ADAPTATIONS AND ACCOMMODATIONS  

FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

As a professional in the arts, you are a vital member of the Individual Educational Plan (I. E. P.) team. By law, the special needs student must be in the "least restrictive environment." Inclusion has become our mandate to meet this directive. Think positively when these students are scheduled for your course. Are they going to meet the goals for your class? Probably!

However, you might need to make adaptations and modifications. They are in the I. E. P. if you need help, but you are probably doing them in your own creative way. One of the easiest modifications is the matching test. The modification is to write the definition in the left column and the words in the right column.

Understand, you will probably be the teacher empowering the student with an opportunity to experience creative success, positive self-esteem, and life skills which will make their personal environment a better place to live.

There are several sources available to visit for information and advice about types of adaptations and accommodations. 

Eastern PA- http://www.eisc.k12.pa.us/

Central PA- http://www.cisc.k12.pa.us/

Western PA- http://www.wisc.k12.pa.us/

Once you're into the web page, you can access the other sites.

By using the technology available today, the special needs student will be able to achieve goals he/she never dreamed possible.  In a sense, technology has set this student free to be creative.  The lessons on our web page all include suggested modifications that will meet the needs of the special student.

                      STARTING POINTS

• Discuss your student's needs with the special education staff.
• Ask your student about his/her needs.
• Classroom teachers can receive technical assistance from special education consultants in the IUs and the Instructional Support Centers listed on this page.
• Take the time to read the I.E.P.      

Many arts instructors were introduced to new technology and software programs at the Governor's Institute for Arts Educators.  These programs and technologies may be helpful in facilitating all students' learning and achievement.  A few of these are listed as follows: 

• NOTATION STATION - This free web site will help the teacher create a lesson, let the student work with the project and save it for a later assessment.  
• SOUND BEAM - From England, the technology found in this exciting program assists the student to compose his/her own musical composition as movement causes sound.  The student may have as little movement as a blink of the eye and still be able to compose.  The program cold be used to enhance physical therapy.
• PUNCH - Originated for designing homes, the software program is easy to use and can aid the student when designing a stage set.  These are other applications for the classroom limited only by one's imagination.
• LIFE FORMS - "Can't dance, don't ask me."  Anyone can enjoy making a figure dance and enjoy choreography  using this software.  One classroom application could be to enhance a lesson on identification of the body parts.
• PHOTO SHOP - This software gives the student a paintbrush and a palette to create an original artistic composition.  
• MAGIC THEATRE - This learning tool will stimulate the imagination.  The student can create and narrate an animated computer story, a  play or a sing-along music video.  The software would aid a student to produce an exciting project.
• THE WORLD WIDE WEB - When you start searching,  your resources are world wide.  New products, technology and software appear daily.  Keep yourself updated.

It is important to remember that the use of these aforementioned contemporary technologies allows the effective use of multiple intelligences, which enables the student to reach a higher order of thinking and  creatively problem solve.  The traditional classroom sometimes does not meet the needs of all students.  The use of these technologies in the quest to meet higher proficiency levels for all students will allow them to create, perform and exhibit in the arts disciplines when their talent and knowledge are often not recognized.

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