CatholicEducationOffice,Sydney

TheProcessofDevelopingIndividual
AdjustmentPlans

ADJUSTMENTSFORLEARNINGPRIORITIES
Curriculum
Communication
Mobility
PersonalCare,Health&Wellbeing
Safety
SocialSkills

February,2009

ADJUSTMENTSCURRICULUM

Relatestothestudentaccessingandparticipatinginthecurriculum,andallteachingand
learningactivities.
1

Classroom
Organisation

ADJUSTMENTSinclude..

Positionofstudentintheclassroomegawayfromdistractions
Layoutofclassroom
Organizationarounddailytimetable
Regularbreaks
Groupingstructures

TeachingStrategies

Additionaldemonstrationsofskillsbyteacher,aideorpeer
Scaffoldingofactivities
UseofInteractiveWhiteboard
Provisionsofwordbanks,referencecharts
Waitingtimetoallowforprocessingofverbalinformation
Variationondeliveryofinstructions,directionsand/or
informationappropriateforstudentunderstanding
Useofmodelledlanguage
Provisionofvisualcueswithverbalinformation
Minimisingofcopyingactivitiesegprovisionofphotocopies
Reductionincontentcovered,outputrequired
Increasingtimeforcompletionofactivitiesormasteryofskills
Providingalternateopportunitiesforparticipation

Resources

Alternatetexts
Highlightedtexts
Useofconcretematerials
Additionalprintedinstructionstosupplementoralinstructions
AlternateformatsegBraille,largeprint,differentfonts
Captionedvideos/DVDs
Assistivetechnologiesegsoundfieldsystem,Zoomtext,etc)
Accesstospecialistpersonnel/outsideagencies

Assessment

Additionaltime
Reductionsinoutcomestobeassessed
Alternateformsofassessmentegoralresponseratherthanwritten,
multiplechoiceratherthannarrativeresponse

Alternatetaskspresented
Useofareaderand/orwriter
Restbreaks

Other

ADJUSTMENTSCOMMUNICATION

Includes the students ability to receive and understand information and the ability to use
communicationskillsexpressively(includeslanguage,theuseofalternateandaugmentative
communicationandverbalcommunication).

ADJUSTMENTSinclude.

TeachingStrategies
Conciseandsimpleinstructions
Simplifyvocabulary
Provisionfcharts,diagrams,photos,writtenkeywords
Abstractconceptssupportedbyconcreterepresentationsegamodelto
representplant/animalcells
Visualsequenceofinstructions,schedule,timetableetc
Colourcodeorhighlightkeyconcepts,wordsorsequentialstep
problems
Useunderlining,boldoritalicizingforheadingsandkeywords
Highlightthemainideaofaparagraph
Alternatepresentationmethodsegpointform,pictures,diagramsand
simpleshortparagraphs
Useofmultimodaltasks

Resources
Alternateandaugmentativecommunication(e.gvisualtimetables,photos,
topicboards,signing,gestures,voiceoutputdevice
Makaton
Communicationdictionaries
UseofFMsystemsorhearingloopsystems
UseofBraille
Oral/signinterpreters
Adjustmentstoclassroomorganisatione.gconsiderationmayneedtobe
giventopositioningthestudentintheclassroomtomaximiseparticipation
and/oraccesstoinstruction
Professionaldevelopmentofstaffegvisualcommunicationsystems
UseofPECS(Pictureexchangecommunicationsystem)
Accesstospecialistpersonnelandoutsideagenciese.gTheSpasticCentre

Assessment
Useofrestbreaks,additionaltime,readerand/orwriter
Formultiplechoice/labeling/completingsentencestaskssupplyalistof
words
Supplyaletteroranassociativewordclueforsentences

Other

ADJUSTMENTSMOBILITY

Relatestothestudentsmobilitylevelandabilitytomovearoundtheschool

ADJUSTMENTSinclude.

Classroom
Locationofstudentsdeskwithintheclassroom
Provisionofaquiet,wellorganizedandclearlystructuredwork
environment
Extraroomtomanoeuvre(egself,wheelchair,frameetc)
Extratimepermittedtomove
Teacheraideassistanceifrequired
Timetablemodifications
Useofstudentbuddytoassistmovement
Adjustmentstotheheightofdesks,chairslibrary,classroom,
computerarea
Discussandpreparestudentfortransitionsandchangestothe
timetable
Timeorarrivaland/ordeparturefromschool
Evacuation/emergencyproceduresinplace

Playground/School
Supervisionforsport,timesoftransition,Churchetc(additional
site
personnel,localizedarea,passiveareaetc)
Modificationofgamestoencourageparticipation
Buddysystems
Specializeddisabledormodifiedsportopportunities
Specialisedequipment,softfall,seatingegbacksupportprovided
onbenchseating

Teaching&Learning
Extratimeforcompletionofwrittenwork
Strategies
Restbreaks
Alternativesforhandwriting
Encourageearlyandfrequentuseofawordprocessorforthe
presentationofwork
Breakdowncomplextextsintosmallersteps
Encourageorganizedworkhabitseguseofdiary,colourcoding
Visualsupports

