Reasonable Accommodations for Dyslexia

What are Reasonable Accommodations?

Reasonable accommodations are changes provided at school in the learning environment, curriculum, or resources used so a student with dyslexia can access academic content and/or complete assignments. To learn more about the difference between accommodations and modifications CLICK HERE.

Why Should Students with Dyslexia Receive Reasonable Accommodations?

Reasonable accommodations help to level the academic field so that dyslexic students can learn the classroom content.  It may make changes to the teaching methods, pace of learning, environment, and often times provides assistive technology to help accommodate for specific deficits that can get in the way of learning. To acquire these accommodations, a parent or guardian needs to pursue a 504 or IEP.  To learn more about this process, CLICK HERE.

What are Some Possible Reasonable Accommodations for Students with Dyslexia?

Overall Teaching Accommodations:

• Provide a consistent daily routine.
• Make sure documents are well organized and are not too visually dense.
• Preview new topics and review the vocabulary.
• Review old topics to assure the retention of knowledge.
• Use small group or one-to-one instruction.
• Break projects into organized activities with clear expectations and deadlines.
• Offer reminders to write down and turn in assignments.
• Offer modified/reduced in-class and homework assignments.
• Provide extended time for homework assignments.
• Check for student understanding prior to assigning homework.
• Offer a list of homework assignments that are accessible to the student as well as the parents.
• Provide a foreign language substitution, waiver, or exemption.
• Offer an additional set of textbooks for use at home.
• Allow the use of a tablet or computer to take notes or complete assignments.

Listening/Reading Accommodations:

• Provide audiobooks through organizations such as RaziKids, Learning Alleyor Bookshare.
• Provide a picture of directions and schedules.
• Offer extra time when reading.
• Shorten reading assignments.
• Simplify directions and highlight keywords.
• Provide oral directions, check for understanding, and repeat directions - if needed.
• Offer a larger font with less content on each page.
• Provide text to speech and technology.
• Offer Orton-Gillingham based reading instruction.
• Provide pre-exposures or advanced notice of reading assignments. 
• Offer colored overlays
• Provide highlighters to color code assignments and assessments 

 Spelling Accommodations:

Writing Accommodations:

• Supply a copy of the teacher’s or another student’s notes. You can also provide notes with a few blanks for students to fill in.
• Shorten writing assignments.
• Offer a scribe for classroom writing assignments.
• Allow the use of a tape recorder or a Smart Pen.
• Provide a computer for written assignments and tests.
• Provide assistive technology such as speech to text, word prediction, spell checkers and grammar checkers.
• Do not deduct points due to sloppy writing.
• Do not require the student to copy information.

Mathematics Accommodations:

• Allow the use of graph paper for lining up math problems.
• Read word problems aloud and assist with tricky wording.
• Allow the use of math manipulatives and colored markers.
• Provide the use of a calculator or a multiplication chart.

Test Taking Accommodations:

• Grant time and a half or double testing time.
• Offer to test in a distraction-free location.
• Avoid scantrons and allow the student to write directly on the test.
• Simplify and reword questions on language loaded tests.
• Provide short breaks when needed.
• Permit the use of a calculator during testing.
• Provide a word bank. 
• Provide a scribe during tests.
• Allow the student to demonstrate mastery of content by answering oral questions.

© Dr. Erica Warren