Annual Accommodations Check-Up: Help for Dyslexia and Ongoing Support
Just as you take your child for an annual check-up at the pediatrician, your child's accommodation plan needs regular updates to ensure it provides the right help for dyslexia. For students with learning disabilities like dyslexia, accommodations are crucial to helping them access the general education curriculum. These accommodations don’t change what is learned, but rather how it is learned, and they don’t change what is tested, but how it is tested. With the right support and interventions for dyslexia, accommodations can be tailored to meet the student’s evolving needs.
The Importance of Annual Accommodations Check-Ups
Accommodation plans are typically created after a student undergoes an educational evaluation, either through the Initial Eligibility Process in a public school or via private outside testing. These initial plans are a great starting point, but they should be updated regularly. As students grow, their accommodation needs change. With the right dyslexia strategies for reading and dyslexia tutoring online, accommodations can help students reach their full potential.
For example, a student tested in 3rd grade might have been granted fewer words on spelling tests. By 6th grade, the same student may no longer need spelling tests, but could benefit from a word bank on science or social studies exams. Over time, as students improve through help for dyslexia and successful interventions, their accommodation plans should adjust to the demands of each new grade level.
Identifying New Challenges
In addition to changing over time, accommodation plans should respond to new areas of difficulty. Pull up your child's grades. Are there particular types of assignments on which they consistently earn low grades? For example, some students might have an overall high grade in a course but consistently struggle on tests compared to classwork, homework, and projects. This would warrant a discussion with your child's teacher: What about the test made them more difficult for them than the classwork and homework? It could potentially be formatting, the types of questions asked, the way they studied for them, or time constraints. It is helpful to have several work samples to review to find patterns. Once a challenge such as formatting has been identified, an effective accommodation can be created to address that problem, often complemented by targeted dyslexia therapy.
Identifying New Areas of Difficulty
To provide effective help for dyslexia, accommodation plans should evolve to meet new challenges. Review your child’s grades and academic performance to identify any patterns. For example, some students perform well on classwork and homework but struggle with tests. This discrepancy could signal the need for new accommodations, such as adjusting the test format or offering more time to complete exams.
Discussing these challenges with your child’s teacher and reviewing work samples can reveal the root of the difficulty, enabling you to implement targeted interventions for dyslexia. Whether it’s through formatting changes or dyslexia tutoring online, accommodations should be updated regularly to address any new obstacles.
Preparing for Annual Review Meetings
For students in public schools with IEPs or 504 plans, annual review meetings provide an opportunity for teachers and parents to discuss progress and set goals for the upcoming year. Private school students receiving accommodations may not have a formal review meeting, but it’s still an ideal time to request one. Before attending your child’s meeting, take the time to perform an accommodations check-up.
As part of your check-up, research help for dyslexia resources and come prepared to suggest 2-3 new accommodations based on your child’s current needs. By incorporating the right dyslexia strategies for reading, you can ensure your child receives the support they need to thrive.
