IEP Accommodations and Strategies
You want ideas to submit to the IEP team, but you just don’t know where to start. Well, here you go! You asked for it, you got it! I’ve received many, many reader requests for a list of SDIs or strategies. I hope this list of SDIs, strategies, and accommodations for an IEP or 504 is helpful.
SDI Specially Designed Instruction.
An SDI is anything specific and unique to your child. They are determined by their areas of need, to help them access their education. It is based on the evaluations done on your child, to determine their areas of need. SDIs are used to help your child achieve the goals listed in the IEP. Most SDIs should be applied across all environments, not in just one class or classroom. They are adaptations or modifications to the regular curriculum. SDIs are in place to help your child reach their IEP goals and objectives.
Keep in mind, this is mostly accommodations. A child does not learn how to read with accommodations. They need an intervention, which is the specific teaching program or curriculum. Know the difference!
Updated 01/16/2019. This is a new and improved version, as I had to update, the other formatting was no longer supported.
Classroom Accommodations
- a quiet area to complete the work or take a test
- having someone read a test to them
- “preferential seating,” means sitting near the front, or away from distraction or in their area of preference (if they prefer a left or right visual field)
- preferential seating for hearing/audio
- preferential seating away from distractions, windows, doors, speakers
- extra time to complete the work or reading given
- early dismissal from class to get to the locker and to next class
- identify and limit distractions
- opportunity for practice
- “hot pass” or “cool off card” which is a card the student gets and they can leave class, flash the hot pass to the teacher, and go to the office, guidance counselor, nurse (designated ahead of time) to cool off, if they feel a negative behavior coming on
- high contrast materials, limited visual clutter
- adapted lunch setting to reduce sensory stressors
- adapted recess with adult lead activities to increase peer interactions
- recess and group activities to be designed with IEP goals in mind
- keep days and activities structured
- structured seating arrangements
- small group instruction with appropriate intervention
- access to the resource room or learning support room
Transitions-Strategies and Accommodations
- visual cues in hallways to guide the child to the next classroom or cafeteria
- personal timeouts to regroup and prepare for the transition
- time warnings and increased transition time
- advance notice of transitions
- schedule on the blackboard (or whiteboard/smartboard, I know, I’m old using the word blackboard)
Instructional Strategies List
Tools and Equipment
- visual charts
- visual schedules
- visual cues in a locker, lunch box, on a desk
- fidget spinners/fidget toys
- written schedules on locker, lunch box
- graphic organizers
- choice cards
- emotions cards
- earplugs or headphones
- special seating-seat pads, sit-upon balls, etc.
- adaptive equipment-pens, pencils, calculators, fidgety toys, large print books, audio, etc.
- use of FM headsets to either have blocked out music or FM transmission of teacher speaking, use Beatz or something else socially acceptable, blocks out outside noise
- rewards charts
- yoga, meditation, relaxation techniques
- use of a scribe or oral testing to open-ended or essay formats
- provide a study guide
- provide audio recordings
- provide video/audio recordings
- voice recognition software
- extra set of the textbooks-1 set for home, 1 for school
- pencil grips, slant boards
- develop a sensory diet
- spelling dictionary, spell checker
- provide notes, outlines or organizers with key concepts or terms highlighted
- mnemonics
- remind the student to wear glasses/hearing aids
- allow the use of a preferred writing implement
Language-Based Accommodations and Strategies
- minimal use of open-ended statements or questions
- do not use sarcasm or inferences when communicating with the student
- allow 5 or 10 seconds (whatever child needs) processing time when a request is made
- chunk down verbal instructions
- use only 1 question or instruction task at a time if the child cannot do 2-3 part questions
- speak slower
- use literal language
- Use of first____, then_______.
- having someone read the material to them
- concise, direct prompts
- clear, concise instructions that are at child’s ability
- activity based learning
- explain metaphors and double meanings
- limit oral questions to the number that the child can manage
- provide direct feedback in appropriate settings
People and Peer-based Accommodations and Interventions
- special sign or signal between teacher and student to notify the student of something
- encourage but do not force eye contact; forcing eye contact may break the train of thought
- buddy system for unstructured times
- peer to peer tutoring as appropriate
- structured social skills groups
- set up opportunities for the child to self-advocate
- peer modeling-appropriate play, interaction
- role play
- social stories
- pair with the student prior to learning a new task
- cooperative games rather than win/lose
- facilitated socialization at recess, lunch, breaks
- education sessions for peers to help them understand disability
- watch videos of social stories/interactions and ask to explain
- role playing-both with successful and undesired outcomes (ie-troubleshooting)
IEP Sensory Accommodations and Strategies
- give sensory breaks-have child carry down attendance sheets or just a few envelopes down to the office to allow for movement
- timed bathroom breaks (every 60, 90 120 minutes)
- awareness of sensory issues–smells, sounds, lighting; adjust as appropriate
- scheduled sensory breaks
- {Sensory Diet} What is it? Should it be on your IEP?
Behavior Accommodations and Strategies
- frequent reinforcement for desired/positive behaviors
- token board
- intersperse preferred and non-preferred tasks
- agenda checklist for check-ins with a preferred staff member
- task strip with preferred activity at the end
Testing and Assignments-SDIs and Accommodations
- monthly, weekly or bi-weekly phone or in person conferences with parents (progress monitoring)
- homework assignments chunked down by the teacher to define each task
- have the child write down verbal questions to aid in processing
- breaking down tests into segments
- pre-teaching information, then post-teaching afterward
- alternatives for completing assignments (typed instead of written, or verbal)
- provide facilitated experiences
- frequent test breaks with opportunities to move
- testing in a study carrel
- testing in the morning only
- masking test items so only single questions are visible
- permission to hand in all assignments late, as pre-determined
- modify assignments to only include essential content
- intersperse easy and difficult demands on an 80/20 basis (and work to increase)
- longer assignments are broken down and scheduled out in pictures or words
IEP Interventions for Cognitive and Academic Deficits
- AM/PM check in with a preferred staff person
- Use of prompt hierarchy
- incorporate child’s personal interests into activities whenever possible
- to do list
- journal
- show example of completed projects
- picture calendar or schedule
- when appropriate and will not cause a distraction-guide student through real-life situations
- provide with calming strategies
- test format to tap “recognition memory” such as matching or multiple choice rather than fill in blank without a word bank
And that should add up to around 500! Woot!
This post was originally published in 2012 but has been updated numerous times. You can find much more information below.
More Accommodations and Information:
Lisa Lightner
Special Education Advocate at A Day in our Shoes
Hi, I'm Lisa, owner and main writer for this site. I live in Chester County, PA with my husband and two boys. I am a Special Education Advocate and Disabilities Consultant, run this blog and the Facebook group and manage to squeeze in time for lobbying. Thanks for reading!
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