Testing with Assistive Technology for Braille Tests

Braille tests administered in TDS require multiple assistive technology devices and applications, including the refreshable braille displays (RBDs) and JAWS screen readers which allow students to read and navigate assessment content.

RBDs are used to read text-only content on State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) tests, while braille embossers are needed to read any content with images on reading language arts (RLA) and social sciences tests, as well as advanced content on mathematics and science tests. RBDs must be properly set up before students can use them. For information about installing and setting up RBDs, refer to the product’s provided instructions and manuals.

Note: Alt text for the images in questions and stimuli is consistently available only when the test presentation is set to Braille.

The table below provides a list of supported screen reader software that students can use in TDS. Please note that only JAWS may be used on RLA tests, as this is the only supported screen reader that can effectively mute reading passages. Screen readers other than JAWS must not be used on RLA tests, as they would allow students to listen to passages instead of reading them, compromising the ability to assess their reading comprehension skills.      

The table below provides a list of supported refreshable RBDs that students can use to read braille content. Please note that if students wish to use RBDs not mentioned in this table, they should test them on a practice assessment to ensure that there are no issues before using them on an operational test. Additionally, RBDs not listed here may include unwanted features that students should not use while testing, so students may need to be monitored if they use such RBDs.

 Specifications for Test Administrators Using Screen Readers

If test administrators require a screen reader (e.g., JAWS, NVDA) to set up or administer test sessions in the Test Administrator Site, CAI recommends they do so using the most recent Firefox or Chrome browser. If issues occur while updating browsers, please contact your network administrator or IT office.

Configuring JAWS to Recognize the Secure Browser

You must edit the JAWS configuration file so that the software recognizes the secure browser application. The examples below are for JAWS 2021 installed to the default location. If your version is installed to a different location, navigate to the appropriate directory.

1. To modify the configuration file, open the JAWS ConfigNames.ini file. This file may appear in two folders. Depending on how JAWS is installed on your computer, you may need to modify both files:

2. Required Folder: Start > All Programs > JAWS 2021 > Explore JAWS > Explore Shared Settings

3. Optional Folder: Start > All Programs > JAWS 2021 > Explore JAWS > Explore My Settings

4. In the ConfigNames.ini file, locate the line of text containing firefox:3=firefox. At the end of this line, press Enter and type TXSecureBrowser16=firefox

5. Save the file.

6. If you receive an error that you do not have permission to save the .ini file to this location, save the file to your desktop asConfigNames.ini. Then copy the updated .ini file to the folder containing the original .ini file referenced in Step 1.

Optional: To confirm that JAWS has been properly configured, you can open the Secure Browser while JAWS is running. Then press hold down Insert (or the JAWS key) while pressing Q twice. A message opens in a pop-up window, indicating that Secure Browser settings are being used in the TexasSecureBrowser.exe application, and that the configuration name is CAI Testing.

Registering AccessibleHandler.dll

To ensure that JAWS works properly with the Secure Browser, you should register AccessibleHandler.dll on the student’s testing device. These steps should be performed for all supported versions of JAWS.

1. From the Start menu, search for File Explorer, then select Enter on the keyboard. After the File Explorer or Home window populates, navigate to the left-hand panel, then select Local Disk (C:) or Windows (C:) under This PC.

2. Open the Program Files folder, then locate the downloaded Secure Browser folder: TexasSecureBrowser.

3. Find the Windows Batch File Type with the name RegisterAccessibilityLibs.

4. Right click on the RegisterAccessibilityLibs.bat file and select Run as Administrator. If you are prompted to choose between Yes and No in a pop-up box, choose Yes.

5. A command prompt window appears briefly with a message confirming successful registration.

6. A message appears indicating that the action was successful. Press OK on this prompt and the command window automatically closes.

Applying Settings for Contracted or Uncontracted Braille

In order for students to use contracted or uncontracted literary braille with their RBD, the correct JAWS settings must be applied prior to launching the secure browser application.

1. To apply the correct JAWS settings, open JAWS and go to Utilities > Settings Center. The Settings Center window opens.

2. From the Application dropdown list at the top of the window, select Firefox.

3. Expand the Braille settings, General sub-settings, and Translation sub-settings in the Search for settings panel on the left. The Settings Center window displays the options for Braille Translation (see Figure 3).

