RA2/2016

STATE EXAMINATIONS COMMISSION Reasonable Accommodations 2016 Leaving Certificate/Leaving Certificate Applied Application on the Grounds of a Physical/Medical/Hearing/ Visual Difficulty Closing date for receipt of completed application forms and supporting documentation is *25th May, 2015 *Part B of this form must be completed if submitting an application after the closing date

PART A – ALL SECTIONS MUST BE COMPLETED IN FULL BY SCHOOL AUTHORITIES. SCHOOL ROLL NO.

SCHOOL PHONE NO.

Leaving Certificate 2016

Leaving Certificate Applied 2016

Year 1 Year 2

(please tick as appropriate)

Description of Difficulty (please tick as appropriate) Physical/Medical

Visual

Hearing

SECTION 1 – GENERAL INFORMATION (PUPIL AND SCHOOL DETAILS) Name of Pupil (in full): _________________________________________________________________ Personal Public Service Number: (previously known as RSI no)

Date of Birth: _______________________________

Male

Female

Name and address of school: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ School email address: ___________________________________________________________________________

SUBJECTS AND LEVELS BEING TAKEN BY CANDIDATE

1

1.

Reason for applying for reasonable accommodations:________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

2.

What impact has the disability got on the candidate’s everyday educational activities? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

3.

Was an application made for reasonable accommodations for this pupil in any previous certificate examinations? Yes No If YES, please give particulars:EXAMINATION

4.

YEAR

NATURE OF ACCOMMODATION(S) GRANTED

Does the candidate avail of any special facilities for studying or communicating in his/her school?

Yes

No

If YES, please give details ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

5.

What accommodations/facilities, if any, are being given to this candidate during school examinations? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ 2

6.

What impact has the disability got on extended written assignments under examination conditions? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

If handwriting speed is an issue, please include information available. Tests such as the following are available for free download.  

Group and individual Asssessment of Handwriting Speed Test www.patoss-dyslexia.org , Click on the ‘Handwriting Speed Assessment’ link in the left hand column The Hedderly Sentence Completion Test – www.dyslexia-inst.org.uk/pdffiles/Sentence.pdf

TEST NAME

DATE ADMINISTERED

SCORE

If handwriting legibility is an issue, please include the following: Samples of written work Please enclose two original samples of the candidate’s answer papers from 5th year school examinations. The samples must be representative of the candidate’s performance under typical examination conditions.

7.

Has the pupil received remedial or other special help while at your school? Yes

No

If YES, please give particulars (note: Any information which the remedial or resource teacher can give would be very helpful in forming a full picture of the pupil)

________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ 3

8.

Has the pupil’s application to studies been satisfactory while in your school? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

9.

Has the pupil sat any of the Certificate Examinations? Yes

No

If YES, please give particulars of the most recent examination below. If NO, please complete for the most recent tests (school etc.) available.

EXAMINATION AND YEAR

EXAM NO.

SUBJECTS TAKEN

4

LEVEL

GRADE OBTAINED

Requests for accommodations have been divided into 3 categories depending on the candidate’s disability – physical/medical, hearing or visual. Please complete the relevant section depending on the candidate’s disability.

TO BE COMPLETED FOR CANDIDATES WITH PHYSICAL/MEDICAL DIFFICULTIES ONLY

10.

What reasonable accommodations are being requested by the school? (Please refer to Appendix A for full list of available accommodations and explanations). Please indicate by ticking  the relevant box of the option required.  Recording device (See appendix A) Word Processor



OFFICE USE ONLY L.C.

Helper in the Practical Examinations

35

L.C.A. 37 L.C.

Breaks – time taken allowed at end of examination Other (please specify below)

7

L.C.A. 38

Word Processor (Voice Activated) Scribe

57 L.C.

OFFICE USE ONLY 28

31

10

L.C.A. 39

SCRIBE: Under the RACE scheme, access to a scribe can only be permitted in cases where a candidate cannot make adequate use of a recording device and/or a word processor. You must state the reasons why this candidate is unable to make adequate use of a recording device and/or a word processor. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ OTHER REQUESTS: (not listed above)- If you are requesting a special centre only please indicate why the candidate cannot share it. ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

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TO BE COMPLETED FOR CANDIDATES WITH HEARING/VISUAL DIFFICULTIES ONLY

11.

What reasonable accommodations are being requested by the school? (Please refer to Appendix A for full list of available accommodations and explanations) Please indicate by a  in the relevant box of the option required.

