Most parents send their kids off to school every day hoping that they’re having fun, making friends, and learning. For our kids, this may involve some extra steps to ensure they have access to every aspect of the school experience. The IEP process allows us to eliminate barriers to full participation in school — whether it’s for reading, writing, visual processing, or out on the field in P.E. class. Enter accommodations!
Accommodations in the IEP allow students to participate but with some variation in time, format, setting, or presentation. In essence, they help level the playing field by adapting how kids learn, not what they learn (those are called modifications!) and they come in all shapes and sizes — you may have to try out a few before finding ones that are the right fit!
If your child has an IEP, you’ll likely hear the term accommodation come up often, so we’ve put together some resources to navigate accommodations in the IEP or 504 plan, whether you’re trying to identify the right tools for your child or you need help working with your school to implement them.
- Start here! Read how accommodations are different from modifications, as well as how we can advocate for what our kids need to thrive in the classroom.
- Check out our List of Accommodations for IEPs and 504s, which you can use as a starting point when discussing accommodations with your IEP team. Plus, a printable tip sheet outlining sample accommodations that you can take on the go — from math to tests to writing, and more! If your kiddo is in preschool, or getting ready to start, see our article on Preschool Accommodations.
- Assistive technology can play a big role reducing barriers to learning. Check out our article Assistive Technology (AT) 101 to learn more about what tools are available, how to get an AT assessment, and more! And for an in-depth list of AT tools — from audiobooks to browser extensions to iPad apps, and more — dive into our article IEP Assistive Technology Tools to Empower Students with Disabilities.
- Looking for something more specific? You can check out our 101 articles to find example accommodations for kids with ADHD, auditory processing disorders, autism, dyslexia, and executive functioning issues. We also have some common accommodations listed in our articles about occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy.
Last week, we gave you a toolkit on envisioning, writing, and reviewing IEP goals. This week, we’re teaching you how to turn “bad” IEP goals “good” in our IEP goals workshop. As a parent, knowing the difference between well-written and poorly-written goals (and learning how to fix them) can make a huge difference in your child’s roadmap. See our article to learn the basics of workshopping IEP goals!
“Getting Ready for Summer with Regional Center” Virtual Event with Public Benefits Specialist Lisa Concoff Kronbeck
Summer is right around the corner — do you have everything you need in place when school’s finally out? We’re hosting a Facebook Live event on Thursday, May 4th, at 12:00 p.m. PST with Undivided Public Benefits Specialist Lisa Concoff Kronbeck all about requesting extra support from Regional Center this summer. Lisa will be sharing tips and answering questions about respite hours, camp funding, and more! If you can’t attend the event live, RSVP here anyway to get a recap and link to the full replay!
Office Hours for Undivided Members
Want more personalized support? While our Facebook Live event is open to everyone, Undivided members have private access to Lisa’s expertise during Undivided Office Hours, where they can ask her personal questions and get tailor-made tips, resources, and support. Our next Office Hours is on Wednesday, May 3rd at 3:00 p.m. PST, so if you’d like to attend this exclusive, virtual Q&A session, sign up here to begin your free Kickstart!
- Get the facts about accommodations & modifications in this video where Dr. Sarah Pelangka busts some common myths. Watch on YouTube→
- Are you looking for a specific type of provider in the SoCal area? Referrals from fellow parents can be a great resource. Ask in our private Facebook group for parents→
- Did you catch Undivided at the Dear Mom Conference for mothers of kids with Down syndrome? Check out these friendly faces on Instagram!→
- Connect with us to share the work we do for families raising kids with disabilities across California! Join us on LinkedIn→
This newsletter was originally sent to our subscribers on 4/28/23. Subscribe to our newsletter to get more resources like this in your inbox, or check out our full library of articles, templates, and videos at undivided.io/resources.
