Cara Cahalan-Laitusis, PhD - Senior Research Scientist, Educational Testing Service

Issues with Accessibility of Computer-Based Tests for Students with Disabilities (46 min.) LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. Identify the current technologies used by individuals with disabilities. 2. Describe current computer-based testing platforms integrate these technologies. 3. Discuss importance of making CBT accessible to individuals with disabilities. ABSTRACT: Dr. Calahan-Laitusis provides an introductory-level overview of accommodations used in Computer-Based Testing (CBT). Her introductory presentation outlines current assistive technologies used by individuals with disabilities, how CBT platforms integrate these technologies, and why it is important to make CBT accessible to individuals with disabilities. (LENGTH: 46 minutes) BIOGRAPHY: Cara Cahalan-Laitusis is a research scientist in the Center for Validity Research at Educational Testing Service in Princeton, NJ. She received a Ph.D. in school psychology from Fordham University. Prior to joining ETS Dr. Cahalan-Laitusis worked as a school psychologist and as a research consultant on USAID educational projects in Malawi and Ghana. Since coming to ETS in 1997, Dr. Cahalan-Laitusis has been involved in research on validity and fairness, including examining the impact of testing accommodations on test score validity, differential item functioning for students with disabilities and English language learners, gender differences in mathematical problem solving, and differential performance (by gender, race, and language groups) on paper-based and computer-based test formats. Currently, she is a project director and principal investigator on the Designing Accessible Reading Assessments project and the Technology Assisted Reading Assessment project, both of which are funded by the U.S. Department of Education.