This article will guide you in creating better products that are inclusive of all people. And better your understanding of inclusive design.

Inclusion is more than simply having a child in the classroom. Here's what needs to happen to make the general ed classroom more inclusive so all children succeed!

I remember seeing the quote “inclusion elevates all”, when reading a recent article about Gucci highlighting a beautiful woman for their makeup campaign. The woman had Down syndrome and she was simply radiating. The increase in representation of people with different abilities is so moving to me and honestly long overdue. Today I will share […]

Inclusive Classrooms ~ "Promote a safe and welcoming classroom school and community where individual differences are valued..."

How can you teach and include every young learner in your inclusive early childhood classroom? Modifications are one way to meet the needs of every student—and today’s blog post brings you 9 practical ideas you can use and adapt for your own class. Excerpted and adapted from the new Building Blocks for Teaching Preschoolers with […]

How can autistic students be successful and make the most progress in a general education setting? Whether they’re spending time in a specialist class like music or art or a full day in general education,

Inclusion is more than simply having a child in the classroom. Here's what needs to happen to make the general ed classroom more inclusive so all children succeed!

A more inclusive model is gaining popularity. Is it coming to your school? Could it?

"Over, under, around or through find a way, or make a way" is a quote by Paula Kluth that recently reminded me of how I found ways to include all my students in a classroom activity, regardless of their ability level. I want to share one of the most successful ways that I used as a classroom teacher to facilitate inclusion. In order to have students aquire the same learning experiences, teachers have to be prepared for the differences in their student's abilities and learning styles. This technique is known as "differentiation". Differentiation can be created by making changes. Changes can take place in many ways in the classroom, depending on the student's needs, teacher's level of knowledge and support of school personnel. Big or little, however, change can make a difference in how students with special needs are included in the classroom. Here are 10 easy changes teachers can make to facilitate inclusion: Time - change the time of day the activity is planned for, the duration of activity, the time of week or even the month. Space - change the physical seating arrangement in the class, change the environment (turn off the lights, shut the door or open the windows), change the workspace or even the room (go to the library or sit outside). Method – change how the lesson is delivered. Use charts, music, books, props, video or posters. Stand at the front of the class, the back of the class. Have the students remain sitting at their desks, on their desks or sit at a carpeted area. Materials – have students produce their work using crayons, markers, paint, modeling clay, computer software, cameras, popsicle sticks, or cheerios. Product – change the assignment from writing to drawing, art, music, or drama. Have students create a poster, diorama or power point presentation. Quantity – change the number of questions, length of assignment, amount of homework, or ask for odd-numbered answers only. Groupings – change how the students are grouped for the lesson. Will they work in pairs, small groups or be independent? Will the student work with a teacher, a paraprofessional or other support personnel? Grade – change the grade-level expectations of the activity. Go down a grade or up a grade depending on the student’s ability. Teacher – yes, change the teacher! Ask the Special Ed teacher to deliver the lesson, a co-teacher, the principal, a parent, or another student. Resources – change the resources you use for class activities. Look for new textbooks, web sites, on-line teaching communities and experts. One small, new idea can lead to something big! Follow us by email to get all our updates! Also, you can check out more resources by following us on Facebook and Twitter!

Inclusive Classrooms ~ "Promote a safe and welcoming classroom school and community where individual differences are valued..."

To create a culture of school inclusion, the right supports are needed to guarantee success. Here are a dozen that should be available! Can you think of any more?

Inclusion is more than simply having a child in the classroom. Here's what needs to happen to make the general ed classroom more inclusive so all children succeed!

Teamwork is the fuel that keeps inclusion going. If you’re just getting started with inclusion or want a to-do list to get your existing team on track, today’s post is for you! This infographic gives you 10 helpful tips on creating a team that communicates smoothly and collaborates successfully. It was created with information from […]

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In past posts, we’ve talked about universal design for learning (UDL) as a highly effective framework for teaching all students. As author Whitney Rapp says in her book Universal Design for Learning in Action: “An environment that is universally designed for learning includes everyone and prepares everyone to be inclusive and think inclusively. It shows […]

Would you want to be a learner in your classroom? That’s not a trick question—think about it. Perhaps some of the activities and lessons wouldn’t ...

I’ve been in some great inclusion spaces. And then I’ve been in some not-so-great ones. To clarify, when I speak of “inclusion” in this blog post, it refers to the inclusion…

if major companies can’t even talk publicly about diversity, equity, and inclusion, what do conversations inside of these organizations look like?

Creating An Inclusive School | Inclusive Education | Creating Inclusive Education Inclusive education refers to an academic system that ...

More than 50% of LGBTQ+ students report feeling unsafe at school. How an inclusive sex ed curriculum can create a better environment.

If you’re wondering how to set up your high school, self-contained or transition classroom, read on for tips, pictures and ideas!

We all know the importance of an inclusive classroom, right? But have you thought about whether your classroom rulesare inclusive for all your students?

