[acb-hsp] Clinical testing problem

Donna Rose wild-rose at sbcglobal.net
Thu May 19 02:08:25 GMT 2011 

Hi Darian,

I took the test in 2008.  They provided the practice test to me in a booklet form with an MS Word copy, but I had to pay for it.  But it wasn't $75.  I took it and marked my answers in braille and then did my score myself with the answers at the end.  That test was extremely helpful because it pointed out to me which areas I needed to study up on and which areas of the test I knew well.  Here in Michigan we were only recently licensed, so I have been out of school since 1993 and needed to refresh myself a little prior to the test.  I ordered some basic social work clinical textbooks and read those sections where I thought I had the most weaknesses.  

I found the test to be sort of subjecctive.  I would urge you to review the social work code of ethics prior to taking the practice exam.  My test had a lot of questions about children, a topic which was very foreign to me, since I only did an internship with kids back in 1990.  

The day of the test I had a reader at my testing site to mark my answers.  The testing company provided the site with a laptop computer loaded with JAWS and an MS Word copy of the exam which I would read and then tell the reader to mark the appropriate answer.  This was better than having the test read to me because I could reread, rather quickly, anything about the question I needed reread without having to ask.

These testing companies are all about money.  Look, I brought these same issues up to them in 08 and four years later they still aren't solved.  

I wound up scoring 76, which is one point over passing.  I was a little shocked by this.  I thought I would do much better,    since I feel I know my profession pretty well.  It turns out that most people only score in the 70s, which I think points out a problem with the test itself. In my opinion the test questions often had mor than one good or right answer, but the trick is not to add anything into the scenario that wasn't included in the question when answering them.  It was hard, but just do your best.

Let me know if you have any other questions.








Go Bravely,
Donna Rose, LMSW

Shiny Paper Is the Enemy!
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Darian Slayton Fleming 
  To: 'Discussion list for ACB human service professionals' 
  Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 4:43 PM
  Subject: Re: [acb-hsp] Clinical testing problem


  Thanks for
  your comments, Jennifer.

  I don’t know how the ASWB knows the practice exam is not accessible.  They didn’t explain how they know thiis, and I wondered the same thing.  Perhaps they have had to deal with this question on other occasions.

  When I called the candidate registration center to order it they said it was not accessible.  I talked with two separate people.

  Then I talked with Tanya Carpenter, the person who arranges accommodations for the testing sites.  She said she doesn’t handle accommodations regarding their web site.

  I spoke with my contact at the Oregon Board of Clinical Social Workers, and she referred me back to Tanya Carpenter.

  I am unwilling to spend $75 to find out the practice exam is not accessible.  I am barely making ends meet at this point and don’t want the hassle of trying to get my money back if the practice exam is truly not accessible.

  I have started my resolution process by inquiring on this list about others’ experiences with this issue.  I have also emailed Eric Bridges and spokekn  to a couple of people locally.

  I appreciate your ideas.  I will contact the NASW.

  I have received some other comments which I will also follow-up on.

  I’ll keep you all posted.

  Thanks for your support.  This is a perfect example of how this list, and the ACB-HSP can function to assist professionals in the human service professionals who are blind.

  Darian
  From: Jennifer Harnish 
  Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 12:02 PM
  To: 'Discussion list for ACB human service professionals' 
  Subject: Re: [acb-hsp] Clinical testing problem

      You say two different things that I  wanted to clarify. First you stated that the exam is not accessible by your screen reader but then you stated that they do not have the means to test the accessibility of the exam . So I  am wondering how you or they know for sure that the exam is not accessible? I  ask this because one possible solution would be for them to hire the developer of your screen reader to test the accessibility of the exam in order to confirm its accessibility or not. Their concern may be that the content needs to be kept secure like any testing material, but if they hire the independent source, would this not be a  reasonable first step? 

  I  have also been led to understand that the NASW is supportive of therapists with disabilities. Perhaps they can refer you to an LICSW who has taken this exam recently using a  screen reader if you cannot find someone on this list or thru other contacts. 
  What a  frustrating place to find yourself in after working so hard to get to this final step in the process. Especially if you have studied for this exam, time is certainly critical here.
  I  will ask around my area about LICSW's who may have dealt with this issue.
  Jennifer Harnish


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  From: acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org [mailto:acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of Darian Slayton Fleming
  Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 2:37 PM
  To: acb-hsp at acb.org
  Subject: [acb-hsp] Clinical testing problem


  Hi List,

  I am preparing to take the clinical exam to obtain my license as a clinical social worker (LCSW).

  I was approved to take the exam, and when I attempted to order the practice exam, which is administered on line at the Associated Social Work Boards’ web site (aswb.com), they told me the practice exam is not accessible with screen readers.  It costs $75 to purchase; then you get a user name and password, take the exam and it is scored on line.

  They have told me it is not accessible with screen readers.  They say they don’t have the means on site to test the exam with screen readers.  When I explained that I thought their IT people needed to resolve this issue, they told me there were other testing products on the market that I could purchase, I asked them to recommend one or two.  I was told that they could not endorse products that were not their own.  I suggested that I thought it was a reasonable accommodation that they should be able to recommend other products to me if they could not accommodate me with their products.  They also informed me that they do offer accommodations such as providing readers and extra time at their testing sites.  I believe they also have to make their practice exam accessible.  If they claim undue hardship, it seems to me they should have to recommend other products that are accessible.

  They then instructed me to send them an email stating these points.

  Through my investigation I have learnd that this is a Title III issue and that the ASWB must comply with web site accessibility.  Even though parts of the web site are accessible, so should be the practice exam process on their web site.

  I am wondering, has anyone on this list or someone you know run into this issue?  If yes, how did, or did you resolve the issue?  Were you able to take a practice exam as part of your study process?

  Did you file a complaint with the DOJ?  If so, what is the status of your complaint?

  Do you know of any other practiceexam products that are accessible?

  I am copying my message ehre to my clinical supervisor.  I am also sending a summary of this message to the person at the ASWB who asked for it.  Thanks for any information you might share with me.

  Darian Slayton Fleming
  ACB-HSP President
  darehart56 at hotmail.com

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