Making Your Classroom More Inclusive
CEL’s The Nora Project is on a mission to build inclusive classrooms all across the country. At its core, inclusive education is about expecting, planning for, and valuing the needs of all students. Spaces are designed in a way where students with and without disabilities are empowered to learn together, and educators have positive attitudes about inclusion, provide high-quality instruction, and set high goals for all students.
In a world as diverse as our own, education systems must reflect and support the wide range of learners that come into classrooms every day. Inclusion and belonging are complex concepts that take time, deep reflection, and collaboration to cultivate in the classroom, and through our curricula and professional learning, we are here to support you on this journey.
We would love to partner with you for comprehensive programming for your class, school, or district. In the meantime, here are a few tips to make ANY classroom more inclusive!
1. Celebrate diversity in the classroom
Ensure that classroom materials, like books, posters, media, and activities, reflect a wide range of cultures, races, ethnicities, languages, family structures, religions, abilities, and identities. This helps students see themselves reflected in the learning environment and fosters identity pride and appreciation for differences among their peers. Check out our Rylan Gelb Memorial Resource Library for hundreds of book recommendations.
2. Explore Universal Design for Learning
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework that aims to make learning accessible and effective for students by proactively designing learning environments and materials. It’s based on the idea that recognizing the diversity of learners and building in flexibility and options from the start, rather than retrofitting accommodations for students with disabilities, benefits all students. We encourage educators to approach instructional alignment with flexibility and curiosity, recognizing that UDL is just one way.
3. Use tools and supports ensuring that students can participate and succeed
Tools and supports allow all students to meet the high expectations within a space, while also destigmatizing needs. These can include differentiated instruction, assistive technology, visual aids, flexible seating, fidgets, personal amplification devices, communication technology, and more — all to meet diverse needs and allow students to explore how they best learn.
4. Educate students about empathy, diversity, and accessibility
Integrate lessons and discussions that teach students to value different perspectives, challenge stereotypes, and practice empathy. Create opportunities for students to reflect on their own identities and learn how to support one another in meaningful ways. CEL’s The Nora Project offers educators comprehensive and flexible units to teach students about key topics like empathy, inclusion, diversity, and accessibility.
5. Encourage all members in your community to work alongside each other to create a safe, respectful learning environment
Foster collaboration between students, teachers, support staff, therapists, families, and caregivers to build a strong, inclusive community. Emphasize mutual respect, open communication, and shared responsibility in making the classroom a space where everyone feels welcome, heard, and valued.
6. Actively learn about disability
School is a space for learning, so recognizing preconceived notions and longheld beliefs is important! CEL’s The Nora Project offers professional learning sessions and modules to support educators in learning, evolving language, and effectively teaching about ableism, disability history, and advocacy.
CEL’s The Nora Project can help educators, schools, and communities on their journey toward building inclusive classrooms. To learn more about curricula, professional learning, and various free resources visit www.ExperienceCEL.org/TNP
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Your donation will transform and enrich the lives of our members with intellectual and developmental disabilities.