RESOURCES FOR

EDUCATORS

Welcome.
ROI helps educators create learning environments where all students impacted by disability and other systemic barriers are affirmed in their belonging, supported to reach their full potential, and guided to achieve exceptional learning outcomes. We offer practical tools and systems-level insight to help schools move from intention to impact.
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This page is for teachers, specialists, and school leaders seeking to create more inclusive, equitable learning environments for students with disabilities. Here, you will find practical tools, insights, and strategies grounded in lived experience, research, and real-world application. You will also find materials that you can share with families in your schools and classrooms. Whether you are new to inclusive practices or deepening your commitment, these materials can help to support your journey toward ensuring every student is seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.
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A photo of a classroom with an adult and children at desks

Advancing Equity at the Intersection of Race and Disability

Explore how racism and ableism intersect in schools and contribute to disparities—particularly for Black students with disabilities. These briefs offer insights and frameworks to help educators reflect, respond, and lead with equity in mind.
EDUCATIONAL DISPARITIES FACED BY BLACK STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND POTENTIALLY PROMISING PRACTICES
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UNDERSTANDING DISABILITY JUSTICE AS A GUIDING FRAMEWORK FOR INCLUSIONARY PRACTICE IN K-12 EDUCATION
This resource available in multiple languages
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THE INTERSECTION OF RACE AND DISABILITY IN EDUCATION
This resource available in multiple languages
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Strengthening Communication About Special Education

These tools are designed to help educators translate complex systems into clear, family-friendly information. Share them with families and colleagues to build a shared foundation of understanding and trust.
INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM (IEP) FOR TODDLERS
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STARTING KINDERGARTEN - WHAT FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES NEED TO KNOW
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SPECIAL EDUCATION EVALUATIONS - TOWARDS STRENGTHS-BASED, WHOLE-STUDENT EVALUATIONS
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IEPS AND 504 PLANS - TWO PATHS TOWARD INCLUSION
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SUPPORTING DISABLED CAREGIVERS IN YOUR SCHOOL
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AS STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
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RESEARCH AND REPORTS:

These resources connect research to real-world practice, offering insights that help educators strengthen inclusion, equity, and collaboration in their schools.

Final Report:  Postsecondary Experiences of Students with Disabilities in Washington State

(2025)
Roots of Inclusion, in partnership with CoDesign Works, conducted a comprehensive survey to understand how K-12 education in Washington can better prepare students with disabilities for post-secondary success. 
READ THE FULL DOCUMENT

Advocating for Students with Disabilities: Strategic Frameworks Insights
This resource was developed through a partnership with Roots of Inclusion and FrameWorks Institute. This guide is designed to equip school leaders and advocates with communication strategies to promote classroom climates that fully and fairly include students with disabilities.

FrameWorks and Roots of Inclusion gratefully acknowledge the input and expertise of advocates in Washington state whose perspective shaped this framing guidance.
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Building Meaningful Relationships with Families and Community

Family engagement goes beyond information—it’s about trust, shared decision-making, and listening. These tools offer approaches to building strong, equitable relationships with families.

Roots of Inclusion Community Conversation Toolkit

A Tool to Partner with Families and Foster Belonging.
The Community Conversation Toolkit is designed to help educators engage families and school communities in meaningful dialogue about inclusion, access, and belonging for students in our schools. This toolkit supports you in creating respectful spaces where lived experience is valued and collaborative solutions emerge. It’s practical, easy to use, and built to strengthen relationships between schools and the families they serve.
EXPLORE THE TOOLKIT

Family Engagement Through Storytelling and

​Podcasting

A Toolkit for Washington State's K-12 Schools
​Storytelling can open doors to deeper connection and understanding between families and schools. This toolkit, created by Roots of Inclusion and inspired by the Rooted in Washington podcast series, offers strategies for using storytelling—including podcasting—as a powerful tool for building trust, honoring lived experience, and strengthening family engagement in K–12 schools across Washington State.

