Designing Accommodations
Summary:
This page provides a definition of accommodations and information about the five accommodations categories and what teaching or testing changes that can be made in each of them. There are also links to information on how to select accommodations, the legal basis, how to include them in lesson design, assessment and accommodations, and training resources.
Definition: Accommodations are changes to the WAY students access instruction and demonstrate performance. They help students with disabilities meet the expectations in the Sunshine State Standards and graduate with a standard diploma.
Instructional methods and materials
changes to the way teachers present information or to the materials students uses to learn and practice new
knowledge and skills
Assignments and assessments
changes to the way students practice and demonstrate what they are learning
Time demands and schedules
changes to the amount of time or the schedule students are given for specific assignments, assessments,
or whole programs of study
Learning environment
changes to the physical features or organization of a school or classroom to assist with a student’s
physical disabilities or behavior management
Use of special communication systems
changes to the way students express themselves and understand others
Assistive Technology
assistive technology device - any piece of equipment used by a person
with a disability to increase, maintain, or improve his or her functional
capabilities
assistive technology service - any service, including evaluation, purchasing or leasing, selection, design, or fitting, coordination, and training, that helps a person with a disability select, obtain, and use an assistive technology device
Accommodations Checklist: Handout T3, a detailed checklist that relates different classroom accommodations to student needs (PDF, 9 pages, 136 KB)
Legal Basis for Accommodations and Modifications