Hearing Difficulties



Office Use Only

The use of a Personal CD in the Main Centre Standard Oral for Hearing Impaired Candidate only

Visual Difficulties Enlarged Version of the Question Paper (A3 size) Text Version of the Braille Question Paper (Modified – A3 size) Braille Version of the Question Paper The use of low vision aids / magnifiers and reading lamps Colour Identifier (Geography only) Additional Time (see page 10 point 8)

12

45

Use of Special Centre for Aural Examination Exemption from the Aural Examination Exemption from the Oral Examination Modified Aural Examination

13

26

54

40

Sign Language Interpreter



Office Use Only 15

58

16

18

46

21

47

Additional Time (see page 10 point 9)

32

GENERAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR HEARING/VISUALLY IMPAIRED CANDIDATES Access to a Reader Scribe

Word Processor

9 L.C.

10

Recording device (see Appendix A)

L.C.A.39

L.C.

7

L.C.A. 38 L.C. 35 L.C.A. 37

Any other requests

N.B. PLEASE NOTE THAT A VISITING TEACHER REPORT MUST BE PROVIDED WHERE A CANDIDATE IS ON HIS/HER CASELOAD, TOGETHER WITH AN AUDIOGRAM/OPHTHALMIC REPORT SUPPORTING THE REQUEST FOR THE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS ABOVE.

OTHER REQUESTS: (not listed above) ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ 6

The following MUST be attached to this form

(i)

Detailed Medical Evidence of the pupil’s disability in the case of physically impaired candidates (e.g. Occupational Therapy Report, Consultant’s Report)

(ii)

Visiting Teacher’s Report (if available) and Audiogram in the case of hearing impaired candidates

(iii)

Visiting Teacher’s Report (if available) and Ophthalmic Report in the case of visually impaired candidates

If relevant, please enclose any other reports from a medical doctor or other relevant professionals supporting the case for reasonable accommodations.

Application form prepared by: ______________________________________ (Please print name)

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PART B

PROCESS FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS AFTER THE CLOSING DATE When submitting an application for reasonable accommodations later than the closing date of 25th May 2015, you are obliged to outline in the text box below the reason(s) for the delay in complying with the closing date. REASON(S):-

Please be aware that submitting late or incomplete applications will lead to delays in processing the applications which could result in the following; 

Late notification of the decision to grant or refuse accommodations



Insufficient time to avail of the Independent Appeal process available to any school, parent or candidate dissatisfied with the State Examinations Commission’s decision



Insufficient time for the Ombudsman to investigate cases where there is dissatisfaction with the outcome of the Independent Appeals process

REMEMBER: Incomplete applications received by the closing date will be considered as LATE APPLICATIONS! Therefore please ensure that this application form is fully completed before submitting to the State Examinations Commission.

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Reasonable Accommodations 2016 Application on the grounds of a Physical/Medical Difficulty/Hearing/Visual Difficulty Leaving Certificate/Leaving Certificate Applied

PART C – TO BE COMPLETED BY PARENT / GUARDIAN

N.B. - Please read the Information Notes – Appendix A and B on the following pages before completing this part of the form.

Request made by (name of school) ________________________________________________________ that (name of student) ________________________________________________ be granted Reasonable Accommodations in the Leaving Certificate/Leaving Certificate Applied Examination 2016.

1.

I have read the Appendix A regarding reasonable accommodations, which accompanies this form.

2.

I understand that the closing date for receipt of applications is 25 th May 2015.

Signed: ________________________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Signed: ________________________________________________________________________ Candidate (if over 18 years of age) Date: ___________________________________________________________________________

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CHECKLIST Please ensure the following are complete and enclosed before returning the application form:

1.

Detailed Medical Evidence – Physical difficulty or Audiogram and Visiting Teacher’s Report (if available) - for Hearing Impaired or Ophthalmic Report and Visiting Teacher’s Report (if available) - for Visually Impaired

AND 2.

Part B – Completed (if applicable)

3.

