Accommodation Breakdown: Assignment and Assessment Format Accommodations
What’s the accommodation? Student will be provided assignments and assessments in X, Y, and Z format. How's it supposed to be implemented? What are potential problems?
What’s the Accommodation?
Student will be provided assignments and assessments in X, Y, and Z format.
Format accommodations adjust the way assignments and assessments are presented to students. The purpose of these accommodations is to remove barriers that may affect a student's ability to read, process, and comprehend the assignment or assessment content. They help ensure students are assessed on knowledge rather than their ability to access the material in the assignments and assessments.
For example, a student who has dyslexia might struggle with long passages of text, especially when the font is small. Providing the text in an accessible format may help address fatigue and comprehension struggles.
Common accommodations include:
Large Print: Enlarging text for students with difficulty seeing standard print.
Extra Spacing: Increasing space between lines or questions to reduce visual clutter.
Masking or Removing Irrelevant Text: Hiding extraneous information or showing only one question at a time on paper or digital assignments and assessment, so students can focus on the relevant content.
Digital Features: Using line readers, text-to-speech, or screen tinting to help students with visual or reading difficulties process text more easily.
Important: These accommodations do not alter the content, only how assignments and assessments are presented to make them more manageable for students with reading disabilities.
Who Benefits from Format Accommodations?
Format accommodations benefit students whose disabilities affect their ability to read and process written text. These accommodations are particularly useful for students with reading disabilities, visual impairments, or attention difficulties, but they can support a variety of students. Here are some examples of students who may benefit from format accommodations:
Reading Disabilities (e.g., Dyslexia): Students who have dyslexia have difficulty decoding and recognizing words, which can make reading challenging. Large print and extra spacing can help them process the material more efficiently. Additionally, features like text-to-speech or line readers allow these students to focus on understanding the material rather than struggling with reading.
Visual Impairments: Students who have difficulty seeing or focusing on printed text may benefit from larger print sizes, screen magnification, or braille accommodations to ensure they can access the content.
Attention Deficits (e.g., ADHD): Students who have attention-related disabilities may struggle with tasks that present multiple questions at once or include irrelevant information. Masking or showing one question at a time can help these students focus on the task at hand without becoming distracted.
Specific Learning Disabilities: Students who have other types of learning disabilities that affect reading speed and comprehension may also find format accommodations helpful. These students might benefit from extra spacing, larger text, and digital tools that reduce visual strain.
English Learners: Students who are learning English may find reading challenging, especially if a lot of information is presented at once. Format accommodations may help them focus on understanding the material without being overwhelmed by the text.