But if you have a look at those links, you will see that it’s been heavily criticised. And for exams, where the physically DisAbled already get extra time, using Facilitated Communication would require even more extra time so, if we want to take exams, multiple choice is fairer and less time consuming or tiring for those who find every movement painful.

But is there really no other way that those that rely on multiple choice questions could be assessed individually? I’m not suggesting that avenues be closed down, and if multiple choice is really the only means then use it *only* for those that have that lack of choice in ways to be assessed. But really I find it hard to believe there is no other way of engaging with these groups of disabled people to find out how competent they are on a subject without multiple choice.

There is also the wider question of just how “fair” it is for some people to be assessed based on understanding, and for some disabled people to essentially at least get a view at what the correct answers could be solely because of the communication barriers in-front of them. Again, I wouldn’t want to close avenues but this is why I would stress a need for a more comprehensive individual assessment programme for those with communication difficulties, otherwise we end up generalising and dumbing down our examinations to keep them fair to all.

I totally see your point about multiple choice not testing the ability to learn and comprehend. But this is not always the case. What happens when, like three of my best friends, you are unable to use any other method of communication to show your ability to learn and comprehend? Should those who are intellectually capable of doing anything they wish to do be turned away from a profession that is also physically possible just because the examining body has banned multiple choice exams?

I don’t think so, and neither, I’m sure, do many physically DisAbled students and their parents. That’s why I do, always have and always will condone the use of multiple choice as a method of testing.

Basically, multiple choice is a poor way of testing anyone, disabled or otherwise. I agree that individual cases need to be considered, and the traditional “mass testing” approach used by educational bodies is showing it’s age. It may be less cost effective to test everyone individually but surely we can make sure those with genuine need can be assessed for their ability in a subject individually? Let’s just do it without condoning multiple choice, an exam that tests not your ability to learn and comprehend, but to recall.