Data Informed Accessibility - Making Optimal Needs-based Decisions (DIAMOND): Research Activities

The final goal of the DIAMOND project is to create a set of guidelines that educators can use when selecting accessibility features and accommodations for students. DIAMOND project staff are gathering and synthesizing the information that will inform these guidelines by:

  1. Administering a survey to gather information from many educators on their experiences with and attitudes toward accessibility features and accommodations.

  2. Hosting online focus groups for teachers to discuss their strategies related to accessibility features and accommodations.

  3. Conducting teacher interviews and student demonstrations to understand both perspectives on using and selecting accessibility features and accommodations.

  4. Analyzing state assessment data to showcase how data can inform decisions about accessibility features and accommodations.

  5. Conducting a literature review on effective professional development approaches to guide the DIAMOND project’s development of a training module.

  6. Hosting a forum with assessment experts to create a set of guidelines for selecting and using accessibility features and accommodations.

  7. Creating an online training module for educators.

  8. Piloting the training module with a test group to collect feedback on content, presentation, and usability.