Some educators and other professionals said there is system-wide confusion about accommodation and modification. See for example: [1097] Integra, A Handbook on Learning Disabilities, supra note 94 at 23. The Ministry provides Special Equipment Amount (SEA) funding[1107] to school boards to provide accommodation to students with special needs, so they can attend school or access curriculum. For example, educators and other professionals raised concerns with current planning documents like IEPs that are populated with generic drop-down menu accommodations, and Identification, Placement and Review Committees (IPRCs) that list too many buzzwords and lack detail on what strategies work[or] have not worked for the student. But schools, workplaces, and society can make changes to remove these barriers so everyone can do their best work. A truly brilliant, deeply caring and beloved man died this week Harry Belafonte. When curriculum expectations are modified to a lower grade level, students often do not catch up to peers or return to the standard curriculum. In a normal school year, there are two reporting periods for secondary school semester courses, and three reporting periods for secondary non-semester courses (due to COVID, some schools have moved to a quad-mester system with four reporting periods). 14. If the student is not responding to initial interventions and accommodations, then more intensive interventions and further accommodations should be offered, Only when these have been exhausted and the student is still unable to meet grade-level expectations with accommodations (as assessed using evidence-based assessments), modification to a lower grade-level expectation for the specific expectation(s) the student cannot meet may be considered, Before modifying to a lower grade-level expectation, parents and students, where appropriate must be informed that a modification to a lower grade-level expectation has the potential to affect the students ability to catch up to their grade-level peers, access future course options, and access post-secondary school options. [1133] For example: whether it continues to be used, whether it is helping the student reach learning expectations, what additional accommodations might be considered. For example, a modification may be to have a student do lower-level math. Schools should also consider proactive approaches to prevent bullying and eliminate the stigma that is attached to some accommodations, by educating students and educators about learning differences and explaining that supports and accommodations simply provide equitable access to learning and the curriculum for all students. The outline could be a web diagram that provides a clear procedure for the writing process. Developmental Science, 13, 279288. Now imagine reading like thisevery word you encounter all day long. Accommodations for students with reading difficulties fall into two categories: For this report, Code-related accommodations are distinct from reading interventions, but both are instrumental to facilitating the needs of students with reading difficulties. It appears that some accommodations fail because students have not been explicitly and adequately taught and supported to use the tools successfully. [1101] David H Roose et al, Theme Editors Introduction: Technology and Dyslexia Part 1 (2013) 38:4 Perspectives on Language and Literacy, Technology and Dyslexia Part 1 at 7, online (pdf): IDA Florida fl.dyslexiaida.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2017/09/Technology-and-Dyslexia-Part-1-by-Jennifer-Topple-Kim-Pastavridis-on-09-23-2017.pdf. [1141] Ibid, at Barrier area narratives and recommendations: s. 6, rec. To better meet the needs of the dyslexic students in your school or classroom, watch this webinar presented by Reading Horizons dyslexia specialist Shantell Berrett Blake. For example, we learned from educators and other professionals that teachers struggle with accommodating students with extra time. To receive extra time for an assignment or test without missing out on other lessons, students usually have to give up part or all of their recess or lunch, and feel like they are being punished and are missing out. As well as loss of social opportunities, several students and parents agreed that losing recess or lunch negatively affected students ability to concentrate later in the day. 8, online (pdf): Ontario Child Advocate Archive ocaarchives.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/we-have-something-to-say-report-en.pdf [Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, We Have Something to Say]. They must seek certain internal approvals for the application and then send it to other staff for processing and transmission to the Ministry. Dyslexia takes away an individuals ability to read quickly and automatically, and to retrieve spoken words easily, but it does not dampen their creativity and ingenuity. [1130] See Auditor General, 2008 Annual Report, supra note 183 at s. 3.14, 374: encourage school boards to ensure that information useful in preparing IEPs such as summaries of information obtained from consultations with parents and psychologists and other professionals, strategies and accommodations tried by previous teachers, the results of educational diagnostic tests, and minutes of in-school support team meetings is available to and used by the preparers., [1131] [A school principal must establish] a plan, including a timetable, for evaluating and monitoring the students progress towards achieving his or her learning expectations: Ontario Ministry of Education, Special Education in Ontario, supra