Vocational rehabilitation counselor perceptions of the General Educational Development test - Counselor Perceptions - Statistical Data Included

Journal of Rehabilitation, July-Sept, 2002 by Karen J. Weston, James R. Koller, Mardis D. Dunham

Appendix--VR Questionnaire

Please circle your response to each of the following items. Answer
each item to the best of your knowledge.

1.  In graduate school, I received adequate formal training on the GED.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

2.  The availability of GED workshops for those in my field is adequate.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

3.  I am familiar with the GED accommodations for the SLD.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

4.  It is important for a positive vocational outcome that my client has
    either a high school diploma or a GED certificate.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

5.  It is important to recommend that a client with SLD who is a high
    school dropout take the GED examination.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

6.  In my opinion, persons who drop out of high school are less likely
    to result in a status 26 closure than are GED recipients.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

7.  In my opinion, GED recipients are less likely to complete the VR
    application process than are clients with a high school diploma.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

8.  In my opinion, GED recipients are less likely to receive a status 26
    closure than are clients with a high school diploma.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

9.  I almost always refer persons who have dropped out of high school,
    regardless of whether or not they are SLD, for GED testing.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

10. It is important for a person who has dropped out of high school to
    obtain the GED certificate in order to secure employment.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

11. It is important for persons who have dropped out of high school to
    obtain the GED certificate in order to gain admittance
    into a post-secondary training program.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

12. Persons who dropout of school are just as likely to obtain skilled
    labor jobs as GED recipients.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

13. GED recipients are just as likely to obtain skilled labor jobs as
    those with a high school diploma.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

14. GED recipients are just as likely as those with a high school
    diploma to complete a post-secondary training program.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

15. It is important for an individual with SLD who has dropped out of
    high school to obtain the GED certificate in order to gain
    admittance into a post-secondary training program.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

16. It is important for a person with SLD who has dropped out of high
    school to obtain the GED certificate in order to obtain a job.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

17. Individuals with SLD who have dropped out of school are just as
    likely to be referred for GED testing as are persons who
    have dropped out of school who are not SLD.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

18. Because of the paperwork involved, it is difficult for a person
    with SLD who has dropped out of school to obtain the GED
    certificate.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

19. It is difficult for counselors to complete the paperwork requesting
    a GED accommodation for clients who are SLD.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

20. It is hard for an individual with SLD to pass the GED test because
    of test difficulty.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

21. In the past, the accommodations allowed seemed appropriate for my
    clients with SLD who have taken the GED.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

22. Clients with SLD who have been granted accommodations are just as
    likely to pass the GED as clients who are not SLD.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

23. I have good communication and cooperation with our ABE
    representative.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

24. I have good communication and cooperation with the GED examiner.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

25. I feel that the ABE instructors are knowledgeable about SLD.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

26. I feel that the GED examiner is knowledgeable about SLD.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

27. As a part of our VR inservice training, I would welcome information
    about the GED changes.
    Strongly disagree    disagree    neutral    agree    strongly agree

Please briefly answer the following questions.

28. What, if any, are some reasons that you might have for not referring
    a person who has dropped out of high school for GED testing?

29. To the best of your knowledge, what are the subject areas covered
    on the GED examination?

30. To the best of your knowledge, what are the accommodations allowed
    on the GED examination for those who have a learning disability?

31. Any other comments you would care to make?
Table 1--Twenty-seven Item Likert Scale Percentages *

        Strongly                                    Strongly
Item    Disagree    Disagree    Neutral    Agree     Agree

 1        44.4        46.4         5.2       2.0       1.3
 2        21.6        54.2        15.7       6.5       0.7
 3         7.8        45.8        19.6      22.9       3.3
 4         0.7         5.9         5.9      32.7      54.9
 5         0.0         5.9        17.0      45.1      32.0
 6         2.6        11.8        25.5      45.1      14.4
 7         8.5        45.1        28.1      18.3       0.0
 8         5.9        57.5        25.5       9.8       1.3
 9         1.3         8.5        15.0      51.0      24.2
10         0.0        13.7        13.7      49.7      22.9
11         0.0         2.6         0.7      27.5      69.3
12        12.4        58.2        15.0      13.7       0.7
13         2.0        12.4        14.4      60.8      10.5
14         2.0        13.1        17.6      60.1       7.2
15         0.0         1.3         4.6      49.7      44.4
16         0.0        18.3        20.9      46.4      14.4
17         0.7        15.7        13.1      54.9      15.7
18         1.3        18.3        30.1      42.5       7.8
19         6.5        24.2        45.1      18.3       5.9
20         0.7        19.0        25.5      45.1       9.8
21         4.6        10.5        55.6      28.1       0.7
22         0.7        12.4        38.6      47.7       0.7
23         7.8        26.1        37.9      21.6       6.5
24        10.5        33.3        47.1       8.5       0.7
25         6.5        31.4        48.4      13.1       0.7
26         6.5        28.1        60.1       4.6       0.7
27         0.0         1.3         2.6      37.9      56.2

* In cases where percentages do not add to 100, some respondents did
not answer the item
Table 2--Participants' Comments Related to SLD Issues, ABE Instructors,
and GED Examiners

SLD issues         Comments

                   The GED is very difficult if the client dropped out
                   of school because the disability made learning
                   difficult. They cannot pass the GED.

                   As a VRC, I have never had instructions on what I
                   can recommend for my clients whom are SLD taking the
                   GED.

                   I've never received training on GED information.
                   [I am] unsure of the paperwork process for
                   accommodations.

                   The whole process of requesting special
                   accommodations is too complicated and time consuming
                   for SLD clients and counselors. [Clients with] SLD
                   get frustrated and just don't follow through.

                   It should not take months to get accommodations
                   approved. I have had clients ready to take the test
                   and had job offers that require a GED or diploma-but
                   lost the opportunity waiting for the accommodations.

                   I have tried to get accommodations for a client with
                   borderline intellectual functioning and [a VR
                   psychologist] recommended unlimited time. The GED
                   review team in Washington took two months to reply
                   to the request and denied the accommodation. My
                   client has taken the GED three times and missed
                   passing by 3 to 5 points. She has now given up on
                   receiving her GED.

                   The difficulty I have faced is getting the request
                   for accommodations approved in a timely fashion or
                   approved at all.

ABE instructors/
GED examiners      Comments

                   There is a big gap in instruction for persons with
                   SLD at ABE site ... They need more help [at the] 6th
                   to 11th grade level.

                   Although ABE instructors are very good at what they
                   do-they do not have specific knowledge of SLD or
                   needed accommodations.

                   GED classes seem to be designed for people who do
                   not have difficulty learning. Often clients do not
                   want to attend because it is no different than when
                   they were in school.... Sometimes clients report the
                   teachers don't even know what accommodations to
                   make.

                   I would love to see more interaction [between] GED
                   examiners and VR. With so many horror stories
                   floating around about how difficult the GED is we
                   would be able to sell it to our consumers better
                   with more information.

                   I have a GED. It took two times of classes which
                   were administered with the same mentality as the
                   high school system. When I was absent to be at work
                   it meant (to the instructor) that I was
                   disinterested. We need facility based GED sites for
                   our clients staffed by rehab professionals who are
                   experts in working with people with disabilities.