by Tami Joia

Created on: September 18, 2009

Yes, it does. How you ask, because accommodations for children on 504 plans or on IEP's are usually things that can be done for the entire class. For instance, because some children are diagnosed with ADD, they may need the teacher to write the instructions in 1,2,3 step directions. Now, if a teacher has 25-30 students, common sense would dictate that she incorporate this method/accommodation for all of her students. This would provide little or no room for misunderstanding by any of her students as to her expectations. It also ensures that all of her students understand the directions the first time. Furthermore, it is easier on the teacher to provide this type of accommodation to her entire class rather than on a few of her students. One of the biggest complaints heard from teacher's regarding children with special needs, is that they have 30 kids in their class and cannot provide the level of service needed for just one or two children. What if a teacher had a few student's that were visual learner's. The accommodation would be to write the instructions/directions on the board and keep them there all week if it wer a long assignment or homework and classwork assignments are written on the board and kept there for the entire week. This approach can also help student's with short-term memory issues and prevent a lot of questions from her students regarding an assignment.

Inclusion usually includes a second teacher or paraprofessional in the class. Done right, this para moves around the classroom to assist in the teaching, a co-taught classroom, if you will. Much of the para's time is dealing with special needs students. However, a good inclusion teacher works with the regular and special education teacher's to incorporate consistent and fluid teaching methods. All children respond better to knowing what each day will bring before they enter the class. No surprises.

Placing a child on an IEP doesn't necessarily mean that the child will be in a significantly separate class or have to be pulled out of class for particular services, such as: Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy. Some of these services will benefit a student with difficulty in speech and language by being around non-disabled peers. It's like going to Spain, after a few months you will begin to speak Spanish, instead of English. Some children with a speech and language problems would benefit from remaining in their class with their non-disabled peers. This could reinforce

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