Employment Testing of Persons with Diasabling Conditions - IPAC

Historically, we have used a pragmatic approach to test accommodations—
what changes in media and question-types could be used to fairly measure a
required job-related ability of an applicant with specific disabilities? It
was essentially a construct validity approach. Tliis was done for two reasons;
first, most of our tests are ability tests which could be easily modified
using a construct approach, and second, we simply did not have enough
applicants with any one disability for a particular group of jobs to carry out
a criterion-related validity study.
In 1973, we began an active research program to modify our tests for the
disabled. Early on, we recognized that some of our test modifications were
based on misconceptions concerning the disabled. For example, for many years,
we used figural classification and other spatial reasoning testa with blind
applicants in which the figures were embossed on a flat surface—our reasoning
was that blind applicants would have a keener sense of tactual perception.
The fact is that disabled applicants often have multiple disabilities and many
blind applicants have very poor tactual perception and spatial imagery.
However, if the proper reasoning tests could be developed to measure their
abilities, they could be hired and do the job. We quickly eliminated these
tactual tests from use and replaced them with other construct-based reasoning
tests. Dr. Nester, who heads up this test modification program, discussed
this issue in her section.
We also have actively worked with other test publishers, with the
American Psychological Association, and with various regulatory agencies on
the national level to encourage test modifications for the disabled.
Dr. Nester's paper shows that modified tests do have substantial
reliability and validity. Tlie question she addressed is very pertinent: "How
would the test's reliability and validity be affected if it were given without
accommodation to disabled persons?" As she points out, a paper-and-pencil test
given without accommodations to a blind person would have no validity
whatsoever. As she has clearly stated, the accommodations we have made have
been successful from a validity standpoint. We make these modifications even
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