Education support, and the services associated with it, can be described as providing an individual with assistance or support for learning, teaching, and other related areas of education. Whether students are disabled or not, the school or educational institution needs to provide appropriate accommodations, modifications, and adaptations. The goal is to help students succeed in their educational experience. In order for this to happen, educators and other support services must work closely with students and their families.
Adaptations, accommodations, and modifications need to be individualized for students
Adaptations, accommodations, and modifications are key elements of individualized education programs (IEPs). The individual who delivers services to students should know the legal responsibilities of their roles. This ensures that the student is receiving all necessary adaptations.
One of the most commonly confused concepts is the difference between accommodations and modifications. Accommodations change the way a student receives information. A common example is reading material aloud instead of written assignments.
Modifications on the other hand, are changes in content, assessment, and expectations. They are designed to provide students with an equal opportunity to obtain results. For instance, a PE teacher may reduce the number of laps a student runs.
Academic support
Academic support refers to a variety of strategies and programs that schools use to help students succeed in school. It can include tutoring sessions, supplemental courses, college and career services, and after-school programs. Some schools may offer specialized support to students with a wide range of needs.
Providing academic support is part of teachers’ professional responsibilities. Students with specialized needs, such as learning English or who recently immigrated to the United States, often benefit from supplemental instruction. These classes allow students to have more intensive, individualized instruction.
Support programs provide extra time for student practice and revision. They also can address emotional or behavioural needs. A variety of instructional delivery methods are used in these programs, including peer tutoring, learning labs, and individual sessions.
Adaptations, accommodations, and modifications need to be individualized for school staff
Adaptations, accommodations, and modifications are all ways to make life a little easier for students with disabilities. However, not all students need all of the same types of accommodations. For example, not all students need glasses. And not all students with dyslexia need an audio version of the classroom text.
In order to be able to identify which are the most appropriate accommodations for a student’s needs, teachers can evaluate how each is used in the classroom. They can also find out if an accommodation is actually effective.
There are many instructional techniques used by teachers to accommodate the needs of a student. These strategies include the use of special tools, such as assistive technology, or an adaptation of the curriculum.
Related services in education support
If you have an individualized education program (IEP), you may have heard the term “related services”. This type of support is often described as a complement to the special education provided by the school. These services may be offered in the classroom or at home, and are designed to help students succeed in school.
Related services are provided to children with disabilities. They are intended to help them access and benefit from the general education curriculum. The services can be provided in the classroom, at home, or in other locations within the school.
Generally, these services are provided by professionals. Examples include speech-language pathology and occupational therapy. Other services might include parent counseling, transition planning, therapeutic recreation, and medical services.
Dan Leeds is the founder of the National Public Education Support Fund
Educator and author Dan Leeds has made a significant contribution to public engagement in education. His work includes founding the Global Science of Learning Education Network and the National Public Education Support Fund. He has also served as a commissioner on the National Commission for Teaching and America’s Future.
Leeds has also co-chaired the PBS Foundation Board, and was named one of Fortune magazine’s “Ones to Watch” in 2006. In addition to his foundation work, he is also the founder of the Education Funder Strategy Group. Aside from educating children of all ages, he is interested in improving the health of educators.
Zoe Steadman is the director of the Heising-Simons Foundation
The Heising-Simons Foundation is the largest organization dedicated to education support in the world. Their mission is to “help the public improve the quality of their lives through education.” This is done by providing funding for research and innovations, grants to educators, and assisting with the development of educational programs. To learn more about their work, visit their website at www.heising-simons.org.
They provide funding for schools in the United States and Canada. These funds are used for everything from computer upgrades to books for students. Some of the funds are used to help with transportation needs. One program in particular is the Heising-Simons Mobile Library, which offers an interactive web application that allows users to access information on books available at the library from any device.