3 Reasons Why Accommodations Should be Crutches
Adults don’t want accommodations to become a crutch. But what is a crutch really?
I have often heard adults resist providing accommodations for students with learning disabilities because they don’t want those accommodations to become a crutch. But, what is a crutch really?
1. Crutches are Tools
Crutches help support healing and functionality. They are a tool to support a disabling condition, whether that is a short-term condition or a long-term one. Who uses crutches when they don’t need them? Nobody really. It is painful to do so and quite cumbersome.
Accommodations are similar. It can be painful for a student to need to use accommodations in front of their peers. They need to be supported to do so to ensure success.
Accommodations can also be cumbersome. I remember the first time one of my students didn’t need her calculator anymore for basic facts. I reminded her to get it out and her response was “Why? That’s just extra work.” Our whole class was proud of her, especially when she went on to perform well on her basic fact test. It took until 8th grade for her to embrace it, but it was well worth the wait!
2. Crutches are a Prescription
When a crutch is prescribed there is a reason for that need. There is a muscle, bone, etc.. that is not working properly or needs relief in order to heal. If crutches are not used as prescribed, things might seem to be fine as one toughs it out, but there is a risk of long-term damage. If they are used following a surgery, not using them can negate the benefits of surgery.
Accommodations are also prescribed - they are provided to address a disability. Not using them can negate the benefits of early intervention and specialized instruction. Teachers and parents frequently voice concerns that a student is not generalizing skills from intervention or direct instruction. Of course they’re not. Without prescribed support, such as accommodations, students with learning disabilities will struggle to generalize skills. That is an adult error, not a student deficit.
3. Crutches are a Type of Scaffolding
Scaffolding for muscles. While using a crutch, other muscles can atrophy if not exercised properly. We all know that once the prescribed time with a crutch is over, it is important to have some physical therapy, or focused intervention, to exercise the muscles that had been supported. You don’t just stop using the crutch and go about your business at full force.
The same is true with accommodations. They are a type of scaffolding. Scaffolding should not be removed until the job is done, not when we think the job should be done. Removing this scaffolding too soon is another adult error, not a student deficit.
Crutches are a tool, and like with any tool, there is a responsibility on the user end. Students need to be willing and able to use a crutch properly. But what if they are resistant? Well, there is often a reason someone refuses to use a tool provided for them.
Some of the most common reasons I have experienced include:
negative perceptions (of self and/or from others)
not knowing how to properly use the tool
lack of support for frustration or problem solving
not seeing that the long-term gain outweighs the temporary inconvenience or discomfort.
As adults, we can’t really force students to use their accommodations - just like we can’t always force them to use crutches - but we can make sure we do our jobs: help them find ways to deal with the frustration and establish an environment where it is acceptable to use support (a more positive word than crutches) when we need to.
Cognitively Yours,
Amy