Question:

Dear Priscilla,

I am a great believer and user of your transitional program. I attended your two transitional presentations (moderate to severe) at SCOE in Santa Rosa last year. Yesterday, while perusing your resource section, I came across a resource for which the web site address was no longer working. I was wondering if you could tell me about this resource and how I might access it now.

You listed it under "Accommodation self-assessment. The website was listed as: http://www.1dinfo.com/self-vocacy_chapter_5.htm#top
This is an area of importance to me -- and resources on accommodations self- assessment, even if different from this one would be greatly appreciated.

Lora

Answer:

Hi Lora,

Thanks for your support. Transition is so, so important for our young people in today’s changing world.

Another thank you for bringing this to my attention. This resource has been available for some time at this site and has changed its format. You can access the site at http://www.ldinfo.com/sa2.htm and can link to an order page if you want to do this activity with your students. I am not suggesting that you purchase this survey; however, it is one of the best accommodation web sites I have come across. What I like about this survey tool is that students get to self-evaluate their accommodation needs in the following areas:

• In the classroom (more visuals, examples, hands on tasks)
• On assignments (extra time, work with a partner, knowing what is expected
• On tests (extra time, visual cues, take home test)

I always suggest that you tell students that this is a “wish list” so they do not expect these accommodations to appear in their IEP. It also gives students some feeling of self-advocacy, e.g., being able to share the results at their IEP meeting.

It is important to know what the California Department of Education (CDE) says about accommodations for special education students. There are test variations, accommodations, and modifications guidelines displayed on a matrix for various tests administered in California. Compare the accommodation self-assessment survey with the matrix. You can access the CDE web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/documents/matrix5.pdf.

An additional accommodation resource:

• Transition Portfolios for Students with Disabilities (2002) by Mary Ann Demchak & Robin G. Greenfield. Published by Corwin Press, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, 800-818-7243

This book has a chapter on Adaptations and Supports that include checklists for AT, Instructional and Environmental accommodations, visual impairments, hearing impairments and a "do's/don'ts" list.

One last point, always ask the student if the accommodation works for him/her. This lets them know that their opinion is valued and that you support/validate their input.

I will let you know if I discover other worthwhile self-assessment accommodation checklists and/or surveys.

Priscilla Harvell