Responding to Learner Needs Through Adaptation, Accommodation, and Modification

All over the world, the growing appreciation of the right to basic education of all learners, including those with special needs, in mainstream schools has attempted to influence the provision of necessary support systems. These support systems usually call for modifications or adaptations in various areas of instruction such as curriculum content, teaching methods, and the physical environment. It is, however, imperative that the education development agenda, particularly targeted at learners in Africa, be premised on the guiding values of ubuntu philosophy. This chapter, therefore, discusses ways in which the unique needs of different learners in an African context can be effectively met through adaptation, accommodation, and modification. Particular attention is mainly given to learners with physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, visual loss, hearing loss, learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, communication and speech disorders, chronic illnesses, and those from minority cultural groups.