Accommodations

Accommodations can be described in many ways. Some would say that accommodations give individuals with learning disabilities the opportunity to compete on a more level playing field with their non-disabled peers. According to the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada:

• An accommodation is a different way to do a task. It uses a learners' strengths to work around the learner's areas of need
• Accommodations allow a person to work better and more efficiently
• An accommodation can be as simple as using your fingers in math or, with the help of assistive technology, as complex as working a voice-activated computer that types what you say

1. Help the learner acquire coping skills The learner must be aware of his/her strengths and weaknesses, individual learning style and level of ability in the best conditions.
2. Determine the appropriate accommodations The best accommodations are those that are available, and those that match the learner's coping skills.

The issue of accommodation usually arises in two specific areas: educational settings and the workplace.

It is usually not too difficult to deal with the issue of accommodation if the concerns of the employer or educational institutions are identified. These concerns tend to focus in the following areas:

• Safety
• Cost
• Effects on co-workers or fellow students
• Industrial relations or union implications
• Impact upon the integrity of the institution

For example, in an educational setting, lowering the pass mark for a course by 10% clearly interferes with the integrity of the course. On the other hand, allowing the student to tape lectures is a minor modification that is unlikely to be considered "unfair" by others.