A Study of Reasonable Accommodations Provided in Classrooms to Children With Specific Learning Disorders

Abstract

BACKGROUND Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that present with significant difficulty and underachievement in areas of reading, writing and mathematics not in keeping with the child's overall achievement level. Reasonable accommodations are one way to keep children with SLD on par with their peers as most of these accommodations are provided during examinations. Classroom study is a struggle for the child unless accommodations are provided here as well. In the absence of uniform policy, it is left to the school to provide the same. Aim-To study the reasonable accommodations provided in classrooms to children with specific learning disorders.Objectives-1. To study the school policy with regard to provision of reasonable accommodations to children with specific learning disorders.2. To study the reasonable accommodations provided in classrooms during the course of instructions. MATERIALS AND METHODSA total of 30 registered, privately funded, English medium schools, having up to tenth standard and willing to give written informed consent were taken up for the study. Convenience sampling method was used. A questionnaire specially designed for the study was used to collect data. Statistical Analysis-Frequency was calculated according to descriptive statistics. RESULTSMajority of the schools had children with learning disability, mostly detected in classes 1-5. Nearly 76% had a uniform school policy of dealing with children having SLD. Majority of schools conducted regular awareness workshops for their teachers. Most of the accommodations provided were while providing instructions and with seating arrangements in class. CONCLUSIONThere is a policy for children with specific learning disability in exams; however, there is no uniform policy with regard to accommodations provided to such children in classrooms. Most of the schools studied had in place facilities for children in classrooms, though the lack of guidelines and uniform policy hampers their effectiveness.