Information About Accommodations
EQAO relies on educators to administer the assessments in accordance with EQAO guidelines and to ensure the security and validity of the assessments. Students with special education needs or a special consideration outlined in this user guide are eligible for permitted accommodations.
All directions relating to accommodations outlined in this user guide must be adhered to whether the student is taking the assessment in an electronic format or with an alternative version. Instructional materials that facilitate responses to questions cannot be used.
Role of the School Administrator for Accommodations
The school administrator is responsible for:
- adhering to the Professional Responsibilities;
- making decisions about student participation;
- making decisions about all required student accommodations;
- ensuring that all accommodations are provided;
- documenting the relevant information in the e-assessment platform according to the instructions in this user guide; and,
- sending an information letter to parents or guardians outlining approved accommodations.
Decisions about accommodations must be made:
- based on the directions outlined in this user guide and according to the student’s IEP;
- so that they are consistent with regular classroom practice, including assessments;
- prior to the test;
- for each student individually; and,
- in consultation with the student and parents or guardians and with the appropriate teaching staff.
Students with Special Education Needs
Students with special education needs are eligible for accommodations. These accommodations should be listed in their Individual Education Plan (IEP) and used for regular classroom activities, including all forms of assessment. These accommodations must be documented in the e-assessment system by the school administrator under the Accommodations tab.
Refer to the section Support for Students During the OSSLT for information regarding supports for all students.
For information on how to assign an accommodation to a student, see the section Viewing and Managing Additional Accommodations for Students.
Special Considerations of Accommodations for Students
Permitted accommodations can be provided to students who are unable to participate in the assessment without these accommodations, due to special considerations. School administrators must indicate applicable special considerations in the student information under the Accommodations tab in the e-assessment system.
Special considerations include the following:
- Additional Accommodations: The student has an IEP but requires an accommodation not described in the IEP. These additional accommodations have been approved by the appropriate supervisory officer.
- Temporary or Unique Circumstance: The student does not have an IEP and the school administrator has granted permission for accommodations due to the student’s temporary or unique circumstance that hinders the student from completing the assessment online.
- New to School: The student does not have an IEP, due to a recent transfer into the school from another jurisdiction and has received the appropriate supervisory officer’s permission for accommodations. There is documentation to show that accommodations are necessary.
Permitted Accommodations
For all accommodations, the directions outlined in this user guide must be adhered to. No instructional materials that facilitate responses to questions can be used.
Accommodations are permitted for students who:
- have an IEP, which outlines accommodations that are necessary for and consistent with regular classroom practices; and,
- receive these accommodations for all forms of assessment; or,
- have a special consideration as outlined in this user guide.
The following accommodations are permitted:
- Extended periodic supervised breaks
- Sign language or an oral interpreter
- Verbatim scribing of responses (refer to the Guidelines for Scribes section)
- Alternative version of the test, which contains single-select and open-response questions only and is available in multiple formats (refer to Formats of the Alternative Version of the OSSLT):
- Printable PDF (regular or large print)
- Unified English Braille (contracted and uncontracted)
- American Sign Language (ASL) video
- Additional assistive technology
To select a Braille format of the assessment follow the steps in Viewing and Managing Additional Accommodations for Students.
Formats of the Alternative Version of the OSSLT
The alternative version of the assessment is available for students with special education needs or a special consideration. The alternative version of the OSSLT contains single-select and open response questions only.
If a student requires the alternative version of the test because their accommodations noted on their IEP or special consideration prevents them from accessing the online test, it must be requested by the school administrator in the e-assessment system under the Alternative Version Request tab.
The following formats of the alternative version are available in the following formats for the practice test and the OSSLT:
- Online alternative version of the assessment (for students who can only complete single-select questions)
- Printable PDF (regular or large print)
- Unified English Braille (contracted and uncontracted)
- American Sign Language (ASL) video
There are two ways for students using the alternative version to access the audio format:
- by using the audio directly in the e-assessment platform (build-in-text-to-speech); or,
- by requesting separate audio MP3 files.
All responses for students using the alternative version of the assessment must be entered into the online assessment, either by the student or transcribed into their online assessment according to the guidelines.
EQAO requires between five and seven business days to process a request for Braille, and three business days to process a request for all other formats.
Once a school requests the alternative version of the test, in one of the available formats, the alternative version of the practice test will be provided to schools in the same format.
For guidelines and important information about requesting the alternative version refer to Requesting an Alternative Version of the OSSLT.
Accessibility and Accommodation Software
All students writing the OSSLT have access to built-in accessibility tools such as a text-to-speech reader and a text zoom tool.
Additional assistive technology software is available to students with special education needs or a special consideration. Schools are encouraged to use the chosen assistive technology during the online practice test to ensure the technology functions appropriately for the student.