note 198 at E59. Find out what others with similar challenges use. As a K12 educator, you may be called on to provide accommodations for your students. Best Accommodations for the Homeschool Student With Dyslexia 1. There are laws that require schools, workplaces, and others to provide equal access to people with disabilities. In some cases, a teacher may modify the number or complexity of grade-level expectations while gathering baseline information while classroom teams work in collaboration with school and system teams. by providing early assessment, early intervention or interim accommodation while waiting for a professional assessment), and refrain from obstructing or delaying the accommodation process by rigidly insisting on formalities, unnecessary professional assessments, or diagnosis information. See: OHRC, Policy on accessible education for students with disabilities, supra note 7 at appendix A, rec 17. There are three core critical thinking skills: analysis, evaluation, and inference. For this report, we do not consider technological tools that support learning reading skills like software-based reading programs to be AT accommodations. Until those connections are automatic, the reading process will be laborious and draining. Log start and stop times and keep a record of time per task to document overall performance speed and to see coorelations between conditions, strategies, and performance. Learning Disabilities Association of America, Behavior Intervention Plan Example (6 GREAT Strategies). Teaching can provide clues for worthwhile learning but doesnt produce it. School boards should provide students and parents with a straightforward and meaningful complaint process for accommodations, and should refer to it in their Special Education Plans and in all special education guides for parents. Boards are legally required to make sure their policies and procedures facilitate the timely delivery of effective accommodations. They change how people learn and how people get their work done. Both help with the executive function deficits associated with dyslexia. They should: Schools must customize accommodations for each student, and carefully monitor them. Most students with [learning disabilities] have average IQwhich means they should NOT have modified IEPs rather simply accommodations. The Ministry should evaluate existing funding structures and levels to make sure adequate resources are provided to boards to provide timely and appropriate accommodations to all students who need them. Teaching & Learning Curriculum and Instruction Resources Dyslexia Dyslexia General information on dyslexia and related California Department of Education (CDE) programs, projects, and resources. Appropriate training for the student and/or their teacher may be necessary to successfully implement accommodations. Parents described situations where a teacher or school administrator: It is unconscionable for an educator to mock a student based on their disability, or to hamper a students access to accommodations for their disability. 88. School boards are inappropriately using modifications for students with reading difficulties, in many cases in place of accommodations and interventions. What classroom accommodations help level the playing field for students with dyslexia? Taking time to ensure student understanding and matching pacing to the needs of your classroom is helpful for every student. Schools must examine each students individual circumstances, create customized accommodations that truly help them access the curriculum, and evaluate their effectiveness on an ongoing basis. For example, one parent noted that she asked for testing and reading supports but was told that her daughter needed to leave the French Immersion stream as there are no special [education] accommodations in French Immersion. Another parent explained that the school wouldnt accommodate or support my child unless I transferred him to the English stream., Schools cannot refuse to provide accommodations simply because a child is in a French Immersion program. [1117], We heard about a troubling and widespread lack of access to accommodations. Educators and other professionals acknowledged that parental advocacy and student self-advocacy helped secure accommodations, and consistently said that students who advocate for themselves and/or have a parent who advocates for them are more likely to receive accommodations.[1124]. Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. Allow students with dyslexia to do every other problem or only half the problems to keep the focus of homework on demonstrating and practicing content knowledge as opposed to making it an exercise in endurance. In my school that was high transient, low income, high behaviour with 13 IEPs I could not meet the needs of my students. When student survey respondents were asked if an IPRC was required to receive their accommodation, 52% said yes and 33% said no. Another board said it has seen programs being modified too quickly and acknowledged that modifying is a serious stepas soon as you modify you are building in gaps. The board reported that it has challenged schools to take a hard look at using modification because it has a significant impact on pathways for students. The board has been very clear to schools with intensive [professional development] that there should not be any consideration for modifying until all accommodations [are] exhausted., Another board had a similar view, acknowledging that if teachers modify below grade level, it has lifelong implications for school pathways and future work. The board reported trying to make educators understand that if they modify early on, [students] dont ever get caught up.. Accommodations - Yale Dyslexia Accommodations Home Resources Accommodations With the right accommodations, dyslexic children and adults can perform as well as anyone else- and sometimes even better. Permit students to record assignment instructions and lectures for playback: At the root of dyslexia is a language processing issue, so students with dyslexia sometimes struggle with multistep verbal instructions and paying attention through long lectures. 