SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton: Universal Accommodations - Helpful Tips

Press release from SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton:

October 11, 2021

I’ve had the privilege of working, not only at the Treffert Center, but with a variety of different schools and teachers and I often get asked, “What are some general suggestions to help with attention, engagement, and regulation?” With the push of inclusive classroom settings, as well as parents finding difficulties perhaps in their homes with these items, it seems that people are in need of what we call universal accommodations.

What is a universal accommodation? Picture this scenario: You’re riding your bike, pushing a stroller, or rollerblading on the side walk, and as you come up to the end of the side walk and see the gradual decline of a ramp in order to cross the street. You think to yourself, “This is great! I can just continue my ride/walk with ease!” That’s all thanks to the universal accommodation of curb cuts. Curb cuts were initially intended to help people with disabilities have better accessibility for mobility. However, as many can attest, these curb cuts were truly beneficial for everyone! We call that universal design and universal accommodations.

Universal accommodations are simply things that help, not just one specific person, but can be helpful for many or all people.

Within classrooms and even homes, I have found these top three items to be the most used universal accommodations that can help not just children but adults better attend, engage, and regulate.

Visual Timers – These significantly help children (and adults) gain a better concept of time. I use these especially during tasks that are maybe not preferred (i.e., homework) so they can better understand when they can either be done or at least have a break.

Schedules – Schedules help everyone. To this day I still have a personal calendar to keep all of my activities and events organized. Children are no exception: they can benefit from understanding what their day and even week will look like. Sometimes it helps to provide pictures with the schedule for more visual learners.

A Safe Spot – Safe spots/calming corners are a great idea for kids to have a place to take a break when they’ve just “had too much”. At home, this can be a personal fort they build, a comfy spot on the couch, a little reading nook, just to name a few. It’s important for everyone to have a space they can just relax for a moment when life is getting too overwhelming. These have also been implemented in the school classrooms for a place children can go when things get to be too much. It’s important within a safe spot to have items that are comfy and cozy, but also provide ways to self-regulate so we can get re-charged and conquer the rest of the day! Some of the items that can help within the safe spot include pictures of breathing strategies, pictures of family members, small coloring pictures, fidgets, books and possibly comfy pillows just to name a few.

This press release was produced by SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.