   1. In the Translation section, verify that the Language dropdown list is set to English – United States. For a student who prefers contracted braille, select Unified English Braille Grade 2 from the Output and Input dropdown lists. For a student who prefers uncontracted braille, select Unified English Braille Grade 1 from the Output dropdown list.

   2. For tests presented in the EBAE braille type, if a student prefers contracted braille, select US English Grade 2 from the Output and Input dropdown lists. If a student prefers uncontracted braille, select US English Braille Grade 1 from these dropdown lists.

4. In the Braille Mode section (see Figure 4), ensure that only the following settings are checked:

   1. Active cursor follows Braille display

   2. Braille display follows Active cursor

   3. Enable Word Wrap

   4. Auto Detect Braille Display using Bluetooth (if available)

5. Click Apply, and then click OK.

Configuring Duxbury Braille Translator for BRF Files

This section contains instructions for opening BRF files with Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT) and setting default embossing preferences. The DBT software must be installed before performing the following tasks:

1. In the Test Administrator Site, click Help Guide at the top of the page. The online TA User Guide opens.

   1. Sample braille files can be accessed from the Help Guide > Appendices > Sample Braille Files.

2. Click Sample BRF File. The file dialog window opens.

3. Perform one of the following tasks:

   1. From the Open with dropdown list, select Duxbury Braille Translator. Click OK. The DBT program opens and previews the file (see Figure 7)

   2. If the DBT is not available as a selectable program, perform the following tasks (otherwise skip to Step 4):

4. Click Browse. The Choose Helper Application window opens.

5. Navigate to the Duxbury folder and open it.

6. Open the DBT folder and select dbtw.exe.

7. In the Open with window, select Duxbury Braille Translator and mark the Do this automatically for files like this from now on checkbox.

8. Click OK. The DBT program opens and previews the file (see Figure 7).

9. If the Import File window appears, set the Template to either English (American) – Standard Literary Format (for Duxbury 11.2 or earlier) or English (UEB) – basic (for Duxbury 11.3 or later), and set the Import Filter to Formatted Braille.

10. In the Duxbury Braille Translator window, go to Global > Embosser Setup. The Global: Embosser Setup window appears. To add a new embosser, perform the following tasks:

·       Click New. The Embosser Setup – Untitled Configuration window appears.

·       From the Embosser Model dropdown list, select the required embosser type.

·       From the Send to Printer dropdown list, select the required embosser’s name and click OK.

·       In the Global: Embosser Setup window, click OK.

5. In the Duxbury Braille Translator window, go to Document > Embosser Setup. The Document: Embosser Setup window opens (see Figure 8).

6. In the Document: Embosser Setup window, ensure that the following are selected:

·       Brailler Device: ViewPlus Max (or whichever supported ViewPlus embosser you are using)

·       The following Braille Document Formatting options must be set:

1. § Emboss in Interpoint checkbox is blank

2. § Top margin in lines: 2

3. § Binding margin in characters: 5

·       When you are done, click OK.

7. In the Duxbury Braille Translator window, go to Global > Formatted Braille Importer.

·       In the Global: Formatted Braille Importer window that appears, mark the Read formatted Braille without interpretation checkbox and click OK.

8. In the Duxbury Braille Translator window, go to File > Emboss. The File: Emboss… window opens.

9. In the File: Emboss…window, ensure that only one copy is being printed and that the page range is set to All.

10.  Click OK.

Configuring ViewPlus Tiger Designer or Tiger Viewer for PRN Files

This section contains instructions for opening PRN files with ViewPlus software and setting default application preferences.

Although you may use Tiger Viewer as the default application for opening PRN files, if you use it alongside an embosser other than the ViewPlus Max or Premier, you may need to convert the files for your embosser type before printing. Because of this, CAI strongly recommends using Tiger Designer as the default application for embossing PRN files.

1. In the Test Administrator Site, click Help Guide at the top of the page. The online Test Administrator User Guide opens.

·       Sample braille files can be accessed from the Help Guide - Appendices - Sample Braille Files.

2. Click Sample PRN File. The file dialog window opens.

3. Perform one of the following tasks:

·       To set Tiger Designer as the default application (recommended):

1. From the Open with dropdown list, select Tiger Designer and click OK. The Tiger Designer program opens and previews the file (see Figure 9).

