest breaks, especially if using a scribe
	If spelling and punctuation are related to the course objectives, discuss how this is to be evaluated
	Option to be assessed orally instead of written
	Permission to clarify the questions in simple English