With 15% of the world’s population having some sort of disability, it requires recognition and adaptability to improve equity among students. Disabilities affect educational institutes, employment, and parenting everywhere, and these barriers need to be pushed past to enable students to reach their full potential as learners. Here are 3 ways to improve equity for students with disabilities:
- Focus on root cause of problem –
This means discussing the challenges that students with disabilities face. Each disability has its own needs and downfalls, addressing the root of the issue or disability can help find a good starting point for the teacher to focus on. For effective communication this should be discussed with parents, teachers, and students.
- Put Wellness First –
One of the standout issues that students face is additional stress and pressure. This is amplified for students with disabilities. Teachers should be open to providing extra time for assignments or tests or offer additional attention if they can. Provide alternative tools or assignments if current ones aren’t working to try and find the best way to keep them engaged and learning.
- Assistive technology –
Connect with other resources to help. There are multiple assistive technology solutions available for people with disabilities. Power School has special-ed program software for teachers to use and get helpful insight on teaching with disabilities. Education Associates is a hands-on, evidence-based curriculum with ready-made lesson plans and assessments so you can focus more time on your students. Eye-Able is a disability software to improve digital accessibility and personalize the device to fit any needs.
What are some other things you do to improve equity among students with disabilities?
Sources:
https://thelearningcounsel.com/articles/using-data-to-address-student-equity/
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