Ames Leber

BSM students get backpack passes as a part of their accommodation plan.

At BSM, learning is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Our school realizes that people may need extra help in school, and they offer special accommodations to better support students in their education. The privileges that the accommodations provide are a true game-changer in the way that students learn and succeed in school.

While accommodations are something that most students wish for, only certain students are allowed to have them. BSM only allows students with learning disabilities to get the extra help they provide. The goal of these accommodations is to even out the playing field, so that every student has the opportunity to be judged by how much they understand the material they learn, not how their brain learns it. “If you want to get any accommodations, you have to have a documented disability that affects a major life activity. So those are typically ADHD, anxiety, dyslexia, dysgraphia, or depression. Then you just bring me documentation of your disability, and I can write you an accommodation plan,” Kristin Gilbertson, BSM’s Director of Learning Support, said.

But what does an accommodation plan provide for students? At BSM, accommodations are typically offered like a package deal, but can be tailored to each student’s needs. While some students can benefit from extra time or help from teachers on tests, not all students need or use all of the accommodations offered to them. Among the most popular accommodations at BSM are the backpack pass and extra test time. “[BSM] falls under the Americans with Disabilities Act, section 504, and we’re required to offer reasonable accommodations. Most schools define reasonable as you know what we can do without physically changing our building or hiring staff. So typical accommodations here at BSM are extra time for tests, testing in a separate setting, copies of teachers’ notes, audio books, voice typing, [and the] backpack pass,” Gilbertson said.

At BSM, a significant number of students rely on accommodations to support their academic success. The high number of students with accommodations reflects a broader awareness and understanding of learning differences within the school community. Whether it’s extra time on tests, a backpack pass, or help with organization, these tools are essential for a lot of students at BSM. “1 in 5 kids, so about 25% of each class has accommodations,” Gilbertson said.

Accommodations not only help with the stress of test taking or with getting to class efficiently, but they also assist students in daily organization and procrastination. BSM offers a class called Learning Lab for students who want extra help from a teacher during their free time. The class is structured like a study hall, but some teachers work with the students in the Learning Lab to make sure they stay on top of their work so they don’t have to worry about doing schoolwork alone after school. This is very helpful for students with accommodations because it gives them the extra support and opportunities they need to be successful students. “[Learning Lab] is structured where someone sits with you and makes sure you do your work, so it’s really helpful if I have questions on my homework, and the teachers help you get a lot of stuff done,” BSM junior Amelia Hester said.