There are a number of accommodations that may be helpful for students who have dyslexia. An important distinction to consider is the difference between accommodations and modifications. An accommodation is something that helps a student complete a regular assignment. A modification is a change to the assignment itself. An excellent example of an accommodation for a student who has dyslexia, is when they are allowed to use an audiobook for a reading assignment. A good 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 for 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 reading, and read more slowly, than their peers. As a result, a reading assignment can be very time consuming and difficult for them to complete. Audiobooks can help them complete reading assignments within the required time period. Audiobooks are available at public and school libraries, from library audiobook websites, and from services like bookshare.org.
Another excellent 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 to the student, you can create these yourself by going through the assignment and creating a simplified version.
For homework accommodations, step by step instructions are tremendously beneficial for a student with dyslexia. These instructions will make the assignment less overwhelming, and will help the student complete the assignment in an accurate and timely fashion. In addition, step by step instructions make helping the student with assignments much easier for parents.
Teachers might also be able to provide notes on the lessons they are teaching. Taking notes can be difficult and time consuming 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 might be able to share their lesson outlines with the student.
In the classroom, a excellent 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 quality work. For work requiring written responses, sentence starters can be a great help.
Examples of correct work are another great 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. A student with dyslexia is probably going to need more time than their classmates to read a test and respond to the questions. Also, having a quiet space in which to take the test may 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
