Are you a special needs parent or a teacher who works with students who need accommodations? If so, you are aware of how difficult and gratifying it can be to create an effective learning environment for these people. We’ve created a thorough Accommodations Checklist Special Education to make the process simpler. This checklist is made to provide you all the knowledge you require to guarantee that your child or student has the tools necessary to excel in the classroom. We can help with everything from alterations to the physical environment to assistive technologies and individualized support. Therefore, this accommodation checklist for teachers is a must-read whether you’re just beginning started or looking to make improvements to your current plan. Let’s get going!
Types of Accommodations What Does a Teacher Have for Students with Disabilities?
Teachers can support students with impairments in the classroom in a variety of ways by making accommodations. Typical accommodations consist of:
- Changes to the physical environment: To reduce distractions, this could entail making a quieter workspace, giving a standing desk, or modifying the lighting.
- Use of voice recognition software, text-to-speech software, or a computer keyboard with oversized keys for students with physical limitations are examples of assistive technology.
- Providing materials in alternative formats, such as Braille, audio, or large print, is one such alternative presentation.
- Modified testing accommodations: These could include extending test times, allowing calculator use, or allowing breaks.
- One-on-one assistance, having a teacher’s aide in the classroom, or having a behavior specialist on hand are all examples of personalized help.
- Physical education that is customized for kids with physical limitations may include adapted equipment or other physical activities.
- Flexible class schedules can be used to meet a student’s medical needs or to allow them to attend school part-time.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that every student has different needs, and the accommodations offered should be customized to fit those needs. Leveling the playing field and giving students with disabilities equal access to the learning environment are the goals of accommodations.
IEP Accommodations Checklist Special Education Examples
Here is an IEP (Individualized Education Program) classroom accommodations checklists that teachers and parents can use as a reference:
- Physical Environment Modifications:
- Less noisy workplace
- Flexible lighting
- The standing desk
- Specialized furniture
- Overlays in various colors for visual aids
- White noise generator to cut down on distractions
- Helpful Technology
- Software for text-to-speech
- Software that recognizes voices
- Keyboard for a computer with huge keys
- Adjustable mice or touchpads
- An audiobook
- Alternative Methods of Presentation:
- Braille
- Audio
- Big print
- Colored pens and highlighters
- Visual organizers
- Accommodations for modified testing:
- Extended test times
- Use a calculator
- Test readings
- Pauses in testing
- Testing in a secluded, calm environment
- Personalized Assistance
- An individual aide
- A teaching assistant in the classroom
- A behaviorist is on hand to provide assistance.
- Social-skills instruction
- Services for counseling or treatment
- Physical Education Adapted:
- Modified machinery
- Alternative forms of exercise
- Modified game and activity rules
- Flexible Planning
- Part-time enrollment
- Adaptable class times
- Early termination due to illness
- Assignment accommodations
It’s crucial to remember that this is not a comprehensive list of IEP accommodations, and the accommodations offered will change depending on the requirements of each student. The IEP team, which should include of the parents, the teacher, and any relevant specialists, should work together to determine the optimal IEP accommodations and modifications list and changes for each student.
What are 4 modifications accommodations that could be found on an IEP?
Here are 4 adjustments that could be made as accommodations in an IEP:
Simplified language: Using straightforward, direct language in written and vocal instructions that are written at a lower reading level.
Reduced workload: Giving pupils less homework or other assignments to do than their peers, or splitting up larger tasks into more digestible chunks.
Modified Assignments: Assignments that have been changed to better suit the needs of the student may include adding visual aids or segmenting activities into manageable chunks.
Alternative assessment: Offering alternatives to the conventional written test, such as performance tasks, portfolios, or oral exams. Learners may be able to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities in this way in a way that is more convenient for them.
It’s crucial to remember that every kid has different demands, thus adjustments should be made in accordance with each one. Based on each student’s skills, needs, and goals, the IEP team should collaborate to identify the most appropriate adaptations for each one of them.
Learn about LIAM for Your Child in Special Education
The term “Least Intensive Alternative Measures,” or simply “LIAM,” is used in the field of special education to refer to a variety of tactics and methods intended to be the least restrictive for kids with disabilities. The purpose of LIAM is to offer help and accommodations to students in the least restrictive environment possible, enabling them to succeed and take part as fully as they can in the general education curriculum.
In special education, some instances of LIAM include:
- Working with a peer to receive one-on-one assistance in a particular subject or task is known as peer tutoring.
- Modifications to the classroom’s physical elements or contents to better meet the needs of the students, such as adding visual aids or changing the lighting.
- Differentiated instruction: Adapting the curriculum to each student’s unique needs, for as by offering extra assistance in a particular subject or changing assignments to make them more manageable.
- Technology aids: Using assistive technology to support students with disabilities in the classroom, such as text-to-speech or voice recognition software.
- Supporting acceptable behavior and the student’s emotional and social development by putting positive reinforcement tactics into practice.
Just a few examples of LIAM in special education are shown here. The IEP team should decide on the specific interventions to be implemented for each student based on their unique needs and assets. The intention is to offer assistance and modifications that will help students with disabilities succeed and engage as fully as possible in the general education curriculum while having the least potential negative effects on their day-to-day activities and their peers’ educational opportunities.