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Accommodations and Modifications for Blind and Deaf Students 

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Accommodations and Modifications for Blind and Deaf Students 

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This is a guide for teachers and school staff on how they can modify lessons for students with different capabilities. Special Education law is emphasized so both the parents and school system know what to expect from each party and their limitations. The screening process for deaf/hard of hearing is laid out so parents and teachers alike can point out the potential signs of hearing loss.

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Aspects of the individualized education program (IEP) include specialized instruction, accommodations, and modifications. Accommodations and modifications are not the same, although some people use the terms interchangeably. Accommodations are changes and supports provided to enable access to the same school work and education as other students. A modification means the school work or education for a given student is different from what the other students in the class are doing. Accommodations and adaptations are the same thing. Some examples of accommodations include the following:

Captioning or subtitles on class videos or clips;

A copy of information that will be displayed on overhead, whiteboard, or chalk board;

An assigned note taker (students who are D/HH may have to look at interpreters or written content, which means it can be challenging to split focus for notes);

Strategic seating to allow your child to sit where they are best able to hear and/or see the teacher, classmates and/or interpreter, moving seats depending on the lesson or activity;

Extended time on testing or assignments;

Assistive technology;

An assigned educational interpreter.

Accommodations may also include changes to the classroom environment, presentation of instruction, and assessments in order to provide full access to students who are D/HH.

Modifications include changes to the level or expectations of an assignment or environment. Examples of modifications include:

Outlining instead of writing an essay for a particular project;

Using an alternate book or material for a topic being taught;

Word bank of choices for answers to tests when others do not have that option;

Reworded questions to match your child's language level;

Providing a calculator for tests when it is not an option for other students;

Please note: Each individual student is different and may require more or less accommodations or modifications than listed above.

Accommodations and modifications can be identified and justified through assessments and evaluations. For example, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) requires a comprehensive eye exam within three months of receiving special education services. The results of this eye exam may indicate that a student needs to sit in the front row in order to see the board (accommodation). Or, the results of an audiological evaluation can indicate that an appropriate accommodation to provide access to education is a Frequency Modulation/Digital Modulation (FM/DM) system. The multi-factored evaluation report may be another source of data to justify accommodations or modifications. Lastly, the "Guidelines for the Assessment and Educational Evaluation of Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing," provides various assessments that may be used as data to plan accommodations and modifications.

Want to learn more about the differences between accommodations and modifications?
Understood.org details the differences here.

Hear from parent advocate Amanda Morin on the difference between accommodations and modifications, and how each one impacts your child's experience in the classroom

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The Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness

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MedEd Connections Resource Guide: Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) | The Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness

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The Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness

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Through this site you can find a wide variety of books retold using ASL. This makes reading fun for kids as the interpreters are very engaging and incorporate different voices for each character which helps make the story come to life. Translanguaging occurs throughout the retelling of a story to help kids become accustomed to both English and ASL.

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Today, about 11.5 million Americans have some sort of hearing impairment, ranging from difficulty in hearing conversation to total hearing loss. That's about 3.5 percent of the population. In addition, around 50 million of the population experience some level of tinnitus - a constant ringing in the ears.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: Statistics About Hearing

A deaf quarterback is credited with the invention of the modern circular football huddle. Read more on this Wikipedia page started by UA students.

The Deaf and the Origin of Hand Signals in Baseball

Deaf Culture Facts That Might Surprise You

Deaf Fun Facts You Need to Know

DEAF HISTORY

April 15, 1817 - The American School for the Deaf, the first public permanent school for Deaf children in the United States, was opened. Located in West Hartford, Connecticut, the school is a nationally renowned leader in providing comprehensive educational programs and services for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

April 8, 1864 - Gallaudet University, the first and only higher education institution for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, was founded. Gallaudet, a private federally chartered research university in Washington, DC, is the only university in the world where students live and learn using American Sign Language and English.

A HISTORY OF DEAF RIGHTS, CULTURE, AND LANGUAGE

Encyclopedia Britannica: History of the Deaf includes information dating back to the 16th century.

