Program Planning Student with Special Needs
Educational accommodations help students with disabilities learn the same material as their peers, but in different ways. Accommodations can be made to the environment, the way information is presented, how students respond, and how time is scheduled.
Environmental Accommodations
Seating arrangements, Lighting, Special lighting, and Service animals.
Presentation Accommodations
Enlarged text, Read aloud, electronic copies of notes, Tape-recorded lectures, and Taped textbooks.
Response Accommodations
Extra time for writing tests and assignments, scribing of answers, using assistive technology, and oral responses to test questions.
Assessment Accommodations
- Alternate test format: oral, Braille, or large print.
- Chunking of information
- Frequent breaks during assessments
Modifications Student with Special Needs
Modifications for students with special needs include changes to curriculum, assignments, assessments, and the learning environment. The goal is to help students access the curriculum and demonstrate their knowledge.
Learning Environment Modifications
- Create a learning environment that meets the individual needs of the student
- Provide visual supports and cues
- Use manipulative and sensory materials
- Allow time to process experiences and information
Assessment Modifications
- Change standard assessment procedures or tools
- Provide opportunities to demonstrate knowledge and skills
Other Modifications
- Offer choices so students can follow interests and strengths
- Learn different material
Alternative Programing Student with Special Needs
Alternative programs, or alternative skill areas, are developed to support students in acquiring knowledge and skills outside of the Ontario school curriculum.
Alternative settings for special education students can include:
Resource room:
A dedicated space where a student receives individualized instruction from a special education teacher for a portion of the day, then returns to their general education classroom.
Self-contained classroom:
A classroom with a smaller student-teacher ratio where students with similar needs receive specialized instruction for most of the school day.
Inclusion support:
A general education classroom where a student with special needs receives additional support from a educational assistant (EA) or specialized teacher.
Speech therapy room:
A designated area for speech and language therapy sessions with a speech-language pathologist.
Sensory room:
A space designed to provide sensory stimulation or calming activities for students with sensory processing needs.
Online learning platforms:
Online learning programs with adapted features and additional support for students who may benefit from a flexible learning environment.