FRIL Toolkit for Professionals
The Families Reimagining Inclusive Lives (FRIL) Toolkit for Professionals provides a wide range of resources and guidance that professionals and educators can use in their classroom and everyday life.
Articles
- Inclusion in Early Childhood Education Settings in Philadelphia (PDF)
Article by Dr. Philippa H. Campbell, PhD, OTR/L describes and discusses results of a 2017 survey on inclusion in Philadelphia-based child care programs. The article includes suggestions by teachers and directors for improving inclusion, and presents next steps recommended for success.
- Down Syndrome Resource Foundation: Tricky Transitions
Article by Dr. Susan Fawcett with Glen Hoos discusses successful/unsuccessful transition characteristics along with preventive and consequence-based strategies.
- Building an Inclusive Environment in Early Childhood Classrooms
Article focuses on opportunities for educators to create an inclusive classroom in childhood education. (via Penn State Extension's "Better Kid Care")
- 20 Examples of Inclusion in the Classroom
Article by Special Education Advocate Cathy Giardina provides characteristics and examples of inclusive classrooms plus strategies for inclusion success.
- Promoting Inclusive Practices in Education: Bridging Gaps and Fostering Independence
This issue of TEACHING Exceptional Children is dedicated to the theme of inclusive practices in education.
- K-12 Dive: 3 ways to create a disability-inclusive curriculum
K-12 Dive is a website dedicated to resources, professional development, and other useful information for educators.
- Guidelines to Support Implementation of OCDEL Announcement on Inclusion: A Resource for Administrators & Coaches (PDF)
This document compiles inclusion guidelines built on recommended practices, research, federal and state law, and Pennsylvania Department of Education guidance. Parents and educators can explore these resources as they create and implement inclusive environments.
- Guidelines for Inclusion: Disability Rights
This resource may help individuals and parents learn about their rights related to classroom inclusion.
- Creating an Inclusive Classroom
A resource to help guide professionals as they create inclusive classrooms.
Hispanic/Latino Resources
- Hispanic Community Counseling Services (HCCS)
HCCS is a Latino-operated, community-based, outpatient agency focused on providing quality mental health, substance abuse, and human services that promote resilience and recovery in children, adolescents, adults, and families in a multilingual, multicultural, trauma-informed, person-first environment.
- La Puerta Abierta - The Open Door
La Puerta Abierta is an organizational model for improving access to quality mental health care for the Latino immigrant and refugee communities who may face barriers to care.
- Cómo ayudar a un niño con parálisis cerebral en la transición medica hacia la edad adulta
Por: Alexandra Santana Almansa, MD & Jilda N Vargus-Adams, MD, MSc, FAAP
(American Academy of Pediatrics healthychildren.org)
- Autism Latino Magazine
Autism Latino Magazine was created by parents who are raising children on the autism spectrum in the Latino/Hispanic community. This site provides empowering resources, information, and supportive community for families and individuals with autism.
Safety Resources: For School and Everyday Life
- Safe2Say Something
Students and parents may use the Safe2Say Something app to report and track safety concerns in their local schools and community.
- Safety Toolkit
The Safe Toolkit by Autism Speaks provides a range of safety information and tips for people with autism and their families. This Toolkit can be used for everyday life and when planning for the school year.
- Smart911
This platform allows people to add key information associated with an address or phone number that would assist first responders in the event of an emergency. Available features vary from county to county in Pennsylvania.
Organizations and Networks
- Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh
The Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh's mission is to support, connect, educate, and inspire individuals with Down syndrome across the lifespan in the Greater Pittsburgh Region through individual empowerment, family enrichment, and community inclusion.
- Montgomery County Down Syndrome Interest Group
The Montgomery County Down Syndrome Interest Group of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support individuals with Down syndrome and their families from diagnosis to adulthood through education, advocacy, support, outreach, and social opportunities.
- Eastern PA Down Syndrome Center (EPDSC)
The mission of EPDSC is to improve the quality of life for people with Down syndrome and their families, through positive influence, resources, advocacy, and support.
- CHADD: Children and Adults with ADD
CHADD's mission is to empower people affected by ADHD by providing evidence-based information; to support individuals, their families (English and Spanish speaking), and professionals; and to advocate for equity, inclusion, and universal rights.
- National Federation of the Blind Pennsylvania
The National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit volunteer membership organization committed to helping people adjust to vision loss and promoting the full participation and integration of blind people in our communities.
- Philadelphia Family Voices
The mission of Philadelphia Family Voices is “families helping families navigate and improve child-serving systems by creating opportunities for education, empowerment, advocacy, and support.”
- The Arc of Philadelphia
The Arc of Philadelphia is a nonprofit organization that works to protect rights and promote opportunities for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to promote active citizenship, self-determination, and full inclusion.
- ACHIEVA
ACHIEVA is western Pennsylvania’s largest provider of comprehensive services and support for children and adults with disabilities and their families.
- PAR
PAR is a statewide provider association that represents provider organizations which serve and support Pennsylvania's children and adults with autism or intellectual disability.
- PEAL Center: PA Planning for the Future Transition Checklist (PDF)
A checklist for students with disabilities, to review and help provide information and suggestions to guide the transition process for grades 7-12. The checklist was designed for students receiving special education, but may be also useful for other students with a disability.
