Accommodations vs Modifications

In a school setting, accommodations and modifications are both strategies used to support students with disabilities and ensure their access to the general education curriculum. However, there are distinct differences between the two in terms of their purpose, implementation, and impact on student learning. Here’s an explanation of the difference between accommodations and modifications:

Accommodations:

  1. Purpose: Accommodations are supports and adjustments made to the instructional environment, materials, or procedures to help students access the curriculum and participate in educational activities on an equal basis with their peers. The purpose of accommodations is to remove barriers to learning and provide students with disabilities equitable access to educational opportunities.
  2. Implementation: Accommodations do not fundamentally alter the content or expectations of the curriculum. Instead, they provide students with alternative ways to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities without changing the content or standards. Accommodations may involve changes to the presentation, timing, scheduling, or format of instruction, assignments, assessments, or classroom activities.
  3. Examples: Examples of accommodations include extended time on tests, preferential seating, use of assistive technology devices, access to notes or outlines, modified assignments or assessments, use of visual aids or graphic organizers, and access to a quiet workspace or study area.
  4. Impact: Accommodations support students in accessing the general education curriculum and participating in educational activities alongside their peers. They help students with disabilities demonstrate their knowledge and abilities without altering the content or rigor of the curriculum. Accommodations do not change the educational expectations or goals for students but rather provide the necessary supports to help them meet those expectations.

Modifications:

  1. Purpose: Modifications involve changes to the content, expectations, or standards of the curriculum to better match the individual needs and abilities of students with disabilities. The purpose of modifications is to adapt the curriculum to meet the unique learning needs of students who may require significant changes to access and benefit from instruction.
  2. Implementation: Modifications alter the content, complexity, or expectations of instruction, assignments, assessments, or classroom activities to better align with the student’s abilities and needs. Unlike accommodations, modifications may involve changes to the grade-level standards, curriculum materials, or learning outcomes to provide a more appropriate level of challenge or support for the student.
  3. Examples: Examples of modifications include simplified reading materials, shortened assignments or tasks, modified grading criteria or rubrics, reduced homework assignments, alternative assessments or evaluation methods, and adjusted curriculum content or learning objectives.
  4. Impact: Modifications allow students with disabilities to access the curriculum at a level that is more developmentally appropriate and aligned with their individual abilities. By adjusting the content or expectations of instruction, modifications help students engage with the curriculum in a meaningful way and make progress toward their educational goals. Modifications may result in changes to the student’s educational program or academic expectations based on their unique learning needs.

In summary, accommodations are supports and adjustments made to the instructional environment or procedures to help students access the curriculum without fundamentally altering its content or expectations. Modifications, on the other hand, involve changes to the content or expectations of the curriculum to better match the individual needs and abilities of students. Both accommodations and modifications are essential tools for supporting students with disabilities and ensuring their success in school, but they serve different purposes and are implemented in different ways to meet the diverse needs of students.