5. English spelling with its very difficult system of drawing spelling patterns from many different languages is always a challenge for dyslexic people, but foreign languages are often a challenge, too. Well email you our most helpful stories and resources. For example, granting a student extra time to complete an assignment during recess or lunch may draw attention to the student or potentially isolate them. Help the student identify the key ideas and the language involved - the words and symbols, as spoken and written. 101. When a student is responsible for successfully conveying ideas, they will determine prerequisite knowledge and will work to secure it before introducing new ideas. Lapkin, E. (20142016). They can never replace active involvement in the classroom or interventions aimed at teaching and addressing reading and writing skills. One way to avoid habituation is to vary activities frequently and avoid performing the same activity over and over for a long time. (Berninger and Wolf. They easily become overwhelmed and unable to think clearly. Or an employee may get lighter work duties because of an injury. They spoke about long delays in waiting for such training. Many educators and other professionals shared their concern that accommodations are often provided too late. Under the Code, accommodation must be timely, because accommodation delayed is accommodation denied. Use graph paper to help line up numbers and problems. [1164] [The teacher is responsible for] reviews and updates learning expectations at the beginning of each reporting period; [and] maintains ongoing communication with the students parents, other teachers, and other professionals and support staff involved with the student. See Ontario Ministry of Education, Special Education in Ontario, supra note 198 at E75. Take a proactive approach to prevent bullying and eliminate the stigma that is attached to some accommodations, by educating students and teachers about learning differences and explaining that supports and accommodations simply provide equitable access to learning and the curriculum for all students. Some students naturally connect new information to what they already know, but many students need to be taught how to connect everything. [1146], 91. For many years, research on dyslexia proceeded on the basis that it was a specific learning difficulty - specific . These five easy-to-implement accommodations can make class less stressful and more manageable for students with dyslexia. It's a mysterious package, delivered by subtle sensory clues. One helpful strategy is to enable students with slow reading rates to use books on tape or recordings. For example, schools do not currently have a common list of quality-assured AT products that are available in Ontario. These materials, as well as resources such as School Mental Health Ontarios Mentally Healthy Return to School Toolkit, are available in the ministrys Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).. Some educator/other professional survey respondents agreed that too much responsibility is being placed on students and parents to advocate for accommodations. Several inquiry boards admitted that modifications are not always a last resort. An Individualized Education Program (IEP) can be a valuable tool for ensuring that dyslexic kids receive math support. That students with disabilities are entitled to accommodation (including at any grade level and in both French, That accommodations for students with reading difficulties should be provided alongside evidence-based interventions. To achieve deep understanding, students must experience concepts within relevant contexts, and must deeply understand the language and the relationships involved. The provision of accommodations in no way alters the curriculum expectations for the grade level or course. Maintaining an employees access to the resources they need to thrive on the job requires consistent communication between the individual and their supervisor and constant monitoring of their success. The system is daunting for many families to learn what to ask for, find free time during the day to meet with school staff, and then advocate vigorously during that meeting and beyond. See an outline of a lesson. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC. Not all students who receive accommodations have IEPs. Examples of assistive technology (AT) and non-AT accommodations that support students with reading difficulties and situations where each may be appropriate. [3] While the medical field uses the term "dyslexia," some educators prefer to call it specific reading disability to avoid labels. This does not appear to be happening in at least some cases. There do not appear to be standardized guidelines and protocols for AT training, including who should provide the training, how often, what topics it should cover, and who should attend the training. Further, schools do not always make sure that educators provide digitized worksheets, assignments and tests to all students who need them as an accommodation before or when distributing the paper version. Yet another parent explained their sons frustration with assistive software accommodations: [H]is reading is not strong enough to realize that [his assistive software] has made a mistake. Simplifying steps will decrease frustration for both you andyour students. Students with reading difficulties may be two or more years behind in reading and not need modifications. Our law firm comprehends the complexities of special education, providing insightful articles to ensure understanding, inclusivity, and academic growth. Integrate AT with instruction and curriculum. 