People and Events in Deaf History

COMMUNICATION

Healthy Hearing: Communication Tips for Talking to People with Hearing Loss

Disability Language Style Guide: Deaf

American Sign Language Classes

NAD's Position on Deaf People in Media

MORE IMPORTANT RESOURCES

National Association of the Deaf

National Association of the Deaf Resources

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communicative Disorders: Quick Statistics About Hearing

American Sign Language Spoken Here - "Before William Stokoe's groundbreaking research, American Sign Language (ASL) was erroneously viewed as a pantomime, a poor substitute for spoken speech. Now ASL is recognized as a language with its own syntax, morphology, and structure." With National Science Foundation grants Stokoe and two of his Gallaudet colleagues created the Dictionary of American Sign Language on Linguistic Principles in 1965. National Science Foundation

Deaf President Now - In March 1988, Gallaudet University experienced a watershed event that led to the appointment of the 124-year-old university's first deaf president. Since then, Deaf President Now (DPN) has become synonymous with self-determination and empowerment for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people everywhere.

How 'Deaf President Now' Changed America - A brief history of the movement that transformed a university and helped catalyze the Americans With Disabilities Act.

D-PAN.TV - In March 2016, Deaf Professional Arts Network, known as D-Pan, launched a go-to source for American Sign Language-related content. The highlight of the network is DTV News, featuring Deaf anchors who share national news in ASL along with captioning and voiceovers. The network also offers a variety of entertainment and educational content produced by and starring some of the biggest names in the Deaf community.

Deaf View/Image Art, also known as De'Via, is art that examines and expresses the Deaf experience form a cultural, linguistic and intersectional point of view.

Museum of Deaf History, Arts and Culture - Located in Olathe, Kansas, the museum exposes visitors to the historical experiences of being Deaf and the numerous contributions of Deaf people to the world.

FILM | TELEVISION | BOOKS

"Deaf U" is a Netflix reality series that follows a group of Deaf and heard of hearing students at Gallaudet University, a private university for the education of deaf and hard of hearing in Washington, DC. Released in the fall of 2020, the series is produced by actor, model and deaf activist Nyle DiMarco.

"Audible" is a 2021 short film documenting a Maryland High School for the Deaf high school athlete. It is available on Netflix.

Documentary: "Through Deaf Eyes" - This two-hour documentary explores 200 years of Deaf life in America and presents various perspectives on being deaf. The film is propelled by the stories of people, both eminent and ordinary, and sheds light on events that have shaped Deaf lives. The film includes interviews with prominent members of the Deaf community, including actress Marlee Matlin and Gallaudet University president emeritus I. King Jordan. Interwoven throughout the film are six short documentaries produced by Deaf media artists and filmmakers.

" CODA," which won an Academy Award for Best Picture and numerous other awards, was the first film to have burned-in subtitles on screen. CODA stands for Child of Deaf Adults. The movie, released in 20201, is about a hearing child in a deaf family who finds herself torn between pursuing her love of music and helping her family's struggling business. CODA is available on Apple TV+

"Sound and Fury" is a documentary that follows the lives of the Artinians, an extended family with Deaf and hearing members across three generations. Together they confront a technological device that can help the deaf to hear but may also threaten Deaf culture and their bonds with each other. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and won the National Board of Review Freedom of Expression Award. The documentary is available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Sling TV and Roku Channel.

"Deaf Jam: ASL Poets in the Spotlight" showcases students who perform in their first American Sign Language Poetry Performance at Lexington School for the Deaf. The documentary is available on PBS.

"A Look into the Deaf Community" is an 8-minute short that shares information on Deaf culture and American Sign Language. It is available on PBS and part of the Rise and Shine series for children on Arkansas PBS.

"The Power of Silence" is a series on PBS that explores deafness and hearing loss through the many different lenses of education, understanding, compassion and technological advances.

"Why Sign Language was Banned in America" is a 12-minute short on PBS as part of the Otherwords series.

View a more extensive list of movies about the Deaf community, including deaf narrative movies and ASL movies and documentaries.

