35 Sensory Stories for PMLD and SEN - Special Education and Inclusive Learning
A collection of free to download sensory stories written for use with learners with PMLD and SLD.| Inclusiveteach.com
Technology holds enormous promise for enhancing learning opportunities for students with disabilities. In special education, technology often connects through assistive technology (AT) like text-to-speech tools or smart pens with efforts to make learning environments accessible for all learners from the beginning. More recently, the rise of artificial intelligence has accelerated these possibilities by offering personalized support and improving accessibility. Despite this potential, AT and o...| CIDDL
At CIDDL’s most recent AI Office Hours, the conversation focused on one of the most pressing questions in special education today: Can artificial intelligence (AI) meaningfully support the development of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)? Dr. Olivia Coleman, assistant professor at the University of Central Florida, and Danielle Waterfield, doctoral candidate at the University of Virginia, led a thoughtful discussion on both the opportunities and the risks of integrating AI into IEP p...| CIDDL
This webinar highlights how technology can support the development of students' self-determination. We invited Dr. Karrie Shogren, who conducts various studies related to self-determination, and discussed how the Goal Setting Challenge (GSC) app was developed and how it can help students practically. Continue reading “Webinar Series: Promoting Self-Determination with Technology”… The post Webinar Series: Promoting Self-Determination with Technology first appeared on CIDDL.| CIDDL
Technology holds enormous promise for enhancing learning opportunities for students with disabilities. In special education, technology often connects through assistive technology (AT) like text-to-speech tools or smart pens with efforts to make learning environments accessible for all learners from the beginning. More recently, the rise of artificial intelligence has accelerated these possibilities by offering personalized support and improving accessibility. Despite this potential, AT and o...| CIDDL
The latest CIDDL Office Hours brought together educators, researchers, and technology developers to discuss the growing importance of AI Literacy in education. Led by Dr. James Basham, Professor at the University of Kansas and Director of CIDDL, the session explored how educators can integrate AI responsibly into classrooms and prepare students for an AI-driven future. Continue reading “CIDDL Office Hours: Exploring AI Literacy in Education”… The post CIDDL Office Hours: Exploring AI Li...| CIDDL
The brief begins with context on the background of rural special education, highlighting longstanding unequal access to services, evidence-based practices, and representation in research. Readers will learn how Dr. Hott’s work addresses these challenges by combining simple technologies with strong community partnerships to support instruction and behavioral interventions. The brief also shares how her team engages rural schools in meaningful research and coaching, and how teacher preparatio...| CIDDL
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept; it is already embedded in the ways students learn and teachers work. For educators, AI has the potential to significantly reduce the burden of lesson planning and grading, allowing more time to focus on meaningful engagement with students (Goldman et al., 2024). For students, AI provides personalized support in reading, writing, studying, and research (CIDDL, 2024). Banning AI in schools is not only unrealistic but also unwise, beca...| CIDDL
As the new school year begins, many special educators are once again juggling a familiar set of tasks: modifying assignments, preparing guided notes, breaking down complex presentations, and supporting students through homework completion. These tasks are essential, but they are also time-consuming. What if artificial intelligence (AI) could take on much of this workload, giving teachers back valuable time to focus on evidence-based practices and specially designed instruction? During a recen...| CIDDL
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are becoming daily companions for students, assisting with writing, research, feedback, and more. For educators, these technologies offer exciting opportunities: more efficient workflows, personalized learning, and reduced cognitive burdens for students. But beneath these benefits lies an important question: Are these tools supporting real learning, or just better performance? In this post, we explore what Yan and colleagues (2025) tell us about generative A...| CIDDL
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into daily life and educational settings, teacher preparation programs face a critical challenge: ensuring that pre-service educators are equipped to navigate, integrate, and critically assess AI in their practice. AI literacy refers to the ability to understand, utilize, and critically evaluate AI technologies, including their functionality, societal implications, and how to engage with them responsibly (Long & Magerko, 2020; Ng...| CIDDL
On August 19, 2025, CIDDL hosted an Office Hours session that brought together faculty, researchers, and practitioners to discuss one of the most pressing topics in education today: how to responsibly integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into teacher preparation and special education. Led by CIDDL Co-PI Dr. James Basham, the conversation highlighted both big-picture frameworks and low-lift classroom practices, making AI integration approachable for educators at all levels. Continue reading ...| CIDDL
A collection of free to download sensory stories written for use with learners with PMLD and SLD.| Inclusiveteach.com
