Human Rights & Education
OVERVIEW
This is the 3rd of 4 videos in our short series on Human Rights and Education, in collaboration with ARCH Disability Law Centre.
This video walks through the accommodations process step by step, from identifying needs to putting supports in place and reviewing them over time.
You will learn:
how the process can begin
who may be involved
what an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is
how accommodations are developed and implemented
practical tips to help students and families stay informed, organized and engaged throughout the process
You can find the transcription for this video here (including visual descriptions for the video).
Refer to our glossary if you’re having trouble understanding any of the terms in this series.
How can I start the accommodations process?
The accommodation process can start in two ways:
The student or their parent/guardian asks the school for accommodations; or
The schools ask the student or their parent/guardian if the student needs accommodations.
Once the accommodation process is completed, an individual education plan (IEP) will be created for the student. An IEP is a document that describes a student’s educational needs and limitations, their accommodations, and the way the plan will be reviewed to make sure the accommodations are still meeting the student’s needs.
The accommodations process has 5 steps:
Gathering of information about the student’s needs,
Figuring out what accommodations are needed for the student,
Writing the IEP for the student,
Put the accommodations from the IEP in place for the student,
Reviewing and updating the IEP as needed.
Tips for the Accommodations Process
It is important to take notes during any meeting you have with the school. It is also important to cooperate with requests from the school for more information, as long as the request is reasonable and allowed under the law. If you are unsure, get legal advice from a lawyer.