Films to celebrate national Deaf History Month

FAMOUS DEAF & HARD-OF-HEARING ACTORS & ADVOCATES

Sandra Mae Frank - actress and producer, "New Amsterdam"

Marlee Matlin - author, activist, Academy Award-winning actress for "Children of a Lesser God" in 1986, and starred in "Coda" in 2021

Nyle DiMarco - model, actor, activist, first deaf winner on "America's Next Top Model" and "Dancing with the Stars," an executive producer of"," and president of the Nyle DiMarco Foundation

Heather Whitestone - Alabama native and the first deaf woman to be crowned Miss America

Juliette Gordon Low - founder of the Girl Scouts

Derrick Coleman - first deaf offensive player in the NFL and played for the Seattle Seahawks, including in the XVLIII Super Bowl

Lou Ferrigno - actor, bodybuilder, and personal trainer, known for his role as the Incredible Hulk

5 Famous Deaf People Who Changed the World

Famous people with hearing loss

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ASL Stories Directory - American Society for Deaf Children

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Find your child's favorite books in our ASL Stories Directory! Get links to hundreds of free videos of sign language stories your child will love!

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This provides a comprehensive fact sheet on hearing for parents, providing essential information to help them understand and support their children's hearing health. The fact sheet covers various aspects, including the anatomy and function of the ear, common hearing problems in children, and strategies for prevention and treatment. It emphasizes the importance of early detection and intervention for hearing issues and offers practical tips for promoting good hearing health in children. Additionally, the fact sheet addresses parents' concerns about hearing loss and provides guidance on when to seek professional help.

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What teachers should know about hearing impairments, and how to help students who have one succeed in school.

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Ideal for new parents with a child with hearing loss who are unsure what to do to improve language development. For parents this site is helps you understand the severity of hearing loss and what they can do to support their child through sign language or finding the best hearing device for their family. The goal is to ease any worries that may come up along the way when navigating the world with a child who has hearing loss.

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Why Does LSL Matter?

Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) has opened up a world of possibility for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

With LSL intervention and the right hearing devices, children with hearing loss are listening, talking, learning, and reading just like their hearing friends and siblings.

Learn More

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Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) has opened up a world of possibility for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. With LSL intervention and the right hearing devices, children with hearing loss are listening, talking, learning, and reading just like their hearing friends and siblings. Learn More

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Hands On: Providing Accessible Entertainment for Hard of Hearing Communities

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Hands On: Providing Accessible Entertainment for Hard of Hearing Communities

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This resource facilitates access to live entertainment for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, offering a consulting service that arranges interpreters for events of all sizes. While based in New York, its influence extends nationwide, promoting the normalization of interpreters in cultural event spaces. The organization's efforts promote inclusivity by providing interpreters for a wide range of events, including kid-friendly shows, with an easily accessible calendar showcasing upcoming events in the city.

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Hands On | Providing Accessibility to Arts & Cultural Events for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Communities

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Hands On - Sign Language Interpreters & Consulting Services

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Hands On offerings sign-language & sign-interpreted performances in the not-for-profit theatrical arena in theaters in New York City and across the country.

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Dear Hearing People- A Message from Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals

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Dear Hearing People- A Message from Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals

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This video gives a powerful message to hearing individuals about the misconceptions surrounding the deaf community and how these misconceptions impact their lives. It highlights that while some deaf individuals may benefit from hearing aids, it's not a universal solution, and assumptions about their needs can be harmful. The video encourages viewers to initiate conversations with deaf individuals to foster understanding and empathy. It emphasizes that making assumptions based on differences can ultimately lead to harm rather than understanding.

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Dear Hearing People - A Film by Sarah Snow & Jules Dameron

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Books By Deaf, DeafBlind, And Hard-Of-Hearing Authors

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Books By Deaf, DeafBlind, And Hard-Of-Hearing Authors

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The "Inclusive ASL" website offers a carefully curated collection of "10 Must-Read Books by Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing Authors," providing an invaluable resource for readers seeking diverse perspectives within the community. With a wide range of genres and themes, the selection caters to a diverse audience, ensuring accessibility and engagement for all. This gives the readers an insight of life as a deaf individual and how they navigate the world. Overall, the website serves as an excellent platform for promoting inclusivity and elevating the voices of deaf and hard-of-hearing authors, fostering greater representation and understanding in literature.

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10 Must-Read Books by Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard-of-Hearing Authors

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Renowned author and feminist Roxane Gay once said, "Books are often more than just books," and at Inclusive Communication Services, we wholeheartedly agree!

