What are good school accommodations for students with dyslexia? Find out more information about dyslexia and dyslexia treatment at http://www.dyslexiaconnect.com .

There are many accommodations that may be helpful for students who have dyslexia in the school environment. One important distinction to consider is the difference between accommodations and modifications. An accommodation is something that helps a student complete the regular assignment. A modification is a change to the assignment itself. A good example of an accommodation for a student who has dyslexia, is when they are allowed to use an audiobook for a reading assignment. An example of a modification could be the shortening of a reading comprehension test.

It may be beneficial to seek out accommodations for materials, homework, classroom assignments and tests.

Regarding accommodations on materials, one of the best accommodations for a student with dyslexia is the use of audiobooks for reading assignments. A student who has dyslexia may have more difficulty, and read slower than their peers. As a result, reading assignments can be very time consuming and difficult for them to complete. Audiobooks can help them complete reading assignments within the required time. Audiobooks are available at public and school libraries, from library audiobook websites, and from services like bookshare.org.

Another great accommodation for materials are simplified, or highlighted, directions and instructions. These simplified instructions make it easier for a student who has dyslexia to complete an assignment. If simplified instructions are not provided, you can create these yourself by going through the assignment and creating a simplified version for your student.

For homework accommodations, step by step instructions are extremely beneficial for a student with dyslexia. These instructions will make the assignment less overwhelming, and will help the student complete the assignment accurately. In addition, step by step instructions make helping the student with assignments much easier for parents.

Teachers may also be able to provide notes on the lessons they are teaching. Taking notes can be difficult for a student who has dyslexia, dysgraphia, or both, and receiving printed notes on lessons can help them study and complete assignments. If printed lesson notes are not available, the teacher may be able to share their lesson outlines with the student.

In the classroom, a beneficial accommodation is extra time to read and write. A student with dyslexia will likely need more time than their peers for in-class assignments, and giving them that time will help them turn in the best work possible. For work requiring written responses, sentence starters can be a great help.

Examples of correct work are another excellent accommodation for a student with dyslexia. Having a filled-out example of the assignment that they are supposed to complete helps them avoid being overwhelmed by the assignment.

For test taking, one of the best accommodations is extra time to take the test. A student with dyslexia is likely going to need more time than their classmates to read a test and respond to the questions. Additionally, having a quiet space in which to take the test may also help. Since they struggle with reading and writing, a quiet space may help a student with dyslexia focus on the test and have an easier time with it.

It is beneficial to consider which accommodations are best suited for a particular student. Certain accommodations may greatly help a student, while others may not be as beneficial.

Peter Groth
CEO
Dyslexia Connect Online Tutoring