Resources/equipment
Specializedequipmentegeasywriter(acrylicwritingboard),sensor
taps,lifts,climbers,triangularpencils,computers,notetakers,
trackball,touchscreen,single&mutlipleswitch,conceptkeyboard,
graphictablet
SMARTboard
5

Railings
Yellowstripsonstairs
Ramp
Adjustablefurniture
Gliders/slidersinsertedintochairlegs
Slopeboard
Springbackscissors
Northcott
Spectronics

Additional

Liaisingwithoutsideagencies,OTs,hospital&medicalpersonnel
Excursionplans,accessplans
Additionalsupervision
Teacheraidesupport
Disabledparking
Submissionsforcapitalgrants
Disabledtoiletfacilities
Personalcaresupport
Accesstotherapyservices
Maintenancelifts,stairs,climbers
Liaisingwitharchitectsandbuildersreaccesstoclassrooms,play
areas,canteen,hall,libraryetc
Organizationandtrainingforsafeliftingprocedures
Useoftaxis,accessbuses,

Other


ADJUSTMENTSPERSONALCARE,HEALTH&WELLBEING

Thestudentspersonalcareneeds,whichincludeshealthcare,mealtimeassistanceand
toileting&hygiene.

ADJUSTMENTSinclude

Organisation
Healthcareplan
Structures
Emergencycareplan
Personalcareplan
Schoolpolicies&procedures
Stafftraining
Specialistequipmentlocatedthroughouttheschool(different
locations)egepipens
Allocationofextratimetoassistwithspecificprocedures
OHSreport
Additionalsupervisionduringmealtimes
Quiet/safe/passiveplayareas
Systemstocommunicatehealthconcerns/informationtothe
schoolcommunity
Extratimetomovearoundtheschool
Dailymovementaroundschoolkepttoaminimumorlocalized
Restbreaks
Flexibilityintimedemands
Specificsignagearoundtheschool

Environmental&
Specialistequipmentegtoiletingequipment/hoist
Equipment
Provisionofspecificclassroomfeatureseglinoleumfloorinstead
ofcarpet
Provisionofairconditionedfacility/area
Environmentalegtypeofgrass,tressplantedetc
Specificclothingegzipjacketratherthanabuttonedjacket
Useofdisabledtoiletfacilities
Useofsingleusenonlatexgloves
Binwithlid,premoisteneddisposablewipes

Accesstotherapyservices
Personnel,Procedures
Accesstospecialistmedicalpersonnel
&Programs
Trainedpersonnelintheadministeringofspecialistpersonal
and/ormedicalprocedureseggastronomytubefeeding,
suctioning
Socialskillsprogramsincorporatinghygieneskills
Other

ADJUSTMENTSSAFETY

Relatestosafetyissues,whichmaylimitastudentsabilitytoparticipateinschoolandclass
activities.Thismayalsoincludebehaviouralconsiderations.

ADJUSTMENTSinclude..

Programs
Resilience,Socialskills,angermanagementprograms
Anxietymanagementprograms&strategies
BehaviourprogramsegRock&Water,PARTtraining
RestorativeJustice
Pastoralcarepolicies
AccessspecialistpersonnelegSTARcounsellors

Environment,School
Modificationtobuildingandaccessareaseghigherfencing,
siteetc
lockedgates,securedenvironment
Useofvisuals
eg
safetysignage,messages,timetables,howto
useequipment,sequenceforcompletingtasks
Changestoclassroomlocationseggroundfloor,nearofficearea
Intercoms,classphones,mobilephones
Passiveplay/quietarea
Evacuationplan
Riskmanagementprocedures&plans
Useofalternatesaferequipment
Specialisedequipmentstressballs,porcupine&waterballs
Meditationtapes/music

Additional

Additionalsupervision
Homeschoolcommunicationbookordiary
OHSaudit
Regularlyscheduledbreaks
Increasedvigilance/supervisionofstudent
Regularbriefing/debriefingsessionsstudent/teachers
Useofsimplifiedlanguage
Restructuringoftimetable/KLAs
Useoftokenreinforcers,rewardcharts
Contactsystems
BehaviourPlan,reentryplans
Peermentors,peersupportprograms
Communicationsupports
Specificsupervisionprocedures
Stafftraining

ADJUSTMENTSSOCIALSKILLS
Thestudentsabilitytointeractwithothersandtoparticipatesuccessfullyinschoolandclass
activities.

ADJUSTMENTSinclude..

Teaching&Learning
Explicitteachingofsocialskills
Strategies
Useofstrategiessuchassocialstories,socialscripts,storyboards
Provisionofsafe/quiet/passiveplayarea
Visualschedules,sequences&routines
Additionalopportunitiesprovidedforrehearsalandpracticeof
socialskills
Peermodels
Smallgroup,pairedortriadactivities
Cooperativelearningfocus
Useofbuddyand/orpeersupport
SocialskillsprogramsegAPEEL,PALS,BounceBack
Classroomdisplayswhichencourage/reinforceappropriatesocial
skills
Roleplays,dramagroups

Additional
Home/schoolcommunicationbook/diary
Structuredplayprogrameglunchtimeclub
Designatedtimeout/quietarea
Useofcharts/reinforcementsystem
Specificequipmenteggamestopromotesocialinteractionand
communication
Inputfromspecialist/externalsupportegASPECT

Other