Are accommodations fair? Are they a crutch?

I would like to address a couple of questions/objections that come up regarding accommodations:

• How are accommodations fair?  
• When do accommodations become a crutch?  

I don't mind when people ask questions like this.  Misunderstanding often comes about because of a lack of information.  That's OK!  Explaining the difference between fairness and sameness is a concept that can and should be taught to people of all ages.  

Accommodations... 

• allow students access to education
• are reasonable
• change HOW they learn, not WHAT they learn
• allow students to demonstrate what they know
• remove barriers
• level the playing field
• are a necessity, not an advantage
• remove obstacles that hinder academic potential
• help students reach their full potential
• happen in the real world

"Fair" does not mean that everyone gets the same, but that everyone gets what they need to be successful.  Consider a couple of illustrations to use in explaining this:

• (Great for a group of adults at a meeting) I wear glasses.  They allow me to see what everyone else sees.  They are what I need to be successful in a classroom and in life.  Does everyone need glasses?  Do they give me an unfair advantage?  
• (Great for a classroom of children)  Do an activity where you hand out "injury cards" randomly to some of the students.  Each card has a different type of injury on it.  Then, hand out bandages to everyone.  Does everyone need a bandage?  Is a bandage appropriate for every type of injury?  If a bandage would not work, what would?  What if I say that nobody can have a bandage?  Would that be fair?  

Can accommodations become a crutch?

• Traditionally, a "crutch" is a support.  However, the expression "using it as a crutch" ironically  implies that someone is relying on something that they do not need because they are lazy, or do not want to deal with the problem directly.  I acknowledge that this could happen, but it is rare.  

• First of all, I usually see the opposite.  I have a difficult time getting students to use their accommodations.  They do not want to be different.  Even though accommodations would help them, they would rather struggle on than be different.  

• Secondly, if a student is truly using accommodations as a crutch, there has been a breakdown somewhere.  The student was absolutely drowning academically, not getting the needed support, and turned to accommodations as a life boat.  If so, it may be a good idea to re-evaluate the student's needs.  For example, they may need study skills, organizational skills, or an accountability partner.  The student may also not understand that the purpose of accommodations is to allow a student to learn with everyone else, not to get a free pass.  Students should know what accommodations they have, why they have them, how they help, and how to advocate for themselves.  

Click here to see the video of this post.