EXPLORE THE TOOLKIT

Frameworks for Equity-Centered Decision Making

These resources help educators navigate decision-making and conflict with clarity, compassion, and a commitment to inclusive school transformation.

Leading with Disability for Inclusive Decision-Making and Dispute Resolution
As part of the Washington Statewide Family Engagement Center, Roots of Inclusion partnered with CoDesign Works to co-create frameworks that help school communities make more inclusive decisions and resolve conflicts in ways that center student success, dignity, and joy. Grounded in disability justice and equity, these frameworks support educators, families, and advocates in transforming school culture through practices that recognize and respond to every student’s lived experience.
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Learn On Your Own Time: On-Demand Series

These self-paced learning modules are designed for educators, school leaders, and community partners who want to deepen their understanding of how to support students with more complex support needs. The sessions offer practical strategies, real-world examples, and tools to create more inclusive, responsive learning environments.

ON-DEMAND LEARNING SERIES 

FEATURING ROBYN GOBBEL, MSW

ABOUT THIS SERIES:

Supporting children who have experienced trauma, struggle with regulation, or have otherwise vulnerable nervous systems is overwhelming and confusing. Behaviors that result from vulnerable nervous systems are often big and baffling. 

Children with vulnerable nervous systems need support with co-regulation, connection, and felt-safety. This on-demand learning series will help participants to:
·      Build an understanding of behavior through a neurobiological approach
·      Develop tools for examining behavior and identifying how best to respond
·      Identify strategies to address behavior based in dysregulation
·      Decrease the likelihood of baffling behaviors

Learn from this easy-to-understand model of addressing baffling behaviors based on Robyn Gobbel’s owl, watchdog, and possum brain, and fill your behavior toolbox with tools that really work so you can stop playing behavior whack-a-mole.
ACCESS THE ONLINE LEARNING SERIES

Recorded Webinars for Deeper Learning

These webinar recordings feature conversations with educators, family leaders, and disability justice advocates. Topics range from inclusive instructional strategies to family-school partnerships and equity in special education. Watch and learn from real voices working to create meaningful change.
BEYOND BARRIERS: DISRUPTING RACISM AND ABLEISM TO BUILD BELONGING IN SCHOOLS

Featured Speaker: Carrie Basas and Heidi Sohn
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SHIFTING PRACTICE TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS WHOSE BEHAVIORS ARE MISUNDERSTOOD

Featured Speaker: Guy Stephens, E.D. of Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint
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CRAFTING AND IMPLEMENTING AN INCLUSIVE IEP

Featured Speakers: Jaimee Kidder, OSPI and Gail Ghere and Jennifer Sommerness from TIES Center
Recorded April 22, 2025
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"THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME" PANEL DISCUSSION 

Featured Speakers: Jordyn Zimmerman, Grant Blasko, and Cynthia Blasko
Recorded May 24, 2023
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USING A STRENGTHS-BASED, WHOLE-STUDENT EVALUATION APPROACH

Featured Speakers: Taina Karru-Olsen and Kelly Marth
Recorded March 12, 2025
ACCESS THE RECORDING

Short Videos That Break It Down

Need a quick overview or visual explanation? These brief, accessible videos highlight key concepts and inclusive practices that support students with disabilities and those who need additional learning supports. Perfect for staff meetings, professional development, or quick refreshers.

Quick Guides for Busy Educators

Visual summaries and infographics that break down complex topics—perfect for professional learning communities, staff meetings, or quick reference during planning and implementation.
Roots of Inclusion
​P.O. Box 6784
​Bellevue, WA.  98008
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Disclaimer:  Our website contains links to external websites, documents and publications.  These links are provided in an effort to share access to research and materials that are related to the work of Roots of Inclusion and are provided for informational purposes only.  Links to other websites and publications do not imply a recommendation for all of the content found on these sites but rather an opportunity to learn about the complexities of issues.