School Doesn’t Start or End When the Bell Rings

Students with and without disabilities should be encouraged to join after-school activities. These activities provide many benefits for students which include: 

• exploring different interests to find personal likes and dislikes 
• connecting with people who have similar interests
• advancing social skills – developing friendships, teamwork, patience and belonging 
• having fun doing something the student enjoys

For students with disabilities, this may require discussion and planning. There is no better place to talk about a student’s participation in after-school activities than during their Admission Review Dismissal (ARD) meeting. Supplementary Aids and Services (SAS) may be needed for participation, and they should be documented in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) paperwork. Once documented, they must be provided to the student. 

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines SAS as “aids, services and other supports that are provided in regular education classes, other education-related settings and in extracurricular and nonacademic settings to enable the child with a disability to be educated with nondisabled children to the maximum extent appropriate.”  

Here are a few examples of SAS: 

1. Record a song for a student who struggles with reading music, but who can memorize the song. This may be as helpful during classroom instruction as it is during an after-school choir event. 
2. Have more than one adult activity sponsor or provide a para-professional if more adult support is needed for a student to participate in the activity. 
3. Help a student carry and set up an instrument for an orchestra concert. 
4. Provide an accessible bus if a student uses a wheelchair. 

Each child’s SAS can and should look different. Don’t ask, “Can my child participate?” Instead ask, “What supports allow my child to participate?” Then, put those supports in place. 

When looking at what’s available, look at all options. Don’t limit activities to those only for students with disabilities. If you’re not sure what’s available, ask the school for a list of activities. You may be surprised at the number of options you and your child have, which often include:

• clubs, sports and theater
• choir, orchestra and band
• volunteering, civic activities and editing the school newspaper
• photography, art and more 

Finding the activity your child enjoys may take time. Don’t give up! In the end, it will be worth it to see how happy your child is.