Suggested Adaptations:

​

Provide a multi-sensory presentation

Visual Supports:

• Limit text to be read/processed

  • Enlarge print

  • Highlight text to be focused on

  • Reduce reading level of text

  • Provide uncluttered worksheets/handouts/assignments

  • Change higher-level instructional vocabulary to simpler vocabulary

  • Provide a page of vocabulary words with easier word definitions

  • Use color overlays (blue, yellow, green, etc.) to cover text when reading (helps with light sensitivity and eye strain)

 

• Give visual cues to follow along with the auditory instruction

  • Pictures

  • Graphic representations of notes

  • Maps

  • Diagrams

  • Videos

  • Model

  • Demonstration

 

Auditory Supports:

• Break down steps into manageable pieces using visual cues for reference

• Provide tools for aiding processing

  • Audio books or electronic text for alternate information presentation

  • Ear muffs to block out unfilterable noise

  • Ear phones- Toobaloo©, Pringles can, WhisperPhone© to aid in improving not only attention but auditory processing and sensory integration

 

Kinesthetic Supports:

• Provide opportunities for movement as part of the instruction

  • Role play

    • Social Stories©

    • Behavioral expectations

  • Movement to learn key concepts, sequences, etc.

    • Body spelling

    • Hopping

    • dancing

    • Music/songs

 

• Tools to promote movement

  • Fidgets to help maintain attention- sensory stimulation

    • Ball chair

    • Sitting wedges

    • Wobble seats

    • Fidget tools (you can purchase or make your own)

      • Bracelet fidgets

        • Elastic bands on wrist

      • Pencil fidgets

      • Chew sticks or necklaces

      • Fidget balls

        • Sand-filled balloon. Make this fidget together. Put one small balloon inside another and pour in sand through a funnel until the balloon is full.

      • Squishy bags

        • you make your own squishy bag using large Ziploc© freezer bags and liquid paint or shaving cream

      • Silly putty©

      • Weighted lap or neck pillows (scented or unscented)

      • Squeeze balls

 

Tactile Support:

• Tools for learning

  • Fidgets to help maintain attention- sensory stimulation

    • Fidget tools (you can purchase or make your own)

      • Bracelet fidgets

        • Elastic bands on wrist

      • Pencil fidgets

      • Chew sticks or necklaces

      • Fidget balls

        • Sand-filled balloon. Make this fidget together. Put one small balloon inside another and pour in sand through a funnel until the balloon is full.

      • Squishy bags

        • you make your own squishy bag using large Ziploc© freezer bags and liquid paint or shaving cream

      • Silly putty©

      • Weighted lap or neck pillows (scented or unscented)

      • Squeeze balls

 

• Hands-on demonstrations

  • Cooking

  • Building

  • Art

  • Physical activity

  • Use of money

 

• Use of models that can be taken apart, touched and studied physically

  • Anatomy models

  • Relief maps

  • Real money

  • Felt letters

 

• Tactile used for tracing to learn (ie. Printing skills, phonic learning, etc.)

  • sand paper

  • bug screen

    • Rainbow writing: Place the bug screen down and then place a piece of blank paper on top. With a wax crayon, the student draws the letter, shape or word they are learning. Encourage them to choose different colors and continue to draw over top of the first drawing creating a ‘rainbow’ effect. Once they have traced it 4-6 colors, encourage them to trace over the ‘raised’ letter(s) with their fingertips, practicing the tracing a few more times

  • placemats

  • carpet

  • tracing in sand or rice

 

Technology:

• Use technology for alternate presentation of information:

  • Videos

  • U-tube

  • Khan Academy

  • PowerPoint

  • SMART board

  • Audio books