109. [1115] Auditor General, 2017 Annual Report, supra note 183, at s. 3.08, 439. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 1-800-333-0054 (Toll Free) AT for reading difficulties is any device, piece of equipment or system that helps students with disabilities access grade-level curriculum. The availability of tablets, laptops, computers and applications varied among schools, and school boards generally did not formally assess whether classrooms had adequate, up-to-date and consistently allocated IT resources. For example, it highlighted that many elementary schools no longer have teacher-librarians, and [a]mong schools where the position still exists, teacher-librarians are more frequently being required to cover other teachers planning time and maintain the library, rather than providing additional literacy supports to the school. It also highlighted that although AT can be helpful, the government must provide long-term, sustainable investments in technology and training, to ensure students have the required supports.. The OHRC asked the Ministry if it is planning to (1) provide guidance to make sure accommodations/interventions are provided before modifying curriculum expectations; and (2) require that certain procedural steps are followed to make sure modification is used as a last resort. To provide more effective accommodations, school officials need to better understand what types of accommodation work and how, for which students with reading difficulties, and in what situations. Awareness of time running out, adds additional stress, and further impairs functioning. When educator survey respondents were asked if a psychoeducational assessment is typically required now, 6% said always; 38% said sometimes; 32% said never. It is the OHRCs position that under the Code, schools have a duty to accommodate to the point of undue hardship, regardless of whether students study in French or English.[1123]. The trick is knowing which accommodations work best and understanding what schools and workplaces are required to provide under the law. That being said, teaching handwriting is a reasonable dyslexic-specific intervention that should be happening in all schools. We're a Michigan nonprofit with global reach. The service provider cannot attempt to receive an exemption from this requirement by arguing that it would cause undue hardship. One parent said that their child went to every teacher at the beginning of the semester and told them about his accommodations, but found the process to be humiliating and wanted the teachers to simply review his IEP. Student self-advocacy is necessary before they can reasonably be expected to have the skills to [self-advocate]. But schools, workplaces, and society can make changes to remove these barriers so everyone can do their best work. 89. Many children struggle with learning to read. [1134] [The teacher is responsible for] reviews and updates [to] learning expectations at the beginning of each reporting period; [and] maintains ongoing communication with the students parents, other teachers, and other professionals and support staff involved with the student. See Ontario Ministry of Education, Special Education in Ontario, supra note 198 at E75. [1125] 9% said all; 29% said most; 35% said some; 15% said few. Dyslexia has nothing to do with a lack of intelligence, so making sure students have plenty of opportunities to learn the same materials as their peers is important. Individuals with dyslexia can also have difficulty organizing, managing their time, and following a teachers directions. In its 2017 annual report, the Auditor General cited a 2016 Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario news release that raised concerns that: [T]he number of special-education students identified as requiring individualized plans and support has continued to increase and outpace the grants to support special education. For detailed recommendations about how the Ontario Ministry of Education and boards can develop procurement procedures to meet accessible, barrier-free standards, see: Education Standards Development Committee, Development of proposed K-12 education standards, supra note 969 at Barrier area narratives and recommendations: s. 3, rec 11 & s. 4, rec 38.2. Before modifying a prescribed course, the program planning team must determine whether the proposed programming is in line with assessment data and whether all other means of supporting the student have been explored, exhausted and documented. You may hear the term modification. For example, families who are racialized, Indigenous, live with disabilities, are newcomers, or lack fluency in English or French may not be in the same position to seek accommodations, or they may face extra barriers when seeking accommodation. Sense of belonging is a basic need, fundamental motive, and human right, particularly important in education. She described attending IPRC meetings about her childrens reading disabilities, where school staff recommended placing her children on