2. If Tiger Designer is not available as a selectable program, click Browse and select Tiger Designer from the folder where it is installed on your computer. Mark the Do this automatically for files like this from now on checkbox and click OK.

·       To set Tiger Viewer as the default application:

1. From the Open with dropdown list, select Tiger Viewer and click OK. The Tiger Viewer program opens and previews the file.

2. If Tiger Viewer is not available as a selectable program, click Browse and select Tiger Viewer from the folder where it is installed on your computer. Mark the Do this automatically for files like this from now on checkbox and click OK.

3. Go to File > Print. The Print window opens.

4. Ensure that the printer is set to ViewPlus Max (or whichever supported ViewPlus embosser you are using) and that only one copy is being printed.

5. Click Print.

6. If you experience any issues embossing, refer to the section Converting PRN Files in Tiger Designer for Embossing or contact the Help Desk.

Administering Braille Tests

This section explains how test administrators set up the test settings for braille tests[JS1] . It also provides information about how students navigate the secure browser application with JAWS.

Setting Up Braille Test Sessions

Test administrators must ensure that students have the correct test settings applied before approving them to take braille tests[JS2] . Please note that some test settings may vary between practice and operational tests.

For more detailed instructions about starting test sessions, refer to the Test Administrator User Guide.

1. To administer braille tests, the test administrator logs in to the appropriate Test Administrator Site and starts a test session.

2. The test administrator opens JAWS on the student testing devices.

3. The test administrator opens the secure browser application on the student testing devices.

4. Students sign in to the test session and select their tests.

5. The test administrator reviews the student’s test settings and verifies the following:

·       Presentation is set to Braille. This should be set for any students testing with JAWS, regardless of whether those students are braille users. Setting the Presentation to Braille will automatically enable Streamlined Mode, which arranges assessment content vertically[JS3] .

·       Permissive Mode is turned on. This setting must be enabled in order for students to use the keyboard commands associated with JAWS.

6. When all the correct settings are applied, the test administrator approves students for testing[JS4] .

Sending BRF Files to the Embosser

BRF files must be embossed with DBT. For information about setting up DBT prior to testing, see the section Configuring Duxbury Braille Translator for BRF Files.

1. When you approve a print request for a BRF file, either open the file directly from the browser or save it and open it in DBT. See Appendix A for more information about saving and opening print requests.

·       If you opened the file directly from your browser and DBT is the default application for printing BRF files, the Import File window appears (see Figure 10). If not, launch DBT and then select File > Open to select the downloaded BRF file.

2. Ensure that the following settings are selected:

·       Template:

o   For Duxbury 11.2 or earlier: English (American) – Standard Literary Format

o   For Duxbury 11.3 or later: English (UEB) – basic

·       Import Filter: Formatted braille

3. Click OK. The Duxbury Braille Translator preview window opens (see Figure 13)

4. Go to File > Emboss. The File: Emboss window opens.

5. Ensure that only one copy is being printed, the page range is set to All, and the Brailler Device is set to ViewPlus Max (or other ViewPlus embosser). Then click OK.

Navigating the Student Testing Site with JAWS

JAWS allows students to use keyboard commands to navigate through the Student Testing Site. The actions associated with each JAWS keyboard command depend on the context in which the student presses the key. In other words, the same key may have different effects depending on whether the student is on the sign-in pages, the assessment pages, or within the questions and stimuli of the assessment pages.

Note: The Tab key is best used to move among elements such as buttons, text boxes, etc.

Use Forms Mode to navigate within an element, such as a listbox which allows multi-selection of options in the list. Forms Mode should either be activated automatically when focus is brought to that element using Tab or by pressing Enter on the element. The arrow keys should then be used. To exit Forms Mode, press Esc or NUM PAD PLUS and use the arrow keys. This allows a page to be read in detail, including plain text such as assessment questions.

The below table provides an overview of how to use JAWS keyboard commands in each context. In order for students to use these keyboard commands, Permissive Mode must be enabled for them in TDS. If JAWS enters Forms Mode, these keyboard commands may not work. In order to exit Forms Mode, press NUM PAD PLUS or ESC.

Please note that the keypad of the Desmos calculator tool in the Student Testing Site cannot be navigated entirely with the Tab key. However, all buttons within the keypad can be navigated or selected using JAWS or Desmos keyboard commands. For a list of Desmos keyboard commands, refer to https://www.desmos.com/graphingshortcuts .