Guide
How I receive accessible quizzes
Examples of how to share digital copies of accessible quizzes and tests with students who are blind or low vision.
When I was in high school, my instructors would provide copies of assignments and classroom materials using a shared folder system that was set up with Dropbox. With this system, I could download copies of instructional content, work on the assignment using my personal device and assistive technology, and then save the content to my personal folder and the shared folder for grading. This system worked well for day-to-day class work and assignments, but my instructors were worried about having me save copies of quizzes and tests to my personal device and sharing them with other students. To address this concern, my instructors and I used other alternatives to provide me with the accessible quizzes and tests I needed without giving me the option to view the content before or after class ended. Here is how I would receive accessible quizzes and tests in the classroom setting as a student with low vision and a print disability.
Typical workflow for accessing assignments
I normally access copies of assignments and other class materials by either downloading them from a shared folder or from the class website. From there, I can edit the files by opening them in a word processing application and either typing my answers or highlighting them. If I want to write on top of a document without editing it, I typically will import the content into Notability, where I can type answers in text boxes or draw/write on top of the page with my finger or a stylus. Once I finish an assignment, I save a finished copy to the shared folder that my instructors can access, upload it to the class website or share it as an email attachment with my instructor. Notability documents are saved as a PDF, while other files are typically saved in their original file format unless otherwise instructed.
Related links
- File Formats For Low Vision and Print Disabilities
- Notability and Low Vision
- Designing Accessible Documents With Microsoft Word
- How I Use Moodle With Low Vision
- How I Use Canvas With Low Vision
- How I Use Blackboard With Low Vision
Should I get a different test?
When it comes to receiving accessible copies of quizzes or tests, some of my instructors will create a specific test for me that has different questions from the other students, so if the test was “leaked” they would know it was my copy. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the test is easier or harder than the one provided to other students, but it may contain additional display settings like having questions printed in a single-column layout or having higher resolution copies of images. I’ve also had other instructors that gave me the same test as all of the other students, and reminded me that I was under the honor code to not share the test with anyone else.
As a student, I don’t have much control over which option my instructors choose, and I only know if I received a different test if someone tells me.
Related links
- Math Test Accommodations For Low Vision
- Remote Testing Accommodations For Low Vision
- Adapting Page Layouts: Math Problems and Low Vision
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
Share a password protected file
To prevent me from accessing content before or after the testing period, one option is to share a password protected file or create a password protected folder with the file inside, which can help prevent unauthorized access. This worked well if I was going to be taking an exam in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, but not if I was going to sideload the content into Notability or another software since I would not be able to import the document with password protection.
In high school, my instructors would type the password on my computer keyboard before starting the test/quiz, and didn’t tell me what it was. In college, some of my instructors would tell me the password right before the test began, and then change it again after I submitted everything.
Related links
- How To Create Secure And Easy To Remember Passwords
- How I Manage Dysgraphia In Online Classes
- Sideloading and Low Vision
Require sign-in for forms
I’ve had a few instructors use Microsoft Forms or Google Forms for tests and required students to sign in with their school account to access the form. Only one response was allowed per login, and I enlarged the questions with browser zoom, screen magnification or a simplified reading display like Immersive Reader (which is built into Microsoft Forms) or Reader Mode for Google. Everyone in the class also used Microsoft Forms or Google Forms, so the instructor did not have to enable any additional settings for me to access the content.
Related links
Enable guided access on iPad
If my instructors provided a document that was not password protected, either I or the proctor could import the file into Notability or another markup application to complete the assignment on my iPad. To prevent me from accessing other applications or features, the proctor would enable Guided Access, which is a setting on the iPad that allows a user to “freeze” their screen on a specific app. While Guided Access is enabled, the user can’t navigate away from the app they are using or interact with other settings until the time limit is over (if enabled) or a passcode unrelated to the iPad passcode is typed in. Guided access does not disable accessibility settings such as VoiceOver, large print or otherwise affect the display of the device or access to other accessories like the keyboard or Apple Pencil stylus.
