difference between accommodations and modifications

#Difference between accommodations and modifications series#

While the two words sound similar, they mean different things.

Instead, Tobin walks laps around the baseball field. You may also hear school staff members say modification. For Tobin, the traditional gym class attended by his peers is not appropriate. Tobin has severe asthma, and it is important that he does not become short of breath. Nothing has changed in the material she is learning. She wears headphones when she takes tests and often will be in a small group setting. To access the curriculum Emony requires a quiet environment, with low light. This is a modification.Įmony is autistic. Ezri is not learning the standard 9th-grade curriculum, but a modified curriculum. Instead of algebra, Ezri’s in a class to teach basic applied math, like identifying coin values and making change. This has changed HOW Jadzia is learning the material, not what she is learning, so this is an accommodation.Įzri has a traumatic brain injury that makes it difficult for her to process number functions. Jadzia will listen to her summer reading via an audiobook, rather than reading a paperback. They are not interchangeable, but they can often be confused for one another.Īn accommodation changes HOW a student learns the material.Ī modification changes WHAT a student is taught or expected to learn. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines specially designed instruction as adapting, as appropriate to the needs of an eligible child, the. When a student has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 plan, you’ll likely hear the word accommodation.You may also hear school staff members say modification.While the two words sound similar, they mean different things. If your student is on an IEP or 504, you’ve likely heard one or both of these terms. The Difference Between Accommodations and Modifications Understood For learning and thinking differences. Understanding the difference can be one of the first steps in communicating with the district, since you need to know what to ask for before you can get it. Today, I would like to continue with a discussion about the differences between accommodations and modifications. Discuss how accommodations can serve as a pre-referral intervention and provide two examples of accommodations you might commonly make prior to referring the student to a child study team. Yesterday I wrote about reasonable accommodation. Explain the difference between modifications and accommodations.

#Difference between accommodations and modifications series#

This is the third post in a 3 series blog.