Helpful Accommodations

• Two sets of books or instructional materials; one set for home and one set for school
• Clarification of both oral and written directions
• Paper copies of digital notes, PowerPoints and study guides
• An aide to take notes for students during class assignments and perform in-class hands-on activities
• Chunking of assignments and tests into small parts
• Extended time allowed for responses
• Extended time to complete assignments and tests
• Repeating or rephrasing key information of study units
• Preferential seating, free of distractions
• Use of visual aids and manipulatives when learning new tasks
• Use of assistive technology to address reading and writing difficulties
• Study guide or bank of possible questions at the beginning of each study unit
• Small group or individual settings for testing, quiet and free of distractions
• Divider or study carrel to block visual distractions when completing tests, quizzes, and individual class assignments
• Modified workload with emphasis on quality versus quantity
• Teacher prompts and reminders to submit classwork and homework
• Use of formula bank and word bank to assist with word retrieval and memory issues

Resources

Classroom Accommodations for Students Who Learn and Think Differently is a resource to learn what classroom accommodations can help students with specific learning needs.

Hope Cam helps kids stay connected with their classmates as a way of reducing isolation and depression and improving support during treatment. View more information at the Hope Cam website.

A child or teen may need to be allowed to eat outside of normal lunch and snack time to adhere to their medication, so a student’s teacher may need to be informed of when and where a child is able to eat their lunch and snacks.

Examples of Accommodations:

• Permission to carry a water bottle throughout the school day.
• Mid-morning and afternoon snack breaks
• Multiple smaller meals throughout the day

A child or teen may have health issues that need to be accommodated for while they are at school. An Individual Health Plan (IHP) may be used to help children and teens with special healthcare needs when they return to school after a cancer diagnosis. This plan addresses the student’s medical needs while they are in the school setting and focuses on the care needed to promote their health. This plan can be included as part of a student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan, which are both legally binding documents.

• Unlimited bathroom breaks
• Rest periods when needed
• Frequent breaks during lengthy class periods and assignments to mitigate fatigue and improve mental stamina

The child’s school would be responsible for accommodating the child’s health needs that are specified in the written documentation for their 504 Plan and/or Individualized Education Plan (IEP). For instance, if the child needed materials such as diapers, specialized meals, and other supplies at school, the school would be responsible for this. However, parents can help with this also if they want to or have the means to do so.

There are certain activities that children and teens may have difficulty participating in, and as a result, they may need accommodations for these activities. These may include:

• Exemption from physically demanding exercises, contact sports, and long distance running in PE class
• Exemption from the Presidential Physical Fitness Testing in the Fall and Spring
• Participation in physical education activities based on what the child can handle
• Permission to wear sunscreen and hat when going to recess or PE
• Permission to wear a hat or scarf due to hair loss or feelings of discomfort

• Use of a 2-way agenda book in which parents and teacher can communicate on a daily/weekly basis
• Use of a voice-to-text reader to improve oral reading comprehension
• Use of noise canceling headphones to reduce demands on sustained attention
• Use of multi-modality learning in which auditory, visual, and tactile hands-on activities are incorporated
• Peer buddy or adult assistant when transitioning from class to class
• Elevator pass when school has multiple floors
• Partial day school with intermittent homebound services when unable to attend for a full day
• Allowed to leave class 3-5 minutes early to avoid the crowded hallways
• Locker assignment close to classes
• Parking space close to school entrance

Students with chronic health conditions who participate in school-based programs that occur before and after school time often need support to manage their condition relating to their health and safety while they are attending these programs. Parents, school program coordinators, and school administrators can communicate to determine what support is needed. Students participating in school-based before and after school programs and activities are covered by their respective Individual Health Plan (IHP), Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and/or 504 Plan. The information included in these plans may be applied during the student’s participation in their school-based activity. Participation in school based programs and activities should be documented in meeting minutes.

School-based before and after school programs include those available for school-aged children and teens, which can be facilitated by different organizations including schools, local and national organizations, universities, community organizations, parent volunteers, and nonprofit organizations. These activities can include:

• School-based child-care programs
• Youth development programs
• Special interest activities
• Science and math clubs
• Art programs
• Sports clubs
• Marching band
• Quiz Bowl & academic challenge teams
• Educational programs
• School-based youth camps and retreats
• School field trips

Additionally, the information included in the 504 Plan must be honored by any federally funded agency. For example, if a child has a 504 Plan and cannot endure long lines at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoints at an airport, they can make an appointment through TSA Cares to receive additional assistance and the child will be taken through a special line in an expedited fashion.

Resources

Learn from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) how to support students with chronic health conditions in school-based programs as a parent, school program coordinator, and school administrator.