Research & Evaluation
Termination of Parental Rights-Examples
of modifications and accommodations for parents
with disabilities
Download Guide
for Creating Legislative Change as a PDF.
Service providers and child protection agencies are responsible for identifying and providing modifications to the services they provide. Parents are responsible for identifying and providing the accommodations in parenting that are most appropriate for them..
Modifications
Title II of the American’s with Disabilities Act requires that state and local governments give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all of their programs, services and activities. Agencies need to provide modifications to their services as appropriate. Examples of modifications include —
Service Delivery
- Increase frequency of service provision
- Extend length of time of service provision
- Increase repetition of information and training
- Modify counseling/parenting skills training to provide more concrete hands-on instruction in a natural environment
- Provide in-home parent modeling
- Links of parent with a co-parent or mentor
- Tailor parenting education to the needs of the parent
- Provide more extensive and thorough follow-up services
- Provide services at an individual’s home or alternative accessible site
- Give frequent reminders for appointments/services
- Provide accessible transportation
Communication
- Provide all information in large print, audio tape, Braille, or digital format
- Offer note-taking or transcriptions of meetings and court activities
- Assist in reading materials
- Provide interpreters
Accommodations
Accommodations include parental supports and adaptive equipment intended to support the parent or guardian with a disability in their parenting activities. Examples of accommodations include —
Parental Supports
- Day care services
- Respite care
- Co-parent or mentor
- Family or informal support networks (church, neighbors)
- Long-term family foster care
- Parent helper/child care assistant
- Aide or personal assistant
- Supported housing
- Accessible transportation
- Concrete calendar with appointments clearly identified
- Pictorial representation or reminders of tasks (step by step)
- Safety/emergency plan
- Service animals
- Money management assistance
- Housekeeping services
Adaptations
- Adaptive equipment (e.g. adaptive cribs and child care equipment, communication devices, specialized computer software, cooking/feeding equipment)
- Adaptation to physical environment (e.g. ramps, lower counters, level handled door knobs)