The following is a list of additional assistive technology that is supported by the e-assessment platform and must be selected in the e-assessment system by the school administrator:
- the Read&Write for Google Chrome extension
- Kurzweil: the downloadable version
- Kurzweil: the extensions for Firefox and Chrome
- NVDA
- VoiceOver
- Read Aloud
- Job Action with Speech (JAWS)
- ChromeVox
- Natural Reader
Note: Variations in the pronunciation or inflection of words and phrases may occur due to the variety of software, speech engines and computer systems. Revisions may be made by the school to rectify such variations, providing that no change is made to any content.
If a student requires one or more of these assistive technologies, or an assistive technology that is not listed here, please contact your school board IT representative.
If a student is using any of the assistive technologies described above, they may also require the alternative version of the test. A school administrator must indicate in the e-assessment system that the student has an accommodation and then request the appropriate format of the alternative version of the OSSLT.
Once approved by EQAO, the alternative version will be assigned to the student in the e-assessment platform and a link to the matching printable PDF if required will be sent to the school administrator through the Message Centre. Student responses to this alternative version must be transcribed into the online platform.
If the student requires other assistive technology, follow the steps in Viewing and Managing Additional Accommodations for Students.
Using Read&Write for Google Chrome
Students who have Read&Write noted in their IEP or special consideration may use this assistive technology to complete the OSSLT.
Read&Write for Google Chrome is supported by the e-assessment platform. The OSSLT includes various question formats (drag and drop, drop-down menu, checklist, selected response). As these questions are more interactive than those in a standard document or on a webpage, students will need to use the Read&Write Hover Speech tool to access them.
The e-assessment platform has a built-in text-to-speech tool that is designed to work with the assessment platform. If a student is less proficient with the Read&Write Hover Speech tool, the built-in text-to-speech tool may be an alternative way to meet the student’s needs.
Below are some videos that demonstrate how to use this assistive technology with the e-assessment platform.
Using JAWS
Students who require JAWS may use this assistive technology to complete the OSSLT.
JAWS is supported by the e-assessment platform.
Below are some videos that demonstrate how to use this assistive technology with the e-assessment platform.
Using the American Sign Language Video Format
The alternative version of the OSSLT is available in the ASL video format. If a student requires this format, the school administrator must indicate in the e-assessment system that the student has an accommodation and then request the format of the alternative version. EQAO requires at least one week to process an order for the ASL video format. A link will be sent to schools once the request has been processed.
Guidelines for Scribes
Students are permitted to work with a scribe if they have this accommodation in their IEP or have a special consideration. Scribes must be adults and must not be relatives of the students they are assisting. Scribes should work only with students who have been identified as receiving a scribing accommodation, and they should not scribe for any other students. School administrators are responsible to review the guidelines with individuals who will be acting as scribes.
Scribes must follow the guidelines below:
- Record the student’s responses by transcribing exactly what the student dictates into the e-assessment platform.
- Transcribe the student’s responses for the open response questions if the student has used the printable PDF alternative version and cannot input their own responses into the online platform.
- Input answers to the selected-response questions into the e-assessment platform as directed by the student.
- Assume each sentence begins with a capital and ends with a period.
- Read the dictation back to the student if requested.
- Prompt the student’s attention back to the test. Prompts can include a tap on the desk or a verbal signal (e.g., a word or phrase) to draw the student’s attention back to the test.
- Show the student the transcription after the student has finished responding to a question and ask if any corrections are necessary. Make corrections according to the student’s directions.
Scribes must avoid the following:
- Reviewing the test prior to administration.
- Editing or altering the student’s dictation in any way, unless directed by the student.
- Correcting the student’s responses, unless directed by the student.
- Prompting in order to draw the student’s attention to a specific part of the test. Prompts must not include clarification, explanation or translation of any part of the test.
- Initiating the use of test-taking strategies.
- Showing any reaction to the student’s responses.
- Engaging in incidental conversation with the student or others.
Transcribing Student Responses into the E-Assessment Platform
If a student uses the alternative version of the OSSLT in any of the available formats, all student responses (select-responses and open-responses) must be entered directly into the e-assessment platform either by the student, the teacher or by the scribe.
If a scribe is unable to enter the student’s dictation directly into the e-assessment platform during the active assessment session, the scribe must enter it into the platform after the student has completed the assessment session. The student’s teacher can login to the platform using the student’s login information and allow the scribe to type in the student’s response. It is important to transcribe exactly what the student has identified as their response.
Note: Once the student’s answers for both Session A and Session B of the OSSLT have been transcribed into the e-assessment platform and successfully submitted, all printed and electronic copies of the assessment must be kept secure and must be accounted for at all times. After the Individual Student Reports are made available to the school administrator, all the printed and electronic copies of the assessment must be shredded and/or deleted.