Help your students create inclusive digital books with Book Creator! Learn 7 essential tips for adding alt text, using high-contrast colors, and more to ensure every learner can access their creations. The post Tips for Creating Accessible Books in Book Creator appeared first on Book Creator app.| Book Creator app
The bell rings for math class, and you notice the usual pattern: Alex pulls out his materials efficiently and begins the warm-up problem, while Jamie sits frozen, overwhelmed by the multi-step equation on the board. In the same classroom, using the same instruction, one student’s executive function skills are supporting their success while another’s challenges ... Read more The post Building Executive Function Skills Across the Curriculum: Subject-Specific Strategies appeared first on Spe...| Special Education and Inclusive Learning
The Curiosity Approach, which prioritizes child-led, play-based learning to spark creativity and exploration, aligns seamlessly with sensory-friendly strategies. Below are five carefully curated, sensory-friendly ideas rooted in the Curiosity Approach, designed to develop engagement, creativity, and learning for students with special needs. Each idea is grounded in evidence-based practice, drawing on research in sensory processing ... Read more The post 5 Sensory-Friendly Curiosity Approach I...| Special Education and Inclusive Learning
Sarah sits at her desk staring at a math worksheet, pencil hovering over the first problem. She understands addition, but the page feels overwhelming. Where should she start? How should she organize her work? Meanwhile, across the room, Marcus has started three different assignments but finished none, his desk a chaos of half-completed papers and ... Read more The post Executive Function Challenges in Special Education: Recognition, Assessment, and Intervention Strategies appeared first on Sp...| Special Education and Inclusive Learning
Creating an inclusive classroom where students with visual impairments can thrive requires intentional planning, specialized techniques, and a deep understanding of each child’s unique needs. Whether you’re a general education teacher welcoming your first student with a visual impairment, a special education professional, or a parent advocating for your child, these 20 research-backed strategies will ... Read more The post 20 Evidence-Based Ways To Teach Kids with Visual Impairments appea...| Special Education and Inclusive Learning
Executive function skills are the invisible superpowers that help students succeed, not just academically, but in life. These cognitive abilities include planning, focus, flexibility, self-control, and working memory. The challenge? Traditional teaching methods often struggle to develop these crucial skills effectively. The solution is simpler than you think: games. You don’t need expensive technology or ... Read more The post 8 Powerful Executive Function Games appeared first on Special Ed...| Special Education and Inclusive Learning
Making Learning Accessible and Meaningful for All Students Welcome to teacher training, one of the most rewarding professions where you have the power to unlock every child’s potential. This guide will help you create classrooms where neurodivergent and neurotypical students alike can thrive. Rather than seeing differences as deficits, we’ll explore how to design teaching ... Read more The post The 5 Pillars of Inclusive Teaching : Guide to Observations for ITTs appeared first on Special ...| Special Education and Inclusive Learning
Students dealing with various learning disabilities typically require extra support and attention to learn effectively. They may face difficulties with reading, writing, memory, or problem-solving. Fortunately, they can thrive in the classroom if teachers employ the right strategies. For instance, educators can help by creating inclusive learning environments that enable everyone to feel capable and ... Read more The post 6 Effective Ways to Teach Students with Learning Disabilities appeare...| Special Education and Inclusive Learning
Homeschooling vs. Mainstream School: A Comparative Guide for Children was SEN Deciding the best educational path for a child with Special Educational Needs (SEN) is one of the most significant choices a parent can make. In England, families typically weigh the structured environment of mainstream schools against the tailored approach of homeschooling. This guide provides ... Read more The post Homeschooling vs. Mainstream School: A Comparative Guide for Special Needs Families in England appea...| Special Education and Inclusive Learning
It’s not easy to find your way around school or college. Students are always juggling their many tasks, from tight deadlines to tough tests. But it can be even harder for kids with disabilities. Whether it’s a mental, sensory, or physical disability, these problems are often not seen or talked about. What exactly does it ... Read more The post Challenges and Solutions for Students with Disabilities appeared first on Special Education and Inclusive Learning.| Special Education and Inclusive Learning
Bringing History to Life: Sensory Stories to Teach Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night A guide to creating inclusive, multi-sensory bonfire night learning experiences for all learners Teaching historical events like Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night can be challenging when working with diverse learners, particularly those with additional needs, sensory processing differences, or learning disabilities. Traditional ... Read more The post Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night: Sensory Stories appeared first on Speci...| Special Education and Inclusive Learning
