Open Conference Systems, ITC 2016 Conference

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PAPER: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a Framework for Assessment of Individuals with Disabilities Internationally
Carina McCormick, Kurt F. Geisinger

Building: Pinnacle
Room: 3F-Port of San Francisco
Date: 2016-07-02 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Last modified: 2016-05-21

Abstract


Measurement literature has provided clear discussion of best practices for test accommodations and assessment of individuals with disabilities, but much of this work is linked to the United States or other specific countries. Countries vary in their legislation affecting individuals with disabilities, complicating assessment in multinational or cross cultural contexts, as well as assessment in countries lacking strong protections for individuals with disabilities. This presentation will describe principles that can improve the consistency, efficiency, and defensibly of procedures for making accommodations decisions and administering tests with accommodations in a way that is applicable internationally. Specifically, the presentation will expand upon a framework that was proposed in the forthcoming  ITC International Handbook of Testing and Assessment. This proposed framework illustrates how the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN-CRPD; UN, 2006) provides standards for assessment of individuals with disabilities globally. The UN-CRPD provides a common set of standards for making decisions about incorporating individuals with disabilities in a wide range of areas, several of which are applicable for assessment. It has been ratified by a majority of the world’s countries, with even more countries as signatories (United Nations, 2014). This set of principles can guide practice but has not yet been widely used explicitly for the purpose of informing assessment of individuals with disabilities. For example, it specifies that protections guaranteed to individuals with disabilities in employment extend to the selection process and any corresponding tests, including the provision of reasonable accommodations. The CRPD also describes the right of children and adults with disabilities to be given full access to high-quality education, including provision of reasonable accommodations. Educational assessment can be seen as one component of this overall directive. ITC could potentially draw from the UN-CRPD to draft guidelines for assessment of individuals with disabilities internationally.


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