October 11, 1999 Updated: November 20, 2001 FILE MEMO Subject: Testing the Visually Impaired Candidate Our selection process affords people with disabilities the opportunity to request, and obtain, reasonable accommodations in testing procedures. The principle in doing this is to ensure that test results accurately reflect the aptitudes they are designed to measure, rather than candidates’ impaired skills. Procter & Gamble’s recruiting organization has experience testing job candidates who are visually impaired in varying degrees, including total blindness. The three basic options for handling a testing accommodation for these individuals are: 1. enlarge the test by (a) printing on paper 2 - 3 times larger than normal, or (b) use special video equipment that enables the candidate to enlarge whole pages or parts of pages; 2. read the test to the candidate; or 3. prepare a Braille version. The Braille option is probably the least useful of these, especially for administering the PST. Many blind people do not know Braille. Also, it does not really work with graphical information such as that presented in charts on the PST. We have never tried this option because, as far as we are aware, no candidate has ever asked for it. We have used very large print copies with some partially sighted people. A few years back, we even gave the test by reading it to a blind candidate. This requires following a very strict testing protocol to avoid having the test administrator inadvertently provide unintended and unfair services to the test taker. For this testing accommodation, the test administrator’s services should be limited to: 1. reading the test information and the questions aloud, and rereading parts as deemed necessary by the test administrator or as requested by the candidate; 2. performing all calculator computations as directed by the candidate; 3. marking the answer chosen by the candidate on his/her answer sheet; and 4. video tape the entire session. You may also want to give the candidate the option of bringing his/her own calculator. Visually impaired people typically have special ones that they use. Following the testing session, the answer sheet and video tape of the testing session should be analyzed by a P&G recruiting manager to see how much time was spent on various parts of the test and how much help was given by the test administrator. Using this information, and with assistance from Global Recruiting if necessary, the recruiting manager should make a judgment as to whether the test score produced is a fair representation of the candidate’s problem solving ability. However, a serious visual impairment raises questions about what the job capability may be. Following U.S. law, when we become aware of a disability that may need accommodation to enable the person to do the job, or for which there may be no reasonable accommodation that would enable the person to do the work effectively, we conduct an “Essential Functions Review.” Beginning with a description of critical work elements for the particular job, we discuss with the candidate their perceived need for specific accommodations and their potential effectiveness on the job when using them. The U.S. does this before deciding whether to give a job offer. . Jennifer L. Irwin Global Recruiting . calculator. Visually impaired people typically have special ones that they use. Following the testing session, the answer sheet and video tape of the testing session. necessary by the test administrator or as requested by the candidate; 2. performing all calculator computations as directed by the candidate; 3. marking the answer