Accommodating Students with Disabilities, by Ashlee Hargrove, Exceptional Education Teacher at Rutland Elementary School

              One of the most challenging things about teaching can be trying to meet the various needs of students in our classrooms.   For students with disabilities, classroom accommodations are often the key to success in the classroom.  Some accommodations can be as simple as preferential seating while others may involve changing the way that material is presented or the way that students respond to show their learning.   Below are some ideas of classroom accommodations for students with disabilities and how to use them in your classroom.   

During Classroom Instruction

· Seat away from doors, windows, other disruptive students.

· Give directions one step at a time. Repeat if necessary. Students who have trouble attending to instruction or directions will often only process the first or last thing that was said.

· Use visuals.  Many teachers introduce new skills with anchor charts and keep the anchor charts up for the students to refer back to.    

· Create outline for note-taking.

· List activities of the lesson on the board.  Some students may need a visual schedule while others will benefit from have the steps listed.

· Read aloud tests and assignments (different ways to do this unless a specific way was decided on by the IEP team).

· Provide a copy of notes (Take pictures with IPAD and send to parents, copy another student’s note).

· Extended time

Student Work

· Give worksheets with fewer items.

· Modify the format: fewer choices, fill in the blank, short answer, color coding

· Limit timed test or only grade what was completed within the amount of time given.

· Divide assignments into chunks. Give student a goal for when each part should be completed.

· Allow student to redo missed items for partial credit.

Organization

· Use a binder with separate sections for each subject. Color-code materials for each subject.

· Allow time for the student to organize materials and assignments for home.

· Make sure the student has a system for writing down assignments.

Disruptive Behaviors

· Have a cue (ex. touch on the shoulder, sticky note on desk when on task) to remind the student to stay on task or not interrupt that only you and that child are aware of.

· Distract student from the behavior (give the student a “note” to take to another teacher).

· Allow for movement breaks.

· Let the student use a “fidget” if it helps the student to focus.

· Create goals together.

· If the behaviors continue, create a behavior contract with the student.