Inclusive Education Support

Partnership for Extraordinary Minds supports the idea that, when done right, inclusion benefits all students--with and without disabilities. We’ve listed below a compilation of excellent resources to help schools implement and support successful inclusive education programs.  Find out what the research says about inclusive education.

SWIFT Schools

SWIFT is a national K-8 technical assistance center that helps whole education systems build capacity to provide academic and behavioral instruction and support for all students, including students with disabilities and those with the most extensive needs. SWIFT is committed to equity-based inclusion, where every child is valued and given the supports they need to succeed. The site has comprehensive resources, studies, webinars, assessment tools, guides, reports, podcasts, and articles all designed to help facilitate inclusive education.

Starting with Julius

Founded in 2013, Starting with Julius was a project to promote the inclusion of people with disability in advertising, media, and beyond. The belief is that advertising and media have a powerful role in shaping the consciousness and behavior of individuals. Over the years, Starting with Julius has become a resource for many topics related to inclusion, including education. The site above is a source of articles related to inclusive education, including studies, blogs, government reports, and more.

Inclusive Schools Network by Stetson Associates, Inc.

Inclusive Schools Week is an annual event sponsored by the Inclusive Schools Network (ISN) and Stetson & Associates, Inc., which is held each year during the first full week in December. Since its inception in 2001, Inclusive Schools Week has celebrated the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students who are marginalized due to disability, gender, socio-economic status, cultural heritage, language preference, and other factors. The Week also provides an important opportunity for educators, students and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure that their schools continue to improve their ability to successfully educate all children.

Paula Kluth

Dr. Paula Kluth is a consultant, author, advocate and independent scholar who works with teachers and families to provide inclusive opportunities for students with disabilities and to create more responsive and engaging schooling experiences for all learners. She is a former special educator who has served as a classroom teacher and inclusion facilitator. Paula’s site is dedicated to promoting inclusive schooling and exploring positive ways of supporting students with autism and other disabilities.

Thasya (A 13-minute minifilm) by Dan Habib

Thasya is a minifilm from award-winning filmmaker Dan Habib (Intelligent Lives) that highlights the power of presuming competence, differentiated instruction and augmentative and alternative communication. Thasya Lumingkewas is an eight-year old autistic student that thrives at Maple Wood Elementary School in Somersworth, NH. The school has implemented Response to Intervention (RtI), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

NYU ASD Nest Support Project

The ASD Nest Support Project is a an inclusion program hosted by NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. The goal of the ASD Nest Support Project is to advance the development and implementation of educational solutions for children living with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The ASD Nest Support Project provides training and support for educators of students with ASD, including those in the NYC Nest Program, which is a model inclusion program in 54 New York City public schools. Specifically, the ASD Nest Support Project provides training, professional development, and on-site consultation for teachers, therapists, and administrators, and workshops and a newsletter for ASD Nest parents. Other activities include research, presentations at national professional organizations, and articles and other publications on relevant topics. Learn about the core values of ASD Nest Support Project called the NestCon9.

All Means All

All Means All is the Australian Alliance for Inclusive Education, a nationwide multi-stakeholder alliance working to implement an inclusive education system and remove the legal, structural and attitudinal barriers that limit the rights of some students, including students with disabilities, to access full inclusive education in regular classrooms in Australian schools.

At the All Means All website you will find a Toolkit tailored for educators as well as a Toolkit tailored for parents, and a summary of important research on inclusive education.  Though the organization is focused on Australian schools, the resources are excellent and are applicable to the USA as well. 

Arlington Inclusion Task Force

The Arlington Inclusion Task Force was established in 2014 to increase opportunities for the authentic and well-supported inclusion of students with disabilities within Arlington Public Schools (APS). Their webpage is a great resource with research, best practices, and inspirational personal stories about inclusive education. 

The ParaEducate Blog

The ParaEducate Blog provides strategies for paraeducators in inclusive classrooms.