Accommodations from the Student's Perspective

This KnowledgeBase archive includes content and external links that were accurate and relevant as of September 30, 2019.

This questionnaire is from the Council of Chief State School Officers' Accommodations Manual: How to Select, Administer, and Evaluate Use of Accommodations for Instruction and Assessment of Students with Disabilities. "Teachers can use this questionnaire to collect information about needed accommodations from the student's perspective. The questions can be completed independently or as part of an interview process. When using these questions, the teacher needs to be certain that the student understands the concept of an accommodation, providing examples as necessary." A list of possible accommodations would be a useful way of giving explaining possbile accommondations to the student.

1. Think about all the classes you are taking now. Which is your best class?
2. Explain what you do well in this class. (The things you said you can do well above are your strengths. For example, you may have mentioned reading, writing, listening, working in groups, working alone, drawing, or doing your homework as some things you can do well. If you said you really like the subject, have a good memory, and work hard in class, these are also examples of your strengths.
3. Now ask yourself, "What class is hardest?"
4. What's the hardest part of this class for you? (The things you said were hardest are areas you need to work on during the school year. For example, you might have listed paying attention in class, reading the book, taking tests, listening, staying in the seat, remembering new information, doing homework, or doing work in groups. These are all things in which an accommodation may be helpful for you.
5. In the list that follows, write down all of the classes you are taking now. Then look at a list of accommodations. Next to each class, write down what accommodation(s) you think might be helpful for you.

Source:

Teacher Tool 2: Accommodations From the Student's Perspective
Accommodations Manual: How to Select, Administer, and Evaluate U.S.E. of Accommodations for Instruction and Assessment of Students With Disabilities, Sandra J. Thompson, Amanda B. Morse, Michael Sharpe, and Sharon Hall, Council of Chief State School Officers, 2nd Edition, 2005

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