Even if I am not taking a quiz or test directly on my iPad, I still might use Guided Access so I can access other applications I need for a test, like a calculator, formula sheet, copies of images or a textbook.
Related links
- How To Use Guided Access For Testing And Exams
- How I Use The Apple Pencil With Low Vision
- Five Accessible Calculator Apps For Low Vision
- How To Create An Accessible Formula Sheet
- How To Make iPad Accessible for Low Vision
Save the assignment on a USB flash drive
Instead of uploading the quiz or test to the shared folder, some instructors would save the document onto a USB flash drive and connect it to my computer for the testing period. The document was usually password protected, and I would save the finished document back on the flash drive and have the instructor verify that my answers had been saved correctly before leaving the classroom. I would take the quiz or test either on my personal laptop that I would bring to class or on a lab computer.
Alternatively, I have also had instructors email me copies of the test, and then have me immediately delete the email from my inbox and recycling bin after I downloaded the test and submitted it. However, it’s more common to get a test on a USB drive.
Related links
- Computer Lab Accommodations For Low Vision Students
- High School Laptops and Low Vision
- Why I Prefer My Schoolwork Digitally: Updated Edition
- How I Organize Emails In College With Low Vision
Take the quiz or test in another location
In college, the majority of my tests and proctored assignments were proctored through the Disability Services Testing Center. I would submit a request for proctoring at least a week before my exam and my instructor would submit a copy of the exam to the testing coordinator, who would verify that the content was in an accessible format based on my approved testing accommodations. This made it possible to receive accessible copies of quizzes and tests as well as additional accommodations like extended time or video magnification.
Related links
- Testing Accommodations For Low Vision Students
- What To Bring To The Disability Services Testing Center
Mirror the device screen to the proctor’s device
For some of my exams in my high school virtual classes, I was required to mirror the device screen to the proctor’s computer so they could see what was on my screen while I was taking the exam, as well as make sure that I didn’t save the file or access files without permission. Since I had to turn my desk to face the wall so no other students could see my screen/copy what I was writing, this made it easier for the proctor to monitor my screen during the testing period without having to awkwardly move around the classroom.
I’m not sure what software/tools the high school proctor used for screen mirroring, but examples of tools I have used in other classes include:
- Sharing my screen in a private Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams call running in the background
- Connecting two Windows computers with Quick Assist, a free screen mirroring tool for Windows 10 and Windows 11
- Connecting to a wireless display and duplicating my screen
- Having a camera set up behind me pointing at the screen that streamed to a display for the proctor
I rarely would use remote proctoring software for in-class quizzes and tests because it did not work well with large print or screen magnification. In addition, I wear prescription non-polarized tinted glasses, which makes it difficult or impossible for the eye tracking software to locate my eyes.
Related links
- Seven Unexpected Disability Accommodations For Virtual Learning
- What To Know About College Assistive Technology Specialists
- Veronica’s Four Eyes: All About My Glasses For Low Vision
Deleting the file in front of witnesses after the test ended
If I have to download a copy of the quiz or test into another application or save it to my computer for some reason, I am required to delete the file from my computer or device in front of my instructor or proctor, and then remove it from the recycling bin in front of them to ensure it is permanently deleted from my device. I delete the test from my device only after the instructor verifies that they have downloaded the copy of the completed document to their own device for grading.
More ideas for receiving accessible tests and quizzes in the classroom
- When it comes to scratch work, I typically write on another page in the document or use a dry-erase board to work through problems, which I share in How I Show Work For Math With Low Vision and Dysgraphia
- If I have to submit scratch work from the dry-erase board, I either re-copy it into the testing document before erasing or scan it as an image – I share more about this in How I Use Microsoft Lens With Low Vision
- For standardized tests, my testing accommodations are different since my instructor is not the one creating the test. I share more about testing accommodations for specific tests in SAT Accommodations for Low Vision, ACT Accommodations For Low Vision, and SOL Test Accommodations And Low Vision
- Need to study for a test? Check out The Best Study Tips For Low Vision Students
By Veronica Lewis/Veronica With Four Eyes, www.veroniiiica.com
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