modified programs. Use attention-getting phrases like . This is how they will come to own the knowledge. They must: An education provider can claim undue hardship only in very limited cases where there is excessive cost (factoring in outside sources of funding), or significant health and safety risks. Reneehad a career as an educator for eight years prior to attending law school. We also heard that when students transfer from one school board to another, their Ontario Student Record (OSR) may not be immediately available to the new board. (2010). First identify the barrier. Teachers should be cognizant of at-risk dyslexic students slow reading rates when making in-class or heavy homework reading assignments. Here are some typical math adjustments that can be incorporated into an IEP for a student with dyslexia: It is essential to remember that each kids IEP is tailored to their specific needs. [1157] These timelines should include maximum times between: 103. See also: Karen Erickson, Reading and Assistive Technology: Why the Readers Profile Matters (2013) 38:4 Perspectives on Language and Literacy, Technology and Dyslexia Part 1 at 11, online (pdf): IDA Florida fl.dyslexiaida.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2017/09/Technology-and-Dyslexia-Part-1-by-Jennifer-Topple-Kim-Pastavridis-on-09-23-2017.pdf. [1110], To use funds from the SEA claims-based funding, the board must provide the Ministry with the IEP and proof of purchase, and also an assessment(s) from an appropriately qualified professional.[1111]. Once accommodations are in place, some students and parents remain concerned that schools do not update them on how those accommodations are progressing. Some boards, like Hamilton-Wentworth, described detailed IEP auditing systems and professional development programs, while others had less formal processes. Students and parents also addressed resource shortages. Knowing what is coming each day or class period provides a certain amount of security for students with dyslexia. When we keep them modified forever at [Grade 1 or 2], then we cut off their chances for post-secondary, or even for applied or academic in high school one day. [1098] Malgorzata & da Cosa, supra note 95. Other students with dyslexia will be well-organized and able to prioritize assignments but struggle with completing reading and writing assignments. New findings from neuroscience provide new insights and perspectives on classroom practices for literacy. Gentry, J.R. (2004). [1128] When educators and other professionals were asked whether accommodations are included on IEPs, 45% said always; 40% said sometimes; 2% said never. [1102] Marla J Lohmann et al, Using Assistive Technology Tools to Support Learning in the Inclusive Preschool Classroom (2019) 8:2 The Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship 1. Parents also voiced concerns about program modifications. Actively model concepts and problems, focus on language, reason aloud, and use a. to hold number information, see number relationships, and free up cognitive resources. All right reserved. Be cognizant that a typical sign of dyslexia is life-long poor spelling. It shouldn't have taken over three years to get them into place. Lakehead said it has a full-time Student Support Professional (SSP) responsible for SEA training, and training is also provided to every student receiving SEA technology, teachers and support staff. Instead, offer extra support and teach them spelling consciousnessthe habit of getting help to make sure that their spelling is corrected in important pieces of writing. When student survey respondents were asked if psychoeducational assessments were required to receive their accommodations, 72% said yes and 21% said no. If a student regularly requires accommodations (including specialized equipment) for instruction or assessment, the accommodations should be included in an IEP. Think about how time is used with reading and writing assignments for the whole class. Dyslexia occurs on a spectrum, so some students may fly under the radar with a mild case while others are profoundly impacted. I left that class after five weeks because I just couldnt do it. Educators and other professionals highlighted that for accommodations to be successful, students need training on how to optimize them. Students should be using AT to access grade level text while simultaneously receiving remedial reading instruction. Students with dyslexia might benefit significantly from addressing their learning discrepancy in an Individualized Education Program (IEP). 1. One person raised concerns that some necessary modifications may not be provided because sometimes parents object to modifying [the] program, or because the teachers find modifications really hard to do its basically making two or three versions of all assignments and rubrics [and] many teachers dont understand how to do this or simply dont have time, or because [t]eachers and staff are encouraged not to modify as this makes more work during reporting, and issues with students going from grade to grade.. Are Americans Really Becoming Less Intelligent? [1099] Technology alone does not lead to good outcomes in student writing. Because modifications limit students future opportunities, schools should not offer them until evidence-based reading instruction and reading interventions have been delivered, and multiple accommodations have been implemented, evaluated and adjusted. It is unfair to deny accommodations for the other students who don't qualify for an exceptionality but still need the help.
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