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

Arkansas Assistive Technology Consideration Resource Guide

This resource document has sections for the following

  • Writing/Written Composition
  • Spelling
  • Reading
  • Oral Communication/Language
  • Environmental Control & Computer Access
  • Math
  • Study and Organizational Skills
  • Hearing and Listening
  • Vision
  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Recreation and Leisure
  • Pre-vocational and Vocational
  • Seating and Positioning
  • Mobility

All

Google Chrome Extensions

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

UDL Toolkit

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) supports all students.  

  • Engagement (How to involve the student in the learning)
  • Representation (How information is presented to the student)
  • Expression (How the student shows what he has

learned)

All

Accommodation Central

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

Online Visual Timers

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

DeafTEC

These are tools to add captions to media.

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Pre-K - 2nd Grade

Subject Area

Support

Description

All

Multisensory supports

Make sure learning activities involve multiple senses: listening, seeing, touching, and moving.

All

Hand function adaptations

Children with hand function impairments may require some adaptations to help them participate in activities. Add knobs to puzzles; increase the width of handles; look for toys, jars, and other equipment that are easy to hold and manage.

All

Quiet Corner

The child may need a quiet place away from stimulation.

All

Sequencing

Encourage the child to participate in activities that involve sequencing: following a simple recipe, doing laundry, planting flowers. Talk through the activity as you do it. Have the child explain what they did first, second, third, and so on. If the child struggles, use pictures or drawings of the steps and help him put the steps in the correct order.

All

Functional Application

When teaching concepts, make them as functional as possible (1:1 correspondence could be counting Cheerios at snack time).

All

Understood.org

Picture schedules

A typical picture schedule uses images to show children what they need to do to finish an activity or complete a routine. It also shows them the order in which to do things. If kids miss a step, a picture schedule is an easy reminder.

All

Choice boards

Choice boards are graphic organizers that have multiple squares. Each square is an activity. The activities help children learn or practice a primary concept, while allowing them a choice. Children can be instructed to choose one or more of these activities to complete. They can progress from one activity to another either in an organized or random order.

Reading

Sequencing with pictures

Before reading or listening to a story with the child, draw and cut out simple drawings of the characters. After the child reads or listens to the story, have her put the drawings of the characters in the correct sequence.

Writing

Alternate writing tools

Allow the child to respond using sidewalk chalk, markers on large paper, magnetic letters, white boards, shaving cream, etc.

Math

Manipulatives

Using manipulatives, children can work through a math problem with the ability to visualize the problem in a more concrete way. Examples of math manipulatives that could be found in the home include blocks, puzzle pieces, pens and pencils, coins, Legos, and edibles. (Manipulatives should be used with caution as they can be choking hazards.)

Math

Visual aids

Visual aids provide a resource for children to reference previously taught material without having to recall information from memory. The visual aids provided are just a few examples.

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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 

Electronic 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

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 Glossary

Visual math glossaries allow the student to understand terminology with increased independence. This can include visual representations of the terms.

Math

Khan Academy

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

Virtual Manipulatives

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

Formula Sheets

Providing a document with any needed formulas may help students in completing math problems. Allow the student to refer to the sheet as needed.

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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  

Electronic 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

Explanation from Understood.org

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

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

Visual Math Glossary

These glossaries allow the student to understand terminology with increased independence and include visual representations of the terms.

Math

Khan Academy

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

Virtual Manipulatives

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

Formula Sheets

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.

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