English Learners with Disabilities
“The limits of my language are the limits of my world."
~ Ludwig Wittgenstein
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VDOE's Training and Technical Assistance Center (T/TAC)
English Learners (ELs), also referred to as ELLs, Emergent Bilinguals, or Multilingual Learners, are one of the fastest-growing student groups in U.S. classrooms, with approximately 5.2 million students enrolled nationwide (Najarro, 2024). Some of these students also have disabilities, creating unique learning needs that require thoughtful, collaborative support.
As of 2024, about 16% of English Learners are also identified as having a disability (Najarro, 2024). This underscores the importance of accurate, culturally and linguistically appropriate evaluations. Educators must work across roles and in partnership with families to ensure both language development and disability-related needs are addressed.
This page offers evidence-based tools and resources to help educators, families, and schools better understand, identify, and support English Learners with disabilities using the most current data and proven best practices.
Evidence-Based Instruction for
Multilingual Learners with Disabilities
October 28, 2025
Wytheville, VA
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Join our growing network for future emails about events related to English Learners with disabilities.
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Professional Development Opportunities
For more information, please contact Dana McCaleb or Kitty Wade.
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