Supports for Students with Disabilities |
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While you are working with families to implement AMI activities for students with disabilities, you will want to consider accommodations these students may need to successfully access the content and participate in related activities. General educators and special educators must work together to ensure the needs of each student are being met based on his or her IEP. The tables below include a list of supports and related resources to consider by grade band, but this is not an exhaustive list. Teachers may want to highlight the items a parent could use to support their child’s learning. Please be sure the selected supports and accommodations align with each student's identified IEP needs as you continue to help families in working with their children at home.
Questions and requests for additional support in this area should be directed to Robin.Stripling@arkansas.gov.
Grade Bands
All Grades | ||
Subject Area | Support | Description |
All | This resource document has sections for the following
| |
All | Google Chrome offers many extensions that support students with disabilities. Many of the extensions are free; some require a fee. These extensions support students with Text-to-Speech, Readability, Reading Comprehension, Focus, and Navigation. | |
All | Universal Design for Learning (UDL) supports all students.
learned) | |
All | This website explains different accommodations and gives step-by-step instructions on how to implement them. There are accommodations for various content areas and functional areas. On the home page, under Tell Us About Your Student, you may choose Academic Need or Functional Need. Behavior accommodations are found under Functional Need. | |
All | Spiraling instruction: Reviewing the skills taught repeatedly over time | A student learns more about a subject each time the topic is reviewed or encountered. Each time a student encounters the topic, the student expands her knowledge or improves her skill level. |
All | Visual timers help children learn the concept of time. Visual timers also give them an understanding that every activity is limited to a set amount of time. | |
For students who are deaf or have a hearing impairment | Adding Captions | These are tools to add captions to media. |
3rd - 8th Grade | ||
Subject Area | Support | Description |
Writing | Voice Typing in Google Docs | If a student struggles getting his thoughts on paper, allow him to use speech-to-text as a support. Google Docs have a built-in feature that allows a user to talk while the computer types. This video explains how it works. |
Writing | Verbal prewriting and prewriting with pictures | Allow the student to tell you what she wants to write before having her put her thoughts on paper. If she is still unable to put her thoughts on paper, ask her if she can draw it for you. |
Writing | Chunking writing tasks | Instead of asking the student to write an entire piece, chunk the task into smaller parts. |
Writing | Reading Rockets Print version Graphic Organizers | Allow the student to chart ideas on a graphic organizer prior to starting a writing assignment. These can be used at both the paragraph and essay level. Additional organizers may be found at no cost online. |
Writing | Alternate method of writing | Allow the student to respond in a mode that allows her to express her ideas: writing by hand, typing, voice recording... |
Writing | Dictate responses | If the student struggles with writing, allow him to dictate his responses in math, science, or any subject instead of requiring him to write out his answers. |
Reading | Sequencing with pictures | Before reading or listening to a story with the student, draw and cut out simple drawings of the characters. After the student reads or listens to the story, have her put the drawings of the characters in the correct sequence. |
Reading | Audible books provide an alternate way to access text. Audible is allowing free streaming of stories and books. Stories are free to stream on a desktop, laptop, phone, or tablet. There are many other services that are being offered free during this time. | |
Reading | Text-to-Speech | Read and Write for Google Chrome is another option to provide access to text, and has a free 30-day trial. It has text-to-speech, speech to text, and several other features.There are additional text-to-speech tools available free during this time. Text-to-Speech tools are often embedded within the accessibility tools of a platform. Check the system preferences on your device for accessibility tools. |
Reading | Build background knowledge prior to reading | Prior to the student reading a story or text, consider what vocabulary words or concepts she might be unfamiliar with. Explain those before she starts reading. |
Reading | Chunking text | Instead of asking the student to read a long text, break it up into more manageable pieces. Have the student read or listen to a chunk and tell what he read. As the student goes along, he could write a short summary of each chunk. Speech-to-text or Google Voice Typing could be used to facilitate the writing of the summaries. |
Math | Reduced items | Instead of asking the student to do numerous math problems of the same type, have her complete a few of each type. Be sure to return to the types of problems often to make sure she has reviewed the skill enough and knows it well. (See Spiraling instruction above.) |
Math | Read word problems aloud | For students with reading difficulties, reading math word problems aloud to the student will enable him to focus on the math task without struggling with the reading. |
Math | Highlight Key Details | Highlighting key details will help the student identify essential information and ignore unnecessary information. |
Math | Calculator | If working on math concepts (not math facts), allow the student to use a calculator so he can focus on the concept. Many calculator options are available online including large- button, talking, and scientific. |
Math | Visual math glossaries allow the student to understand terminology with increased independence. This can include visual representations of the terms. | |
