Are accommodations specially designed instruction (SDI)? Who can deliver SDI? How does SDI relate to UDL and MTSS? Is academic SDI enough to promote progress for students with disabilities? We know from IDEA Sec 300.39 (a) (1) that “special education means specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability”, but through multi-year partnerships with State and local education agencies and ongoing knowledge development activities, the PROGRESS Center found common misconceptions about SDI were negatively impacting how local educators designed and delivered high-quality educational programming for students with disabilities. This presentation will share recommendations and resources to address five common misconceptions and improve the impact of SDI. Presenters will share strategies that leaders can use to support professional learning around the topic of SDI and the relationship with the other parts of the statement of services and aids as well as tools that can help to support engagement with parents and families in the effective design of programming for their child.
