Figure 5 - 1: A Carpenter's Bench
Planning for adapted workspaces in schools will often need to go beyond the considerations in a traditional classroom. Other settings in the school may present additional challenges for the planning team to consider. For example, the workspace which is planned for the regular class setting may not be functional in the science laboratory, home economics class, or other locations of the school. Plans will need to include adaptations to allow the student optimum participation in all activities of the educational program planned in the IEP. Lab stations, technology benches, kitchen facilities and other equipment may need adaptations to enhance the student's participation and learning. These adaptations should be planned in the same careful and collaborative manner as the regular classroom workspace and should include the teachers who work in these specialized areas.
While there are commercially available products to solve these challenges, in many cases schools will need to design and construct appropriate workspaces in these other settings around the school.
Figure 5 - 1: A Carpenter's Bench
This is one example of an adapted workspace for technology education. The hand crank adjustment on this carpenter's bench can accommodate students who need to be seated or standing.