Accommodations and Adaptations

What are adaptations, modifications, and accommodations?

Idaho State Department of Education defines the following terms:

Adaptations (Modifications): Changes to the curriculum, instruction, or assessments that fundamentally alter the requirements, but that enable a student with an impairment that significantly impacts performance an opportunity to participate.  Adaptations invalidate assessment results and provide non-comparable results.

        Some Examples:

• Language arts tests read aloud

• Out of level testing

• Alternate texts at reading level

• Adapt grades to reflect progress toward IEP goals

• Adjusting grade weights

Accommodations: Changes in the curriculum, instruction, or testing format or procedures that enable students with disabilities to participate in a way that allows them to demonstrate their abilities rather than disabilities.  Accommodations are generally considered to include assistive technology a well as changes in presentation, response, timing, scheduling, and settings that do not fundamentally alter the requirements.  Accommodations do not invalidate assessment results.

        Some Examples:

• Books on tape

• Calculator

• Extended time

• Preferential seating

• Adapted keyboard

• Voice recognition software

• Visual schedule

• Visual timer

• Reduced length of assignments

• Modified seating

• Graphic organizers

• Math tools

• Notes provided by teacher