Individual Education Plans (IEPs) create an inclusive learning environment to help your child succeed in school. Find out everything you need to know about the different modifications and accommodations available for IEP students.
As a parent, you want your child to have the same opportunities to learn and develop as their peers, regardless of their unique learning disability or challenges.
That is why it’s important that they have the right tools, like an effective Individual Education Plan (IEP), to ensure they receive the necessary support and resources to thrive academically and socially.
There are many different types of IEPs. Each one is unique, and specific changes—known as “adaptations”—are made to address each child’s strengths and challenges in the classroom.
The two main categories of IEP adaptations are “accommodations” and “modifications.”
Both are designed to support children’s learning needs in different ways:
- Providing different approaches to learning
- Adjusting students’ academic goals
- Placing them in a separate facility where they can learn more effectively, like Education Alternatives in Ohio
Understanding these different options is essential to determining the best path for your child’s education.
No matter where your child is in their IEP process, it’s natural to have questions about what these different terms mean, what the IEP will look like, and the practical changes that will be made to your child’s education.
This article will explain what these modifications and accommodations for IEPs look like in practice and how they will impact your child’s day-to-day school experience.
What is an IEP learning disability?
Before diving into the types of IEP adaptations that could be made to your child’s learning plan, let’s review what an IEP is and the criteria your child must meet to qualify.
If you want more information about the IEP process or how to get an IEP for your child, our blogs are a great resource to answer your questions.
Essentially, an IEP is a personalized plan for students with disabilities that details the specific services and supplementary support that will be provided for your child.
Since the Department of Education passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975, IEPs have been used in schools to make sure that students with disabilities receive the same educational opportunities as their peers.
An IEP is also a way for your child to receive placement in an alternative education school if it is clear that they cannot gain a beneficial education in their public school.
For example, your child’s IEP team may decide that a separate facility, like Education Alternatives, is the best fit based on their unique needs. Then, this placement would be included in your child’s IEP.
IDEA requires all publicly funded schools to create an IEP for every student with a disability.
To qualify for an IEP, students must fulfill the criteria specified by IDEA for at least one of the 13 disability categories. The identified disability must also be determined to impact the child’s academic performance negatively.
These categories include:
- Specific learning disability
- Speech or language impairment
- Other health impairments (including ADHD)
- Intellectual disability
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Emotional disturbance
- Developmental delay
- Multiple disabilities
- Hearing impairment
- Orthopedic impairment
- Visual impairment
- Traumatic brain injury
- Deaf-blindness
If your child falls into one of these disability categories, having an IEP is essential to ensure their needs are met at school and they can learn effectively.
As a parent, it is also crucial to understand what different types of IEPs can look like, how they are created, and the practical changes they will bring to your child’s education.
What does an IEP look like?
An IEP is a legal document that guides each child’s unique educational experience.
At Education Alternatives, we treat this document as an agreement that outlines the specific services, support, and resources the child will receive in school. This agreement is made between three parties: us as the school, the school district, and you as the parent.
The IEP is created in your child’s first IEP meeting between a team that includes:
- A professional case manager
- General and/or special education teachers who understand how your child learns
- A school district representative
- You, the parent or guardian
The document will outline the exact adaptations that will be made to your child’s learning journey.
These adaptations will be reviewed annually or at your request throughout the year. It is essential to see the IEP as a dynamic tool that will evolve to fit your child’s changing needs as they learn and grow.
So, what does this look like in practice? The specific details of every student’s plan will look very different depending on their disability.
Let’s review the adaptations that may appear on your child’s IEP.
What is the definition of “accommodations” for IEPs?
Accommodations are one of the two types of IEP adaptations that may be included in your child’s IEP.
Accommodations are designed to support how your child learns without changing the content or curriculum.
Therefore, the goal is to modify how the curriculum is delivered to ensure your child can learn effectively in a way that suits their needs.
Common accommodations for IEPs related to learning include:
- Time: Extending the time allowed for tests or tasks
- Support: Offering your child additional personal assistance
- Input: Presenting information in a format that works best for your child
- Output: Adjusting how your child completes assignments and tests based on their learning needs
Placement at a specialized facility, like Education Alternatives, is another kind of accommodation to help your child learn in a way that works for them if traditional public school environments cannot adequately meet their IEP requirements.
An alternative school offers a nurturing environment with smaller classes and personalized learning opportunities, with dedicated and qualified staff equipped with the right tools to ensure your child receives the education they deserve.
While these accommodations alone can be very effective for some students, further adaptation may be necessary for others. This is where “modifications” come in.
Depending on a child’s needs, modifications—including changes to instructional level, curriculum content, or achievement standards—might be a more effective way to support learning.
Modifications vs. accommodations for IEPs
Whether accommodations or modifications are the best option for your child will depend on the IEP team’s assessment of their unique needs, strengths, and challenges.
In contrast to accommodations, modifications change what your child is expected to learn based on their abilities.
Here are some examples of modifications that could be included in your child’s IEP:
- Size: Adjusting the number of items your child is expected to complete
- Difficulty: Adapting the skill level, type of task, or rules on how your child can complete a task
- Participation: Changing how much your child is involved in a particular task
- Alternate: Adjusting the standards by which your child’s achievement is measured
- Curriculum: Providing different instruction materials better suited to your child’s learning pace
Whether your child’s IEP contains modifications, accommodations, or both, it will always be reviewed regularly to ensure that it continues to meet their changing needs. As a parent, it is essential to stay engaged in this process, communicate openly with the IEP team, and advocate for adjustments as necessary to support your child.
By understanding the many types of accommodations and modifications available, you can help ensure that your child receives the most effective support to achieve their full potential in school.
Helping our students succeed with all types of IEP
At Education Alternatives in Ohio, we believe all children deserve high-quality education regardless of their learning disability or unique needs.
For over 20 years, students with various accommodations and modifications have been placed at our school according to their IEP to get the education they deserve.
Today, our dedicated team uses research-driven learning methods and strategies tailored to each child’s modifications or accommodations based on their IEP, helping them:
- Improve their academic success
- Boost their confidence
- Pave the way for independence and long-term success in life.
If you’re an Ohio parent and think Education Alternatives could be the right fit for your child, you can request a meeting with your child’s IEP team to discuss possible placement at our school.
We know that navigating your child’s IEP alone can be overwhelming.
That’s why we want to help you every step of the way.
Contact us if you have any questions about placing your child at Education Alternatives through their IEP.
Find out more about our programs in across our eight Northeast Ohio centers.
Did you find this article helpful? Check out our other blogs to learn more about alternative education and find valuable resources for your family!