The term "accommodation" may be used to describe an alteration of environment, curriculum format, or equipment that allows an individual with a disability to gain access to content and/or complete assigned tasks. They allow students with disabilities to pursue a regular course of study. Since accommodations do not alter what is being taught, instructors should be able to implement the same grading scale for students with disabilities as they do for students without disabilities. Examples of accommodations include: Show
The term "modification" may be used to describe a change in the curriculum. Modifications are made for students with disabilities who are unable to comprehend all of the content an instructor is teaching. For example, assignments might be reduced in number and modified significantly for an elementary school student with cognitive impairments that limit his/her ability to understand the content in general education class in which they are included. For more examples of academic accommodations, consult Working Together: K-12 Teachers and Students with Disabilities or Working Together: Faculty and Students with Disabilities or view the video Building the Team: Faculty, Staff, and Students Working Together. Download Fact Sheet Classroom ManagementGood classroom managers have efficient classrooms that meet the educational and psychological needs of their students. Classrooms are structured so that rules and routines are well known by the students and consistently followed. Transitions among lessons and activities are smooth. The teacher is able to give the impression that the he or she is aware of all activities by students in the classroom.Teachers with good classroom management skills meet the educational and personality needs of their students, regardless of their students’ abilities and special needs. Student misbehavior especially misbehavior related to ADHD symptoms, can be prevented by careful attention to the following:
Accommodations are intended to help students with ADHD learn the same information as other students. They are changes to the structures and/or the environment that provide support to help students access the curriculum. Accommodations work best when they are tailored for the individual needs of the student based on the severity and symptoms of their ADHD and any other co-occurring conditions. It is important to observe the student to see which accommodations are effective – and effectiveness of accommodations can change over time. Students can also be enlisted in figuring out what helps them the most. This will also ensure that the accommodations are seen as support instead of punishment. Teachers, parents, and students should partner together to address needs and supports. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition lists two categories of symptoms of ADHD—inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive. Students may have only one type, or they may have both types of symptoms. The accommodations that are appropriate for each student depend on the symptoms and on how much they impact the student. Social SkillsBesides creating academic challenges, ADHD also affects social skills. Student may have trouble controlling their emotions, and younger kids especially may have difficulty keeping their hands to themselves. They might not interpret social cues effectively. They could also struggle with conversational skills. These challenges often cause students with ADHD to have difficulty making and keeping friends. As a teacher, you can help by providing a positive learning environment. You can also teach, show, and support appropriate behavior in the following ways:
Accommodating ADHD in the ClassroomADHD: Inattentive Symptoms Students with inattentive symptoms are easily distracted and have trouble focusing. Everything competes for their attention. They often struggle to follow through with instructions and have difficulty with organization. To help students with managing inattentive symptoms, the following accommodations can be effective:
ADHD: Hyperactive-Impulsive Symptoms Students with hyperactive-impulsive symptoms move a lot. They fidget, squirm, and have difficulty staying seated. They often talk excessively, blurt out answers, and have trouble taking turns. To help students manage their hyperactive-impulsive symptoms, the following accommodations can be effective:
ADHD: combined symptoms Many students with ADHD show a combination of inattention and hyperactive-impulsive behaviors. You can use a combination of accommodations from both lists. One of the best ways to identify which accommodations might work best is to observe the student’s natural behavior. Some sample behaviors and accommodations include:
References Barkley, R. (2008). Classroom Accommodations for Children with ADHD. ADHD Report. Dendy, C., Durheim, M., & Ellison, A. (2006). CHADD Educator’s Manual. Lynchburg, VA: Progress Printing. Parker, H. (2012). Accommodations Help Students with Attention Deficit Disorders. A.D.D. WareHouse. Zentall, S. (2006). ADHD and Education Foundations, Characteristics, Methods, and Collaboration. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. Chaban, P., McAuley, T., & Tannock, R. (2009). ADHD and Social-Emotional Abilities. www.AboutKidsHealth.ca. What are some examples of modifications?Modifications are changes in what students are expected to learn, based on their individual abilities. Examples of modifications include use of alternate books, pass/no pass grading option, reworded questions in simpler language, daily feedback to a student.
What are some examples of accommodations?Examples of accommodations include:. sign language interpreters for students who are deaf;. computer text-to-speech computer-based systems for students with visual impairments or Dyslexia;. extended time for students with fine motor limitations, visual impairments, or learning disabilities;. What types of accommodations modifications?Examples of Accommodations & Modifications. General Accommodations: Large print textbooks. Textbooks for at-home use. ... . Testing and Assessment Accommodations: Answers to be dictated. ... . General Modifications: Allow outlining, instead of writing for an essay or major project. ... . Behavior modifications: Breaks between tasks.. What are the four general types of accommodations?Accommodations are typically grouped into four categories: presentation, response, setting, and timing and scheduling.
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