Math | If struggling with a concept, this site has lessons available to view. A parent may need a refresher in order to support the student. | |
Math | Printable Multiplication chart Electronic Multiplication chart | Charts are available both electronically and printable. These charts can be used to assist students when multiplication and division are required. |
Math | Visual aids: | Visual aids provide a resource for students to reference previously taught materials without having to recall information from memory. Additional visual aids may be found online. |
Math | Manipulatives | Math manipulatives can help students make abstract ideas concrete. Examples of math manipulatives that could be found in the home include blocks, puzzle pieces, pens and pencils, coins, utensils, Legos. |
Math | These tools allow the student to work through the problem using visual manipulatives including algebra tiles, place ten blocks, number lines, and area and perimeter. | |
Math | Providing a document with any needed formulas may help students in completing math problems. Allow the student to refer to the sheet as needed. |
High School | ||
Subject Area | Support | Description |
All | Record lesson | If presenting a lesson via Zoom or another platform, consider recording it for the student to reference at a later time. Students may need to watch the recording multiple times to deepen understanding. |
All | Provide a copy of a presentation or notes prior to instruction | Providing notes before instruction will allow a student to develop prior knowledge upon which she can build new skills. It will also allow her to focus on the content of the lesson instead of the note-taking task. |
Writing | Voice Typing | Google Docs have a free built-in feature that allows a user to talk while the computer types. This video explains how it works. |
Writing | Reading Rockets Print version Graphic Organizers | Allow the student to chart their ideas on the graphic organizer prior to starting their writing assignment. These can be used at both the paragraph and essay level. Additional organizers may be found at no cost online. |
Writing | Alternate method of writing | Allow the student to respond in a mode that allows him to express his ideas: writing by hand, typing, voice recording… |
Writing | Chunking writing tasks | Instead of asking the student to write an entire piece, chunk the task into smaller parts. |
Writing | Word Prediction | Word prediction tools are available to assist the student in writing. This assistive technology tool suggests words as the student types. Word prediction tools are often embedded within the accessibility tools of a platform. Check the system preferences on your device for accessibility tools. |
Reading | High/Low Text | Hi-lo (high-interest, low readability) books are designed to engage struggling readers by exploring complex, age-appropriate themes at a lower reading level. They typically feature simple sentences, controlled vocabulary, reduced page counts, and short chapters. |
Reading | Audible books provide an alternate way to access text. Audible is allowing free streaming of stories and books. Stories are free to stream on a desktop, laptop, phone, or tablet. | |
Reading | Build background knowledge prior to reading | Prior to the student reading the text or story, consider what vocabulary words or concepts she might be unfamiliar with. Explain those before she starts reading. |
Reading | Chunking text | Instead of asking the student to read a long text, break it into more manageable pieces. Have the student read or listen to a chunk and tell what he read. As he continues through the text, he could write a short summary of each chunk. Speech-to-text or Google Voice Typing could be used to facilitate the writing of the summaries. |
Reading | Text-to-Speech | Read and Write for Google Chrome is another option to provide access to text, and has a free 30-day trial. It has text-to-speech, speech to text, and several other features. There are also additional text-to-speech tools available free during this time. Text-to-Speech tools are often embedded within the accessibility tools of a platform. Check the system preferences on your device for accessibility tools. |
Math | Reduced items | Instead of asking the student to do numerous math problems of the same type, have her complete a few of each type. Be sure to return to the types of problems often to make sure she has reviewed the skill enough to make sure she knows it well. |
Math | Read word problems aloud | For a student with reading difficulties, reading math word problems aloud to the student will enable him to focus on the math task without struggling with decoding. |
Math | Highlight key details | Highlighting key details will help the student identify essential information and ignore unnecessary information. |
Math | Calculator | If working on math concepts, allow the student to use a calculator so she can focus on the concept. Many options are available online including large-button, talking, and scientific. |
Math | These glossaries allow the student to understand terminology with increased independence and include visual representations of the terms. | |
Math | If struggling with a concept, this site has lessons available to view. A parent may need a refresher in order to support the student. | |
Math | Printable Multiplication chart Electronic Multiplication chart | Charts are available both electronically and printable. These charts can be used to assist students when multiplication and division are required. |
Math | Visual aids: | Visual aids provide a resource for students to reference previously taught material without having to recall information from memory. The ones provided are just a few examples. |
Math | Math manipulatives help make students make abstract ideas concrete. These tools allow the student to work through the problem using visual manipulatives including algebra tiles, place ten blocks, number lines, and area and perimeter. | |
Math | Providing a document with any needed formulas may help students in completing math problems. Provide a document with any needed formulas. Allow the student to refer to the sheet as needed. |