Accessibility Services for Test Sponsors
As Dr. John Hosterman joins the Paradigm Testing Team as Chief of Accessibility Services, Paradigm is expanding its suite of testing services to include comprehensive accessibility and disability services to the testing industry. Services include the independent review of candidate accommodations requests, communications with candidates regarding accommodations requests, and expert guidance regarding accessibility of test content and test delivery.
Test sponsors are responsible to provide reasonable and appropriate test accommodations to individuals with documented disabilities. At the same time, test sponsors are justifiably concerned about the costs involved in accessibility and accommodations review, as well as protecting the security of their content and maintaining the validity of their test. In order to balance legal requirements with issues cost, of test security, test validity, and the needs of candidates, expert guidance is critical.
Dr. Hosterman and his team of independent, nationally-recognized experts bring many years’ of experience in the area of accessibility and accommodations in the high-stakes testing industry. Most recently, Dr. Hosterman was the Director of Global of Accessibility at Pearson VUE, where he led the organization’s disability support team, provided internal and customer guidance on accessibility issues and disability compliance, and led outreach efforts with disability-advocacy organizations. Before working at Pearson, he was the Director of Accommodations Review for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).
Dr. Hosterman did his undergraduate work at the College of William and Mary, and completed his Ph.D. in Learning Disabilities and Educational Psychology from Northwestern University. He is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences speaking on issues related to accessible high-stakes testing. He is on the Professional Advisory Board for the Learning Disabilities Association of America, and he is fluent in American Sign Language.