6 Effective Sensory Break Ideas for the Classroom Sustained attention, especially in a busy, stimulating environment, is a huge ask for any child, but particularly for those with sensory processing differences. Their brains might be craving movement, overloaded by noise, or simply struggling to stay regulated. Sometimes, a quiet chew or a quick wobble is ... Read more The post 6 Essential Sensory Break Ideas for Classrooms appeared first on Special Education and Inclusive Learning.| Special Education and Inclusive Learning
This isn't about being 'fussy' or 'misbehaving.' It’s about a nervous system that experiences the world in its own unique, often overwhelming, way. And for| Inclusiveteach.com
Flow state, as described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, is a mental state of operation where a person is fully immersed in an activity| Inclusiveteach.com
Student-led initiatives like LiberatED and Social Optics show how centering student voice can transform education into a more inclusive, connected space. The post “If They Would Just Listen”: What Students Are Teaching Us About Belonging and Voice appeared first on Getting Smart.| Getting Smart
Don’t struggle with tough transitions—this free saying goodbye to a teacher social story helps kids manage separation anxiety, reduce stress, and avoid meltdowns during end-of-day goodbyes. Discover the full SEL social story bundle too! The post Saying Goodbye to a Teacher Social Story (Free Printable) appeared first on Sea of Knowledge.| Sea of Knowledge
Stop classroom meltdowns with size of the problem activities. Don’t waste time on tools that fail—grab posters, scenarios, and SEL games that work.| Sea of Knowledge
Linda McMahon appears unaware of the past progress made in serving students with disabilities in public schools. Nor does she understand the complexities surrounding student needs and the long-time underfunding of education services, or what improvements would make school better. She's sliding America backwards, with devastating repercussions for children with special needs and all students.| Nancy Bailey's Education Website - Revive, Rally and Recover Public Schools
“You have this feeling of being part of the solution and the gratitude and empowerment that comes with it.”| EdSurge
State funded initiatives in Ohio and other parts of the country are working to strengthen child care teachers’ knowledge and confidence in working with young children with disabilities and developmental delays.| The Hechinger Report
Home School Researcher Volume 39, No. 1, 2025, p. 1-9 Lucy Barnard-Brak Professor, Department of Special Education, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, lbarnardbrak@ua.edu Carolina Kudesey Doctoral Candidate, Department of Special Education, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, clkudesey@ua.edu Abstract...| National Home Education Research Institute
Technology can be a powerful tool for independence—but for many adults with disabilities, navigating smartphones, tablets, and accessibility apps can feel overwhelming. This summer, Dr. Lauren Tucker, associate professor in Southern Connecticut State University’s Department of Inclusive Education and Behavior Science, has been working to change that. Through a new initiative supported by The Great […]| News at Southern
Don’t let your child struggle with frustration or tantrums when hearing “no.” This Accepting No social story helps kids manage disappointment, avoid meltdowns, and build calm coping skills with simple, supportive language and visuals. The post Accepting No Social Story: Helping Kids Learn to Say “No” Gracefully appeared first on Sea of Knowledge.| Sea of Knowledge
Don’t let rough play hurt your pets or confuse your students—this being gentle with pets social story teaches kids exactly how to treat animals with care. Includes editable visuals, calming strategies, and printable rewards so you don’t have to guess what works.| Sea of Knowledge
Last month, Southern Connecticut State University’s College of Education celebrated its first graduating class from the Residency Educator Program in Special Education, with five students receiving their Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degrees. This innovative program creates a pathway for aspiring educators, particularly current paraeducators within New Haven Public Schools (NHPS), to earn both […] The post First Cohort of New Haven Paraeducators is Ready to Lead in Special Education ap...| News at Southern
In addition to intervention instruction to improve literacy skills, students with dyslexia benefit from supports that help them learn independently. While they typically have the ability to grasp grade-level content, their literacy difficulties often hinder their progress, as much subject matter knowledge is accessed through reading and writing. The terms "accommodations" and "modifications" both refer to ways educators support students with dyslexia, but they serve distinct purposes and hav...| Keys to Literacy
Struggling to teach kids turn taking? Don’t let poor social skills hold them back. Discover fun taking turns social skills activities, sticker story SEL freebies, and simple strategies to stop chaos in your classroom.| Sea of Knowledge
Looking for effective attention getters for students? Discover movement-based, call-and-response, and free printable attention grabber cards to keep your class focused and engaged.| Sea of Knowledge
At Knox County Schools, students with disabilities are benefiting from a districtwide initiative known as Data Days — a structured, quarterly review of academic and behavioral progress for more tha…| KCS Hall Pass
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is focusing on strategies to attract, prepare, and retain effective personnel—general and special education teachers, early childhood personnel, and related services providers—who have the knowledge and skills needed to provide effective instruction, interventions, supports, and services to children with disabilities. This is a topic that is important for […] The post Attract, Prepare, Retain: Effective Personnel For All – Information an...| NCPSSERS
