The BCS is breaking new ground in helping people with
disabilities take IT qualifications, and in certifying the external
agencies that provide assistance to these users.
Over the past three years, the society has built up a wide
network of external agencies that are helping to make training
materials and tests for the European computer driving licence
(ECDL) end-user qualification more accessible.
The BCS has introduced a quality mark to award to ECDL automated
test providers that achieve certain standards of accessibility for
people with disabilities.
An automated test provider can be awarded up to a maximum of
three stars if they meet criteria for supporting people with
impaired vision. For example, the BCS looks at whether they
provide:
- Additional time to complete the test
- A readability score for the test material
- Compatibility with a screen reader package
“We believe that this quality mark is a unique innovation by an
awarding body in the UK,” said Derek Mills, technical customer
support adviser in the BCS’s ECDL business unit.
The quality mark has been welcomed by automated test providers.
One of them is already going through the evaluation process and is
close to achieving the maximum three stars, said the BCS.
The society is planning to expand the initiative to include a
fourth star, which would denote a language-modified approach for
the deaf and hard of hearing.
The society commissioned the Royal National College for the
Blind to produce papers in large print, audio and Braille formats
for the manual test questions. These can be ordered online at no
additional cost to the test centre.
The BCS Qualifications Quality Mark can also be awarded to other
organisations that support accessibility initiatives. They will be
judged on their technical support, online training materials, and
improving the accessibility of the manual test materials. Awards
have already been made in each of the three categories and the BCS
expects more awards to be made in the near future.
The BCS said it is committed to social inclusivity with regards
to its qualifications. It has approached this matter on three
fronts: training materials, testing and tutor training.
Although it already works in partnership with a large number of
agencies, the BCS is keen to interact with other IT professionals
and organisations with expertise in disability matters. It can be
contacted via www.bcs.org.
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