- York Area Down Syndrome Association (YADSA)
York Area Down Syndrome Association (YADSA) is a non-profit organization that provides support to families with children and adults with disabilities. YADSA’s goal is to bring an understanding of Down syndrome to the community and professionals.
- ASERT – The Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training Collaborative
ASERT provides support, training, and resources while working to facilitate connections and improve access to quality services, data, and information. This partnership is funded through Pennsylvania's Office of Developmental Programs.
- Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs (PDF)
A publication of the U.S. Department of Education
- PaTTAN — Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network
Working with the Bureau of Special Education, Pennsylvania Department of Education, PaTTAN provides an array of professional development and technical assistance targeted at improving student results.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- Universal Design for Learning: Definition and Benefits
For educators, understanding UDL and what it can do for their students helps lay the foundation for an inclusive classroom.
- The UDL Guidelines
These guidelines provide suggestions for educators, parents, and others to apply the UDL framework in designing inclusive, accessible, and challenging learning environments.
- Universal Design for Learning: A Guide for Educators
Articles that outline origins, guidelines, implementation, and more, including reinforcement through assistive technology.
- Helpful Professor: 18 Universal Design for Learning Examples
From flexible work spaces and game-based activities to culturally diverse instruction, a collection of brief examples and case studies of UDL in the classroom.
Websites
PaTTAN: Education ABCs for Acronyms
Commonly used in the field of special education acronyms, compiled by Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance (PaTTAN).
- Kids Together
Kids Together provides information and resources on classroom and community inclusion for both children and adults and is designed for parents, self-advocates, professionals, and advocates.
- Pennsylvania Tourette Syndrome Alliance: Tourette Syndrome Symptoms Sheet (PDF)
Symptom sheet for professionals, provided by the PA Tourette Syndrome Alliance, a non-profit organization that promotes awareness, educates, and advocate for individuals with Tourette Syndrome.
- Teacher Classroom Management Techniques Rating Scale (PDF)
A checklist that can be used to assess a teacher’s use of and success with behavioral practices in the classroom.
- How to Create an Inclusive Classroom: 12 Tips for Teachers
Blog post focuses on attributes and benefits of inclusive classrooms, plus techniques for implementation.
- Inclusive Schools Network: Inclusion Resource Library
Tools, tips, and strategies to help teachers evaluate and improve the status of inclusive education in schools.
- The Teachers Academy: What is Inclusion in the Classroom & What are the Benefits?
This blog post is part of the Teachers Academy website, which offers self-paced, online professional development courses for teachers.
- The Inclusive Classroom: Tammy Webster (PDF)
In this article via the BU Journal of Graduate Studies in Education, Tammy Webster discusses the benefits of having an inclusive classroom for students with and without disabilities.
- Reading Rockets: Books for Educators
A list of books for educators about creating and sustaining inclusive classrooms. Reading Rockets is a national public media literacy initiative. Other available resources include Reading101: A Guide for Parents and Growing Readers: Bilingual Tip Sheets.
- Jewish Learning Venture: jkidphilly
jkidphilly, a program of Jewish Learning Venture, focuses on resources and programs — many sensory-friendly — for families raising young children in Greater Philadelphia Jewish community.
- Speak Up at School: How to Respond to Everyday Prejudice Bias and Stereotypes (PDF)
A publication of Teaching Tolerance, this guidebook "offers tools and strategies for speaking up against prejudice, bias and stereotypes at school."
- PESDHH: PA Educators of Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
This grassroots organization offers education, resources, and newsletters for PA educators of Deaf or hard of hearing students.
- Deaf Unity: 7 Teaching Strategies to Empower Deaf Students
This article breaks down changes and accommodations educators can make to better support Deaf students, for example, including visual aids in lesson plans, facing the classroom while speaking, and providing good lighting.
- Behavioral Health Training & Education Network (BHTEN)
BHTEN was founded by DBHIDS to provide quality educational experiences for a wide range of audiences. The website includes a Learning Hub where you can create an account and enroll in courses. Some provide continuing education credits.
Podcasts and Videos
- Leading from the Floor: An Early Intervention Podcast
EITA consultants interview featured guests around topics related to early intervention leadership. EITA (Early Intervention Technical Assistance) provides training and technical assistance to local Infant/Toddler and Preschool Early Intervention programs.
- UDL in 15 Minutes
From Minecraft as a learning tool to implementing UDL through small steps, researchers and educators share findings and techniques related to the Universal Design for Learning framework.
- Aequor: Top Podcasts for Special Educators
A list of podcasts on topics of interest to special educators and others.
- Inside an Inclusive Classroom: How Two Teachers Work Together
In this video provided by Education Week, two co-teachers discuss the benefits of their inclusive Kindergarten classroom that is part of a pilot program in New York City.
- TEDxEastsidePrep Talk: The Power of Inclusive Education
Dr. Ilene Schwartz speaks from a teacher’s perspective on supporting inclusion, belonging, and confidence in the classroom through planned and intentional instruction.
This project, Families Reimagining Inclusive Lives (FRIL), is funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC).