INCLUSIVITY

IN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

Kristina Marie Hernandez

Pen-and-paper psychological testing is very important
for us to be able to identify and address the results that

THE SENSE ORGANS

come out from the testing process. Whether or not you
are able-bodied, the varying conditions of the human
psyche encompasses boundaries, including those who
are disabled.

And that is why it is important that psychological testing

is inclusive, especially to those people who are not able-
bodied, because their conditions can obviously affect
their accessibility and therefore their results.

Here are some ways in which we can lighten the burden

to people with disabilities in testing.
 FOR THE

VISUALLY-

IMPAIRED
 Being visually-impaired is not just limited to people who are
completely blind, so here's a few more ways in which we can
improve testing for the visually-impaired.

The braille system

Improving both better font sizes and color contrasts to
improve readability
Using image descriptions (especially if the test is online)
as a way to describe images verbally.
Oral administration instead of writing/pen-and-paper
testing
Using Haptic Sensory Discrimination Tests (HSDT) by
using one's sense of touch

THE VISUALLY-IMPAIRED
 FOR THE

HEARING-

IMPAIRED
THE HEARING-IMPAIRED

Using sign language as a medium to administer

psychological testing.
Having interpreters (who preferably have experience in
the mental health field) with them during testing to be
able to relay their message more clearly and nuanced.
Speechreading (although this may cause some delay in
responses)
Instructions should be relayed to the hearing-impaired
test taker according to their communication mode
preference
 FOR THE

MOTOR-

IMPAIRED
 THE MOTOR-IMPAIRED
Administering tests orally instead of writing
Only administering a portion of the test taken that does
not require skills affected by the test taker's disability
Using adaptive equipment to either facilitate and detect
residual motor response or to compensate for the lack
of it. (ex. pen/pencil grips, hand gear like weights, head
stick, light beams, etc.)
Making use of their senses that are not affected from
their disability/ies (smell, taste, etc.)
KEY POINTS
Testing should be administered accordingly to persons with
disabilities.
Thus, testing should make an exception and be innovative
towards certain items that require the skills that persons with
disabilities could lack
While disabilities literally affect the lives of some people, it all
the more gives us a reason to improve psychological testing so
that they get the same conducive environment as able-bodied
people
REFERENCES
Groenick, K. (2018). Inclusive user testing — tips and learnings.
Retrieved from https://uxdesign.cc/inclusive-user-testing-tips-
and-learnings-eb27c2d1cbf2

Hill-Briggs, F., Dial, J.G., Morere, D.A, & Joyce, A. (2007).

Neuropsychological assessment of persons with physical
disability, visual impairment or blindness, and hearing
impairment or deafness. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology,
22,(3), 389-404