Accessibility of Assessment

Accessibility originates from the field of architecture that aims to make buildings and the physical environment accessible to the whole population, including people with and without physical disabilities. For example, curb cuts help people in wheelchairs cross a street, but the same curb cuts also benefit people who are not in wheelchairs. Similarly, educational assessments that are accessible provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills on the construct being assessed, regardless of personal characteristics unrelating to what is being assessed. In contrast, an assessment with poor accessibility introduces barriers based on personal characteristics. There can be negative consequences when assessment results reflect those personal characteristics and not just the construct being assessed. This entry further defines accessibility as the term is ...