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Hands and Voices: Helping Reduce Stigma Around Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals

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Hands and Voices: Helping Reduce Stigma Around Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals

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Hands & Voices, a non-profit organization, supports families with deaf and hard of hearing children through their comprehensive website. They provide articles, webinars, and downloadable guides covering various topics like early intervention and language development. Webinars address individual family support, virtual conversations, and classroom inclusion. This resource fosters connections within the deaf and hard of hearing communities nationwide. Additionally, Hands & Voices offers resources in Spanish to support families facing language barriers in English.

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Hands & Voices - Supporting families with D/HH children

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Hands & Voices is a parent driven, non-profit organization dedicated to providing unbiased support to families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing

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This site is an inclusive online platform offering a variety of resources for both the deaf and non-deaf communities. Through its easy-to-navigate webpage and comprehensive content, it serves as a valuable tool for learning American Sign Language (ASL) and gaining insights into deaf culture. For the deaf community, Handspeak.com provides a platform for enhancing ASL skills and connecting with others. THis resource also educates the non-deaf community about ASL and deaf culture, fostering greater understanding and communication between both groups. Overall, Handspeak.com plays a vital role in promoting inclusivity and bridging communication barriers across communities

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The sign language site is one of few most reliable resources and references highly recommended by Deaf native signers, including ASL instructors.

"Even though I'm Deaf with ASL as my native language, I still use Handspeak a lot in the last few years for reference. I also frequently recommended this website to hearings/ASL students I met. It's amazing how you contributed so much, so I just want to let you know how much I appreciate that. -- Theo, 2020."

"This website is AWESOME! I always refer it to my students. -- Denise (Deaf ASL instructor), 2021"

"This website is a godsend. Your work is amazing and I just wanted to thank you. Without it, learning ASL would have been much harder. -- Le, 2021"

"I just wanted to let you know that you are the reason I've been getting A's in my ASL classes and to say thank you. I use your website multiple times a day, and it has fleshed out so much information about the language of ASL and the Deaf community. You have truly made a difference in my life!" -- Angie DiNardo, February 4, 2022.

Thank you Handspeak!! You were an invaluable resource for me during my interpreter education program. I came to the conclusion that your dictionary of signs were one of the best and I relied on it immensely.

"I have been struggling to figure out signs for my class. It was really beginning to wear down on me and I was getting nervous about how the rest of the semester will go. A problem that was haunting me was found in short order using the sign and contextual reference from the assignment. THANK YOU!!!! You have blessed me for sure! -- Nita"

"THANK YOU SO MUCH. This site is amazing. I am just learning ASL, and I keep this tab open on my computer and check in several times a day to form words and sentences. Very blessed for this incredible project of yours. -- A.S."

"Your website has helped me to learn ASL and about Deaf culture, both when I studied in University and now as I continue to practice and learn. I just wanted to express that I am so grateful for you and for handspeak.com- you are wonderful, thank you for creating this project!! -- Kat"

"Your website is a blessing! I often refer my ASL students to the tutorials on this site as an extracurricular resource when they needed help. -- a certified ASL instructor and Deaf native signer."

"... thank you for making such an important and useful resource for those of us on the path to fluency in the language and art of American Sign Language. Your Handspeak website has provided me with countless hours of invaluable insight and dare I say entertainment. You're a beautiful person, and your work is thoroughly appreciated." -- Patrick Ryan (Minnesota), 2015.

"Handspeak is such a great online ASL lexicon, and it is very helpful. My TA's recommended it over other online ASL dictionaries. Thank you again! -- J.Y., 2017"

"Our daughter is so much happier that she can tell us what she wants and needs. Much less crying, much more laughing! Thank you for this site, the best of its kind on the web."

"We use the site in our homeschooling, as a second language, for our 9-year-old child who does really well with homeschooling. He's exceptionally bright, very active, inquisitive and challenging. Your site has captured his interest and he is intrigued."

"I scuba dive, and being able to use sign language while diving would expand the experience greatly. -- L. Niles"

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Sign Language resources online including ASL dictionary, tutorials, grammar, sentences, alphabet, Deaf culture, baby signing, and more.

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The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is dedicated to supporting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing with a wide range of resources. These include articles on language development and strategies for bridging communication gaps with hearing individuals. ASHA is recognized for offering practical resources tailored for parents, students, and educators by professionals in the field. Their mission statement emphasizes their commitment to advocacy and education surrounding hearing loss, making them a valuable resource for those navigating this aspect of special needs support

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The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 228,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology assistants; and students.