Accessible Tests Department Staff Members
Rachel Goodman, Administrative Assistant
Rachel comes to us from the Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind where she served as Education Program Assistant for two years. During her time in the museum, Rachel conducted factory tours and created programs for schools, scouts and the public. These programs focused on the history of APH, braille literacy and the education of students who are blind and visually impaired. Rachel has a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary studies with a focus in Adult and Higher Education from the University of South Dakota. Currently, Rachel is studying to obtain her certification in braille transcription. Rachel serves as the department’s administrative assistant, providing staff support and acting as the departmental contact person for information regarding programs and services.
Rachel can be reached at rgoodman@aph.org
Dena Garrett, Accessible Media Editor
Dena has worked at APH for 31 years as an NLS certified braille transcriber. She is certified in both Literary and Nemeth braille codes. For over ten years, Dena's specialty was transcribing print tests for presentation in braille format. During this period of time, she worked with over 20 individual states to develop their mandated assessments. In addition, Dena has worked on many APH special braille projects including KeyMath and the Stanford Achievement Tests, Ninth Edition. Dena currently works with both the Accessible Textbook Initiative and Collaboration (ATIC) and the Accessible Tests Department. She also serves as the APH consultant to the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) Braille Formats Committee.
Dena can be reached at dgarrett@aph.org
Barbara Henderson, M.A./B.A. (Linguistics), Test & Assessment Project Leader
Barbara has worked in the field of visual impairment for twenty-three years. Her experience in creating assessments in accessible formats started in 1994, when she began editing tests for presentation in braille and tactile formats for school systems across the country. She has facilitated many multi-media projects including: the braille edition of the Stanford Achievement Test Series, Ninth Edition; the braille and large print editions of the Kaufman Functional Academic Skills Test (K-FAST); Brigance® Diagnostic Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills, Revised (CIBS-R), for braille and large print readers; and the braille and large print versions of the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement. Barbara joined the APH Educational Research Department in 2000 as Test & Assessment Project Leader and became a member of the newly formed Accessible Tests Department in 2003.
While serving on the Kentucky Department of Education's Universal Design for Learning Workgroup (UDL), Barbara helped to implement online delivery of the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS). In this same connection, Barbara acted as project director for the accessible web publication titled Test Access: Guidelines for Computer Administered Testing, available on the APH web site at http://www.aph.org/tc/access/index.html She also serves on the Kentucky Core Content Test (KCCT) Bias Review Committee. Barbara enjoys representing APH by participating in collaborative efforts with the National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM), the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO), and the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS).
Barbara can be reached at bhenderson@aph.org
Kerry Isham, M.A. (Experimental Psychology), Accessible Test Editor
Kerry has a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and a Master of Arts degree in experimental psychology. She joined the Accessible Tests staff in May of 2007. Previously she held positions in the fields of human service and research, where she gained experience working with individuals with disabilities including visual impairments.
Since coming to APH, Kerry has assisted in the preparation and editing of numerous standardized tests for presentation in braille, tactile graphics and large print. She has also actively participated in other departmental projects focusing on test accommodations, bias review and accessibility of performance test items.
Kerry can be reached at kisham@aph.org
Kristopher Scott, M.A. (English), Accessible Test Editor
Kristopher holds an undergraduate degree in History and a graduate degree in English, with a concentration in composition.
After joining APH in 1999, Kristopher spent 3 years in the Educational Research Department, where he worked on several low vision/large print projects and was instrumental in helping develop Envision II, a curriculum designed to help train children in the use of near magnification devices.
In the spring of 2002, Kristopher transferred to APH's Accessible Tests Department. There, he successfully completed two test editor training programs and has assisted in the editing of over 80 standardized tests during the early formation of the Accessible Tests Department.
Kris can be reached at kscott@aph.org
Michael Sell, B.S. (Elementary Education), Accessible Test Editor
Michael Sell was educated at Taylor University and holds a B.S. in Elementary Education. Courses that dealt with tactile learning held a particular interest. Since then, he has worked in market research and the new/antiquarian book business. This has afforded him a background that ranges from working with publishers to maintaining the integrity of research content for various clients.
Since joining the Accessible Tests Department in April 2007, Michael has earned his certification in Literary Braille through the National Library Service (NLS), edited braille and audio sample test items for use in training sessions and workshops, worked as a research assistant for nationwide assessment-related projects, and edited standardized state tests
Michael can be reached at msell@aph.org
Deborah Hill Willis, M.A. (Education), B.A. (Psychology)
Director, Accessible Tests Department
Debbie Willis has 33 years of experience at the American Printing House for the Blind; 28 years in the Educational Research Department and four years in the Accessible Tests Department. While a Research Scientist in the Educational Research Department, one of Debbie's roles was that of Test and Assessment Project Leader. During that time, Debbie worked with Barbara Henderson to edit and adapt the Stanford Achievement Tests, Ninth Edition, Form S, for test-takers in need of braille, tactile graphics, and large print formats. She also worked to edit KeyMath(r) Revised for presentation in a braille/tactile format.
As Director of the Accessible Tests Department, Debbie has planned training workshops for test publishers, item developers, test editors, and other assessment personnel across the country in order to help ensure that test items are accessible to students who are blind or visually impaired. She continues to work with Dr. Carol Allman, Accessible Tests staff, and professionals in the fields of blindness and visual impairment to update and provide guidelines for editing, transcribing, and reformatting tests into accessible media.
Debbie and the Accessible Tests staff have edited about 400 different tests for presentation as tactile graphics, braille, large print, and audio media. This includes work on two states' alternate assessments. Debbie and staff continue to serve on Item Bias Review Committees, Universal Design Committees, and to be involved in efforts with organizations such as the National Center on Educational Outcomes, the National Center for Accessible Media, Lighthouse International, Association of Test Publishers, and the National Center for Leadership in Visual Impairment.
Debbie is currently serving on a special task force of the American Psychological Association to explore and address test accessibility issues for graduate students with disabilities, especially students with visual impairments, who are mandated to meet training requirements in testing and assessments. She also serves as co-Goal Leader on National Agenda Goal 6 (Expanded Core Curriculum) and Goal 8 (Assessment). Debbie can be reached at dwillis@aph.org
Visit the American Printing House for the Blind web site at www.aph.org and click on "Accessible Tests Department" for test- related information and resources.
©2006, American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.
