Review Article
Developing an Adapted English Proficiency Test for Adult Job Seekers with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD): Literature Review
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There is a critical need for an adapted English proficiency test designed specifically for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Current language assessments often fail to address the specific learning difficulties of this population. As a result, assessments underestimate the actual abilities of these test takers. To address this gap, a literature review was conducted on foreign language acquisition for individuals with IDD, and a methodological intervention was developed. This intervention uses multisensory structured language (MSL) instruction tools, task-based learning, and technology. The adapted proficiency test aligns with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and aims to assess language skills of individuals with IDD with a focus on reliability and validity. Through accommodation and adaptation, the test will ensure that the language capabilities of this population are accurately reflected. The aim of this study is to develop a reliable assessment tool for this demographic and to encourage their continued social integration and employability. This study has significant implications for educational practice and policy and offers a model for inclusive language assessments that can be adopted in various educational contexts. It also lays out the foundation for future research and allows for the expansion of assessments to higher CEFR levels, which will continue to support the long-term language needs of this population.
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Keywords
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD); English Proficiency Test; Language Assessment; Inclusive Education
Author(s) Information
Publisher’s Note
The claims, arguments, and counter-arguments made in this article are exclusively those of the contributing authors. Hence, they do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the authors’ affiliated institutions, or EUROKD as the publisher, the editors and the reviewers of the article.
Acknowledgements
This research has been carried out within the framework of a Doctorat Industrial funded by AGAUR (Generalitat de Catalunya). We would also like to thank Fundació Onada for their collaboration and support throughout the development of this project.
Funding
This study forms part of Doctorat Industrial, funded by the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR, Generalitat de Catalunya), which promotes collaboration between universities and industry partners. This framework ensures that the research has both academic rigor and direct practical impact for adults with IDD.
CRediT Authorship Contribution Statement
Mar Gutiérrez-Colón: Conceptualization, Resources, Writing Original Draft, Review and Editing, Supervision, Funding Acquisition, Project Administration
Jonathan Pidgeon: Methdology, Investigation, Writing Original Draft, Review and Editing, Data Curation
Generative AI Use Disclosure Statement
Generative AI was employed solely for linguistic refinement and correction of language errors. All conceptual, analytical, and interpretative content was produced exclusively by the authors.
Ethics Declarations
World Medical Association (WMA) Declaration of Helsinki–Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Participants
This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the World Medical Association (WMA) Declaration of Helsinki. All participants, or their legal guardians when required, provided informed consent. The research procedures were reviewed and approved by the corresponding institutional ethics committee (Reports code: CEIPSA-2023-TDO-0083), ensuring the protection, dignity, and rights of all participants.
Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Data Availability
This study did not generate any datasets; it is based exclusively on published sources.