When it comes to special ed terminology and acronyms, it is easy for families to get confused. While not all special ed terms seem like they could be confusing, some of the most common ones are.
As special education professionals, it is up to us to make sure that parents and school staff understand exactly what we mean and what the law is saying when we refer to terms associated with a child’s IEP or education.
One of the most common areas of confusion revolves around access. What does access to the curriculum really mean and what does it look like in practical application?
Let us take a deeper dive into the meaning and what that might look like for students on your caseload.
Understanding Access to the Curriculum
In the simplest of terms, access to the curriculum means putting the supports and services in place to allow the student to access or use the curriculum that is being used by his peers.
Access does not mean that the child has a different curriculum or is somehow “cheating the system” as some may perceive it. Instead, access means that the student is using the same curriculum but may have different ways of accessing it.
In some cases, the studentย does need a separate curriculum in order to be successful and that is okay. In that case, access to the specialized curriculum is equally as important and should be treated as such.
So, what does that look like in practical application? It really depends on the student’s needs. Remember, access to the curriculum will be a part of the student’s IEP and is highly individualized.
For students with dyslexia for example, access might mean that books are available and presented in audiobook fashion. Instead of solely having a physical textbook, the student might have an audiobook version in addition to the printed version. If an audiobook version is not available, text-to-speech readers are also very common. These allow the student to have access to the curriculum in a format that they can be successful with.
If a student has dysgraphia, access may look like speech-to-text software that allows them to get their thoughts down in written format without having to physically write them.
For students who are blind, texts in Braille can offer access to the general ed curriculum.
If a child has ADHD access to the curriculum might include the ability to have movement throughout the instruction.
Access means taking away or accommodating for the barriers that prevent the student from successfully engaging with the general education curriculum. In whatever form that takes, is what is most appropriate for that student.
All Students are Entitled to Access
Whether a student receives special education services or not, all students, by law, are entitled to access to the curriculum. Special education students are general education students first and foremost. For teachers, that means that it is important to provide a variety of different learning opportunities so that all students can be successful with the curriculum.
For parents, understanding that all students are entitled to access to the curriculum helps alleviate some of the worry and concern that their child may not be able to learn the things that he needs to learn.
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