Around Town Round Up: Accessing Supports Throughout the Day

For many students, a vital part of effective intervention is being able to access supports throughout the day. This improves consistency and accountability for both staff and the student. In today's Around Town Round Up we will give some great examples from our districts of how teams ensure access to Academic, Sensory, and Communication supports at all times. 

Accessing Individualized Classroom Supports

We love how some of our classrooms have designated classroom storage for specific students. This can be a great place to keep individualized academic tools such as visual supports, adaptive writing utensils, calculators, or reading overlays.

Rachel Hatton
Normandy Elementary, Centerville

Debi Gnau
Mad River Early Childhood Center, Mad River

We love this simple strategy of using a file folder to create a pocket at the student's desk which limits transitions to another location to access materials. 

Brittany Bush
Spinning Hills Middle School, Mad River

For students who travel between classrooms, having a portable option such as a canvas bag can be a great option too. 

Allison Officer
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Mandy Schetter
Northmoor Elementary, Northmont

Accessing Sensory Supports

Keeping sensory supports nearby can be important to students being able to regulate in the moment and can decrease escalating behaviors. 

VeraKaye Sowers
Northridge Elementary, Northridge

OCALICON

Some students may need to co-regulate, therefore having staff nearby to redirect, provide tools, or give calming deep pressure can be very helpful. 

Cindy Bowling
Dixie Elementary, New Lebanon

Accessing Communication Supports

Students who use AAC such as communication devices or low-tech supports such as choice boards consistently need access to their voice! 

A wh-flipbook is a great portable, low-tech option that students can take with them from place to place throughout the day. 

Kendra Krumpke
EJ Brown Middle School, Dayton

Some communication needs may be location-specific so having targeting communication supports at those locations is best such as and "I want" script in the lunchroom or a "bathroom" switch near the bathroom. 

Heidi Horner
Tipp City
Miami County ESC

Store communication supports in a consistent location when not in use (such as when transitioning at the end of the day) so that students can access them as soon as they arrive and nothing gets misplaced around the room. 

Rylie Jarrett
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

We love how the students in the example below have consistent access to their AAC devices when working independently, playing, or talking with staff. 

Erika Lauterbach
Dixie Elementary, New Lebanon

Sheyanne Olson
East Elementary, Eaton

How do you keep student supports accessible throughout the day? Feel free to use the email button at the top of the column to the right to send us examples to feature in future blog posts!