Educational Accommodations for K-12 Students with BPD
Communication Strategies
One person talks at a time in interpersonal communication.
Begin with validating the student’s emotions.
Allow time for questions and clarification of communication.
Use neutral emotions in communication and a calm emotional state.
Check that student understands directions and communication.
Educational Strategies
Ensure rules or guidelines are clearly laid out.
Utilize structure, limits, and boundaries regarding communication and assignments.
Provide advance warning, when possible, for changes due to the schedule, assignments, due dates, field trips, etc.
Students may have difficulty dealing with change, transitions, or may have strict treatment schedules.
Coping Strategies
Provide trigger warnings and advance notice for material, discussions, or videos that may contain content such as assault, natural disasters, traumas or suicide.
Establish a clear safety plan if students communicate suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
Provide support for interpersonal functioning, as students with BPD my struggle to complete group assignments and activities, or be the victim of bullying.
Establish clear rules if symptoms or social behaviors are a danger to others.
Safety Strategies
Allow student to take a break as needed to avoid emotional escalation or shut down.
Determine the location of “break time” and establish a time limit, or activity, to help the student regulate emotions.
Designate an “advocate” in the school to assist when the student becomes too emotionally dysregulated.
The advocate should meet and discuss shared expectations, outcomes, and goals for advocate role.
Empowerment Strategies
Focus on the creative abilities and self-expression of students with BPD.
Involve students in activities they show an interest in or proficiency for.
Support students in building a school identity and sense of purpose beyond the disorder, which may consume much of their emotional energy and time outside of school.
