Employment Testing of Persons with Diasabling Conditions - IPAC

- PREFACE -
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This monograph is based on a symposium presented at both the 1987 IPMAAC
Conference and the 1987 IPMA International Conference. The participants were:
Lome Daley - Human Services Directorate, Canadian House of Conmons
Michael Dollard - New York State Department of Civil Service
John Kraft - United States Office of Personnel Management
Mary Anne Nester - United States Office of Personnel Management
Robert Schneider - Pennsyli-ania State Civil Service Commission
The various parts of this monograph were originally developed independently of
one another, and still retain some of that character. While the authors share
a common goal, their experiences are diverse, and their opinions are not
necessarily unanimous. We not only leave it to the reader to reconcile any
differences, but invite hjjn or her to enter the dialogue and contribute to the
resolution of the difficult problem of employment equity for the disabled.
The first section of the monograph is devoted to Dr. Nester's review of
research bearing on the acconmodation of tests and testing procedures for
disabled examinees. This research is fundamental to what follows, and we urge
your careful consideration of both the concepts and the data. Section Two
presents the experiences of two large eastern states and their programs of
accommodated testing. Sections Three and Four were originally written as
commentary on the material presented here in Sections One and Two, and reflect
the perspectives of the public sector manager and of the disabled coranunity.
We have included as an Appendix what we have somewhat grandly called "Model
Guidelines for Accommodated Testing of the Disabled." These "Guidelines"
provide a proposed policy statement on accommodated testing, and specific
accommodation recommendations for a number of disabling conditions. These
"Guidelines" were originally developed by the New York State Department of
Civil Service and subsequently expanded and refined by the Pennsylvania State
Civil Service Commission. Versions of the "Guidelines" currently undergird the
programs in those states; they are offered as a guide to how you might
proceed, not to how you should proceed.