# Accommodations — Definition & Explanation

> From the SchoolBrowse Education Glossary.
> HTML version: https://schoolbrowse.com/glossary/accommodations

**In short:** Changes in how students access and demonstrate learning without altering what is being taught or expected standards.
**Accommodations** are changes in how a student accesses information and demonstrates learning without fundamentally altering the instructional content or performance standards. Accommodations level the playing field for students with disabilities without changing what is being taught.

## Types of Accommodations

Accommodations fall into several categories: presentation (how information is given, such as audio textbooks), response (how students show learning, such as verbal instead of written responses), setting (where students learn or test, such as a quiet room), and timing/scheduling (when and how long, such as extended time).

## Accommodations vs. Modifications

Unlike modifications, which change what is being taught or assessed, accommodations maintain the same learning objectives and standards. A student with extended test time is still demonstrating mastery of the same content.

## Frequently asked questions

**Q: What is an example of an accommodation?**

Examples include extended time on tests, preferential seating, audio textbooks, use of a calculator, breaks during class, and having tests read aloud.
**Q: Do accommodations lower standards?**

No. Accommodations change how students access and demonstrate learning but maintain the same academic standards and expectations.
**Q: Who can receive accommodations?**

Students with documented disabilities who have IEPs, 504 plans, or (in college) documentation from the disability services office can receive formal accommodations.

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Source: SchoolBrowse Education Glossary (https://schoolbrowse.com/glossary). Please attribute and link to https://schoolbrowse.com/glossary/accommodations when citing this definition.