Part C – Appropriately signed

____________________________________________________________________________________

I have read/considered the Appendix A regarding reasonable accommodations which accompanies this form. I certify that the particulars on this form are correct to the best of my knowledge and belief and apply for reasonable accommodation for this pupil in the Leaving Certificate/Leaving Certificate Applied Examination, 2016. Signed: ________________________________________ Principal

Date: __________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Please return completed form to: State Examinations Commission, Reasonable Accommodations Section, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath Please write Reasonable Accommodations 2016 together with your County Name and School No. on the top left hand corner of envelope. Contact numbers: 090 644 2782/3/4/5/6

Fax: 090 644 2744

Email: [email protected] ____________________________________________________________________________________ Data Protection The State Examinations Commission (SEC) is registered data controller with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. The personal information provided in this application form shall be processed in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Acts and solely processed for the purpose of administering the application. The personal information will not be disclosed to any external third party without the consent of the candidate or his/her parents except where necessary to comply with statutory requirement or where an organisation is acting on our behalf. A candidate has the right to request access to his/her personal data as well as the right to rectify and, where applicable, erase any inaccurate, incomplete or immaterial personal data processed by the SEC

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APPENDIX A Additional Information for schools and parents in relation to applications on the grounds of a Physical/Hearing/Visual Difficulty (This portion of the form should be retained by parents/guardians) Circulars All relevant circulars can be accessed on www.examinations.ie S40/94, S11/2000, S70/00, S24/12. Criteria All requests for reasonable accommodations are considered in line with the principles set out in Appendix B of this form. Purpose of reasonable accommodations Reasonable Accommodations are made to enable a candidate as far as is possible to demonstrate his/her level of actual attainment. Reasonable Accommodations are not made to compensate for a lack of achievement arising from a disability and are not made to compensate for difficulties arising from a candidate’s general intellectual functioning. Examination Accommodations – some of the most commonly applied for accommodations are listed below. 1.

Use of a mechanical aid such as a word processor The use of a word processor may be granted to a candidate. The word processor's spelling and grammar check will be disabled (turned off) during all examination sessions being undertaken by the candidate. Similarly, any Auto Correct facility will be disabled (turned off).

2.

Use of a mechanical aid such as a Recording device The use of a Recording device may be granted to a candidate. This can be interpreted as presenting material in a recorded sound format, either via a tape recorder to a cassette tape or via an electronic device to a digital sound-file format. The SEC will accept digital sound recordings in anMP3 file format preferably on recordable CD’s or USB memory sticks. The SEC cannot accept such recordings via email. The SEC is not responsible for the cost associated with the purchase or use of cassette tapes or digital media.

3.

Access to a scribe A candidate who is unable to write or effectively unable to write may be granted access to a scribe where a physical difficulty and speech impairment makes the use of a Recording device or word processor unsuitable. Access to a scribe may also be appropriate where a Recording device or word processor does not meet the requirement of the examination (e.g. making calculations in such subjects as Mathematics and Accounting).

4.

Access to a reader (visually impaired and hearing impaired only) Access to a reader may be granted to the candidate. The reader will on request read to the candidate the entire or any part of the examination paper.

5.

Braille version of question papers The State Examinations Commission will supply Braille versions of the question papers to the candidate. In addition, Braille versions of question papers in text format will also be made available. The candidate may have access to both the Braille and text version of the question papers if required. However, the candidate may not be given access to both the standard question paper and the Braille/Braille text format version of the question paper.

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6.

Text version of the Braille question papers Braille versions of the examination papers in text format may be made available to the candidate. The candidate may not be given access to both the standard question paper and this (modified) version. The modified paper will be A3 size.

7.

Enlarged versions of the examination papers The State Examinations Commission will supply enlarged versions of the examination papers to the candidate. This is the standard A4 paper enlarged to A3 size. If requested the candidate may be given a standard version of the paper in addition to the enlarged version.

8.

Additional time for the visually impaired 10 minutes per scheduled hour of the examination except in the case of Irish, English, History and Geography where an extra 10 minutes over and above that shown on the published timetable is permitted.

9.

Additional time for the hearing impaired 10 minutes per examination session except in the case of Irish, English, History and Geography where the extra 10 minutes is not permitted.

10.

The use of a personal CD in the main centre During the Aural tests, the candidate may be allowed to use a personal stereo player with personal induction loop in the main centre. The examination centre should have an induction loop in place for this examination.

11.

Use of a special centre for the aural examination During the Aural tests, the candidate may be allowed to sit in a room on his/her own and have the use of headphones linked to the compact disc player.

12.

Use of a special centre A candidate may sit his examinations in a special centre. The granting of a special examination centre does not automatically mean that the candidate will be sitting in an examination centre on his/her own. In some circumstances it may be appropriate for school authorities to assign a small number of candidates (also being accommodated under the RACE scheme) to one special centre under the control of one superintendent. The following are examples of where it may be appropriate to accommodate more than one candidate in a special centre:1) 2) 3) 4)

Candidates who have certain emotional or behavioral difficulties Candidates who have non-contagious medical conditions Candidates who have been granted the use of a word processor Candidates who have been granted the use of a reader but who only require occasional words or phrases to be read to them; in this type of scenario, it may be possible for a small number of candidates to share one reader

13.

