Specially Designed Instruction (SDIs) is a section of an IEP and 504 plan. An SDI is specifically made for the student’s and his or her particular needs. This part of an IEP is very important, as it is made up of the accommodations and modifications the student will be receiving.

SDIs guarantees the student specific accommodations and modifications. The easiest way to understand the difference between accommodations and modification is to know that accommodations accommodate your child to learn in the classroom, while modifications change what the child is learning.

Some examples of accommodations are:

  • Extra time for tests
  • Frequent breaks
  • Adaptive writing utensils
  • Visual and verbal cues
  • Large print text

Some examples of modifications are:

  • Modified/lessened workload
  • Instead of writing an essay, having multiple choice questions to answer
  • Requiring less questions to be completed on homework assignments.

With an IEP, the student will receive both accommodations and modifications if deemed necessary. As for 504 plans, students can only receive accommodations. Modifications and accommodations are vital for some students to receive the best education possible, which is why SDIs are so important.