SPEC 204 Accommodations v. Modifications

​Brief Background on Accessibility

According to IDEA, all children have a right to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). There are many ways we can provide access to students. Accommodations and modifications provide individuals with access and/or opportunity they otherwise would not have had. We can reduce the amount of accommodations and modifications required by simply being more accessible to all and utilizing Universal Design principles.

Universal Design is the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood, and used to the greatest extent possible by all people regardless of their age, size, ability or disability (https://universaldesign.ie/what-is-universal-design/). We can use this same principle for education, too!

What is Universal Design?

​Image credit: https://accessibility.umn.edu/importance-accessibility/accessibility-vs-accommodation

​According to CAST, the leader in Universal Design for Learning (UDL):

​"Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn."

​Changes can be made any of three key areas: Engagement, Action & Expression, and Representation.

​The truth is...

Sometimes UDL isn't enough, so as educators we are responsible for creating and/or using accommodations or modifications to meet the unique learning needs of our students. Keep in mind though, the more we use UDL principles, the less likely we are to need accommodations and we benefit more students by using UDL in our classrooms!

An accommodation changes how a student learns the material.

This practice is commonly referred to as "leveling the playing field". Accommodations allow specific changes to be made to afford a learner the same opportunity as everyone else. They are not undue advantages given to a person!

​Remember these folks?

This is a perfect illustration of accommodations in action. No one person has been given an unfair advantage over any others. Did it take more work for the second and third people to have the same access, YES. But, without those accommodations, they would not have had the same access or opportunity as their peers.

​Modifications create the playing field.

A modification changes what a student is taught or expected to learn. In cases where modifications are required, students are not expected to learn at the same rate, with the same content, and/or at the same level as their peers.

For example, a student could be assigned shorter or easier reading assignments, or homework that’s different from the rest of the class.

Let's test your knowledge!

​How'd you do?

If you have any questions about why you missed any of the questions on this quick quiz, make sure to go back and review what an accommodation is and what a modification is. If that doesn't help, contact me and I'd be happy to clarify for you!