Exemption from the aural examination This candidate may not be required to present himself/herself for the aural tests in language subjects that he/she is taking. The results will be calculated on the components taken regarding them as 100% for assessment purposes.

14.

Modified Aural examination This candidate may be provided with a modified aural test. The modified aural examination is where an examiner reads a passage and the candidate, through a mixture of hearing and lip reading, answers questions based on this passage.

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15.

Standard Oral for Hearing Impaired candidates only The oral examination is the same as the oral examination which takes place for other candidates but is conducted by an examiner who is experienced in dealing with candidates who have a hearing impairment.

16.

Exemption from Oral examinations This candidate is not required to present himself/herself for the oral tests in the language subjects being taken by him/her.

Explanatory notes on results When an element or elements of an examination have been waived, so that the purpose of the examination regarding that element or elements has not been met, or the method of examining has been significantly altered, this will be indicated by the presence of an explanatory note on the candidate’s Certificate of results. In proposing a reasonable accommodation, the Commission will inform the candidate of the content of any explanatory note in relation to the subject(s) concerned that may appear on the certificate.

Accommodations that can be granted by school It is no longer necessary for schools to apply to the State Examinations Commission in respect of the following arrangements for examination candidates with special needs.  Granting breaks or rest periods in each examination session that are warranted by the physical or medical condition of the candidate. Under this type of arrangement the time taken for rest or as a break may be compensated for at the close of each examination period to a maximum of 20 minutes.  Taking of medicine, food or drinks into the examination centre where this is required for medical reasons.  Allowing the candidate to move within the centre.  Use of a special desk or chair used in the classroom.  Use of low vision aids used normally in the classroom.  Ensuring that a candidate with a hearing impairment is positioned close to the superintendent. Appeals Procedure In all cases where a school/parent or student is dissatisfied with any aspect of the Commission’s decision, they have access to an Independent Appeals Committee. All members of the Appeals Committee are drawn from outside the Commission. The remit of the Appeals Committee covers appeals against all elements of a decision in relation to Reasonable Accommodations taken by the Commission. All appeals are considered in light of the principles established by the Expert Advisory Report (see Appendix B). General If you require any clarification or information, please contact us on Phone No’s: 090 644 2782/3/4/5/6 Email:

Fax: 090 644 2744

[email protected]

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APPENDIX B Principles governing the provision of accommodations for candidates with special needs (Expert Advisory Group on Examinations January 2000) 1.

Reasonable accommodations should be made for candidates who, because of a temporary, permanent or long-term disability, have special assessment needs in examinations.

2.

Provision should be made for both physical and learning disabilities.

3.

Reasonable accommodations should not put the integrity, status or reputation of the examination at risk.

4.

Reasonable accommodations should be designed to remove as far as possible the impact of a disability on a candidate’s performance, so that he or she can demonstrate in the examination his or her level of achievement.

5.

Reasonable accommodations are designed to assist a candidate in demonstrating his or her achievements in an examination setting. They are not designed to compensate for a possible lack of achievement arising from a disability.

6.

Since a core principle of the Certificate examinations is to ensure equitable treatment for all candidates, arrangements should not give the candidate for whom they are made an advantage over other candidates.

7.

Independent evidence of a disability and support needs should be required before allowing reasonable accommodations.

8.

The precise arrangements to be made should be determined on the basis of the disability or impairment established in each individual case and of the particular needs of the candidate in each individual subject area. Different subjects and different methods of assessment may make different demands on candidates.

9.

A candidate’s disability may be such that it is not possible for him or her to participate in a particular mode of assessment (an aural examination for a candidate with severe hearing impairment), in which case it should be open to the candidate to apply for exemption from part of the assessment procedure.

10.

Where it is not possible for a candidate to participate in a particular mode of assessment, an alternative assessment procedure may be specified.

11.

An alternative procedure is not acceptable where the purpose of an examination would be compromised by its use (e.g., providing a scribe to draw for a candidate in an Art examination).

12.

When an element or elements of an examination have been waived, so that the purpose of the examination regarding that element or elements has not been met, or the method of examining has been significantly altered, this should be indicated by the presence of an explanatory note on the candidate’s certificate of results.

13.

Circumstances that may affect a candidate’s performance (e.g., illness, trauma, bereavement) should, insofar as is possible, be addressed during the examination period.

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