Accommodations

What is an Accommodation?

An accommodation is simply help or modifications that a student needs in order to be able to function in school. The IEP team will work together to decide the accommodations that a student needs in order for the student to function, but once the accommodations are set up, they must be followed. If accommodations that are listed on the IEP are not followed and there is no obvious safety concern, the school is violating the IEP.

Does an Appropriate Education include necessary accommodations?

Technically, yes. An appropriate education includes accommodations necessary for your child to succeed at school. However, the school district may argue that an accommodation is not necessary. Make sure that you remind the IEP team that you are the child’s parent or guardian and that you know them better than anyone else, and explain to them why you think the accommodations are necessary.

What do I do if I believe my child is being denied their accommodations?

If you believe that your child is being denied accommodations that have already been set at a previous IEP meeting, contact the teacher and ask them to explain what happened. If you believe your child’s IEP has clearly been violated, talk to the teacher about the potential violation. If that does not work and you still believe there was an IEP violation, talk to the special ed teacher. If all else fails, call another IEP meeting.

What if, according to the school district, my child needs are too expensive for the school?

If your child has an IEP, they are required to receive a free and appropriate education, and the school district is required to cover the cost of this education no matter what. If there are two different possible accommodations, the school can choose the less expensive one, but it must be an appropriate education as required by law.

What are some common accommodations found on IEPs?

Accommodations found on IEPs range greatly depending on the type of accommodations the student needs. For example, if a student is stressed taking a test in a crowded room, the student may be able to take the test in a different room if they wish. They may be able to have another adult in the classroom specifically helping them if it is determined to be needed on an IEP. Common accommodations also include but are not limited to a student being allowed to hear instructions orally, being given a rubric to a lesson plan they normally would not be given a rubric to, having accommodations for scheduling, using an alarm to help with time management, and being excused from particular assignments.