Classroom Modifications for Students with Physical Disabilities
by Willie Davis
Many students who do not receive special education under an IEP are still able to receive services under a 504 plan. The major law that govern special education is the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Many physical conditions may be covered under Section 504 that would not be covered under the IDEA. Under the IDEA, a child's educational performance must be adversely affected by his or her disability, resulting in the need for special education. By contrast, if a child is unable to walk, for example, even if the child's educational performance is unaffected, he or she is covered under Section 504. The child may well require accommodations--for example, accessible services. In addition, a, child may be covered if there is a false perception that he or she has a disability-for example, a child, with the HIV virus. Section 504 also covers children who no longer have an impairment, such as a child who has recovered from cancer.
Common examples of accommodations schools could provide are:
- notetakers who attend class with a student and take notes for him if the student has a disability that prevents him from writing quickly enough to take notes ,
- relocation to a wheelchair-accessible room,
- classroom seating priority, e.g., allowing the young woman on the previous page priority over other students in sitting at the end of the table where her wheelchair fits,
- the option to tape record lectures, again for students who have a disability that prevents them from taking notes,
- laboratory or other classroom modifications such as special equipment.
For links reviewed and recommended by Willie Davis, click below.
