This section talked about three things that I think are particularly valuable for instructors to keep in mind. There is a major difference between accommodations and modifications. Accommodations provide support for a student to access the learning materials without changing the content being taught. Modifications actually amends the content to support a student who may otherwise not have any exposure to the content. Modifications are great for providing some amount of exposure to the content, but they will not provide as thorough an exploration of the content that other students are likely receiving. This is why most institutions do not provide modifications within their classes, to ensure that all students are being held to the same learning standards. Specific inclusive higher education programs may allow modifications for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities, but in general, modifications will not be given to students with learning disabilities. Self-advocacy is a skill that all adults will need to practice and develop within their lifetime. For students with disabilities, it is even more important that students who have a disability diagnosis in primary and secondary school be provided with the training to self-advocate when it comes to receiving accommodations to meet their learning needs. This should be encouraged and practiced through self-directed IEPs and ensuring that accommodations are being provided in the general education setting. Learning how to talk about their disability, accommodations, and how it impacts their learning will be imperative to empower students to make the request in higher education and make the request, if needed, in the workplace. Finally, career exploration was mentioned. Career exploration opportunities should occur through a number of mediums including interest inventories, aptitude assessments, touring, shadowing, internships, etc. This will expand options for students with disabilities and provide them with directly related experience about how they see themselves fitting into a specific working environment.