Naomi Ondrasek, Desiree Carver-Thomas, Caitlin Scott, Linda Darling-Hammond Originally posted by the Learning Policy Institute California is in the midst of a severe and deepening shortage of special education teachers—and it is not alone. The field of special education at large has long been plagued by persistent shortages of fully certified teachers, in large part […]| NCPSSERS
The looming threat that the United States Department of Education will be dismantled has brought much uncertainty to state education agencies.| Harvard Education Press
Self-advocacy is a critical life skill for teens and young adults. In short, self-advocacy is the ability to problem-solve, speak up, and get your needs met. It's a skill we all use every single day from expressing our emotions and sharing opinions to asking for help and telling someone "no". Simply| The Pathway 2 Success
Glossary of special education acronyms including short definition of each listed abbreviation| Glossary and Definitions of Disability, Health and Medical Terms
Everyone in education is well-versed in the traditional item types that have been used on assessments for decades: multiple choice and open response. Multiple-choice items present a question and a… The post An Educator’s Guide to Non-Traditional Assessment Item Types: What They Are and When to Use Them appeared first on Illuminate Education.| Illuminate Education
Many still consider a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) to be a framework applicable only to a general education setting, while Individual Education Plans (IEPs) are reserved for special education… The post The Connection Between MTSS and Special Education: Why It Matters appeared first on Illuminate Education.| Illuminate Education
Data on student progress play a key role in identifying students who have a specific learning disability, and also in ensuring these students are making fast enough progress toward the… The post Using Data to Identify and Monitor Progress for Students with a Specific Learning Disability appeared first on Illuminate Education.| Illuminate Education
Spring has sprung and Easter is around the corner! It’s time for some more FREE Printable Easter Activities! First, we will see why fine motor skills are important. Next, we will take a peek at some Easter activities where kids can work on their fine motor skills. Lastly, we will take those fine motor skills […] The post Printable Easter Activities appeared first on The Fine Motor Detective.| The Fine Motor Detective
Birds are chirping and the grass is turning green! Spring is right around the corner and it’s a perfect time to look at Spring Visual Discrimination Activities! Not only do these FREE PRINTABLES address visual discrimination, BUT they also target matching, crossing midline, fine motor skills, bilateral hand skills, visual memory, visual sequential memory, and […] The post Spring Visual Discrimination Activities appeared first on The Fine Motor Detective.| The Fine Motor Detective
It’s time to follow the rainbow and find the pot of gold!! St. Patrick’s Day Activities are in full force and this FREE Leprechaun Activities pack- packs a punch addressing both fine motor skills and cutting skills. First, we will see why fine motor skills are important. Next, we will take a peek at some […] The post Leprechaun Activities appeared first on The Fine Motor Detective.| The Fine Motor Detective
It doesn’t matter if your pet is a dog, cat, rabbit, fish, turtle, or another animal, they quickly become part of the family. So, let’s celebrate our furry…or scaly friends with these FREE Pet Theme Activities. Activities are for preschoolers to 1st graders with a developmental approach. Skills targeted include fine motor skills, scissor skills, […] The post Free Pet Theme Activities appeared first on The Fine Motor Detective.| The Fine Motor Detective
Children enjoy talking about their pets or really any animals! This Mini Pet Theme Writing Activities Pack has 3 different levels of difficulty. In addition to these levels, letter formation, letter size, and line placement are also targeted. Cutting skills are included to go along with the activities as well. Perfect for kindergarteners to first grade! […] The post Pet Theme Writing Activities appeared first on The Fine Motor Detective.| The Fine Motor Detective
The Christmas tree is up and presents are wrapped! Now it’s time for some Santa and Rudolph Fine Motor Fun! First, let’s discuss why fine motor skills are important. Next, let’s look at some fun Christmas Fine Motor Activities. Lastly, we will apply those fine motor skills into some cute Santa and Rudolph Cutting Activities. […] The post Santa and Rudolph Fine Motor Fun! appeared first on The Fine Motor Detective.| The Fine Motor Detective
Gobble Gobble! Time to celebrate Thanksgiving with some Turkey Fine Motor and Cutting Activities! First, we will look at 2 fine motor printables with tons of options! Next, we will apply those fine motor skills during a cutting activity to help your child work on scissor skills. Overall, you will have access to 4 pages […] The post Turkey Fine Motor and Cutting! appeared first on The Fine Motor Detective.| The Fine Motor Detective
School libraries are an inclusive space. Explore these resources to use with your special education students to help them access the stories!| Staying Cool in the Library
When I was a teacher in a school for autistic students, it was well-noted that my biggest strength was my ability to build strong teacher-student relationships. My students engaged well in my classes, opened up| Autistic Not Weird
Ever since adolescence, I’ve wanted to spend my life building people. Whether in terms of confidence, intellect, life skills, or all the other ways a person can be built up, I’ve wanted to be the| Autistic Not Weird