I’ve been in some great inclusion spaces. And then I’ve been in some not-so-great ones. To clarify, when I speak of “inclusion” in this blog post, it refers to the inclusion…

Have you ever thought about making history and citizenship education more inclusive and contributing to this process? We present interested educators an opportunity to apply to join one of the two special interest groups of “Strategies for Inclusion – Making high quality history and citizenship education more inclusive and accessible” project with an extended deadline. We welcome

As Pinterest becomes a popular way for teachers to share and find resources for their classroom, I would like to give you a list of my favorite Inclusion boards! The number of boards dedicated to inclusive education is growing daily and I’m sure I have missed out on some very noteworthy mentions. For that reason, please let me know in the comment section below, of any pinners or boards that you find very helpful. However, for the time being you can’t go wrong following these Pinterest boards, where you will find so many ways to enrich and enhance your inclusive classroom! 1. Brenda Schottmuller - The mother of all inclusion boards, Brenda’s Pinterest board has over 3500 pins related to inclusion! You’ll be sure to find lots of tips, advice and information for all age levels here. Give yourself a lot of time to look through it! 2. Lisa Friedman - Lisa’s Inclusion board is a collaborative board where several inclusion advocates (including The Inclusive Class) pin their favorites in one place. You will see a variety of pins here, including blog posts and articles that make you think about inclusive practice. 3. Melina Nafarrate - This board is focused on inclusion in the early years. Melina pins ideas for hands-on activities, books and classroom management. 4. Ariel Glassman - Ariel's board has over 700 pins with a combination of inclusive activities, information about special needs, practical ideas and quotes. Although many of the pins are geared towards the elementary years, some can be adapted for middle and high school. 5. Brookes Publishing - Brookes is a leading publisher of books about inclusive education. Therefore, most of the pins on this board are books about inclusion that Brookes has published. It’s a great board to help you keep up with hot topics in inclusive education and recent research. 6. Kerri Haycook - On Kerri’s Inclusion board, you will find some very user-friendly charts, checklists and graphics that can be used in the inclusive classroom. Data sheets and IEP worksheets are also pinned to supplement the necessary documents that an inclusion teacher needs. 7. Whitney Fazier - Numerous charts and visuals that can used in the inclusive classroom are the highlight of this inclusion board. There are ideas and suggestions that can be used in both elementary and middle school classrooms. Since many learners need visual supports, this board will be useful for any teacher. 8. Glitter Apples - As the title of this board indicates (Special Needs and Inclusion), it has pins about special needs as well as inclusion. Close to 500 pins describe various learning disabilities, physical, developmental and neurological issues. This is a fantastic resource for any inclusion teacher to refer to when planning for lessons and support in the classroom. 9. Lindsey Ding - Lindsey's board is dedicated to the Common Core and how it relates to inclusion. It is a resource that elementary teachers will find very helpful when planning inclusive lessons that meet Common Core expectations. Hand-outs, lesson plans, and activities line this board. 10. Kathleen McKlaskey - Kathleen is known for her resources and knowledge of technology to support learning and “level the playing field”. On this board, she has numerous pins with suggestions for apps that can be used for special learners. Save yourself some time and refer to Kathleen’s board when looking for educational apps in your classroom! Do you have any boards to add to this list? Leave a comment below! Don't forget to follow The Inclusive Class on Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest for more resources about inclusive education!

Some great strategies for Supporting Students with Autism in Inclusion. A resource for general and special education Supporting Students with Autism

I trust many if not most teachers would be happy and willing to do whatever necessary to make sure their classrooms are LGBTQ inclusive and affirming.

(This post is part of our Fair is Not Always Equal…Now What? blog series.) As many of our posts have emphasized this year, designing your lessons using the UDL framework goes a long way toward meeting each of your students’ specific learning needs. But in a diverse, inclusive classroom, some students will also need […]

Teamwork is an important part of any spec-ed teacher's role, providing instruction for special needs children while working alongside the classroom teacher.

When co-teaching teams make collaboration, communication and compassion daily targets for teaching together, they'll be successful, says coach Elizabeth Stein.

Direct instruction is a crucial component of special education programs. Our students require direct instruction in order to learn, master and generalize skills. Here are some tips to help make your direct instruction time easier. In my classroom. we set aside an hour a day to do direct instruction centers. During this time, we take ... Read More about Direct Instruction Hacks For Special Education Classrooms

While gifted students might excel in certain areas, we must differentiate their learning to address other academic areas along with their social and emotional needs.

An education blog with strategies, tips and information for teachers about teaching students with disabilities in the inclusive classroom.

Be a Better Advocate: 5 Ways a Campus Can Support Students with Disabilities As an administrator or campus leader, it’s critical to advocate for students with disabilities. We all have the capacity to be better, do better, and inspire better, keeping in mind that small things can have a big impact. Reflect on your current ... Read more