The shift to remote and hybrid learning offers both challenges and an opportunity for students with disabilities. The challenges stem from employing teaching practices that address "the middle" rather than "all." Students can easily get lost in a remote/hybrid learning environment. Typically, schools design curriculum for "the middle" and then have to retrofit it for students who are exceptional (as in the image on the left below).
Schools now have the opportunity to #DoSomethingDifferent! Dr. Sulla's upcoming book, Re-Inventing the Classroom Experience: Learning Anywhere, Anytime, speaks of this current opportunity to design learning environments with "all" in mind (as in the image on the right below).
In America, early buildings were designed with the ambulatory in mind . . . making the assumption that everyone could climb stairs.
The Guggenheim Museum (NYC) was designed as one spiral ramp, embedding access for all into the design.
Learning environments should be designed with access for all in mind. That's what we do!
Blog post — The LATIC - UDL - RTI Convergence
Blog post — Focus 2020: Executive Function Fuels Achievement
MyQPortal resource — Considerations for Co-Teaching in a Student-Driven Classroom
MyQPortal resource — Using the UDL Summary Sheets
Remote workshops on advancing the success of special needs students
Virtual Support Center (VSC) providing synchronous and asynchronous support to teachers across the school year as they work to design learning environments that meet the needs of all students; see demo site at vsc.idecorp.com
Virtual Learning Community (VLC) on topics related to special education — an online course in which teachers have flexibility over when they engage while still having access to consultants to help them in designing materials for their classrooms; VLCs for SEL and executive function include:
"Supporting Remote Learners with Disabilities"
"Building Executive Function in Remote Learners"
"Creating a Culture of Executive Function in Your Classroom"
"Designing Differentiated Digital Activity Lists"