Inclusive Technology Leadership Tools and Resources

Education leaders must consider how to meet the needs of students who require assistive technologies (AT) and accessible educational materials (AEM) to access their learning. In fact, federal law requires that students with disabilities can “acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services” as students who do not have disabilities “in an equally integrated and equally effective manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use.” (Joint Letter, U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Education, June 29, 2010) and supported by the 2011 FAQs.

The Center on Inclusive Technology & Education Systems (CITES) at CAST provides a district framework that empowers administrators to create and sustain inclusive technology systems that serve all students, including students with disabilities who require AT or AEM. Developed in partnership with multiple districts, the framework includes practices, action steps, and tools to support district leaders in planning and implementing inclusive technology ecosystems. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, this work focuses on identifying how the assistive technologies are acquired and implemented, and how students who require AT and AEM are supported. 

The framework focuses on six core areas: leadership, infrastructure, teaching, learning, assessment, and family engagement. For each area, there is a set of practices and action steps. In addition, tools are provided to support implementation,  including: 

• District Self-Assessments
• Guides
  • Guide to Supporting Assistive Technology, Accessible Educational Materials, and Accommodations
  • Guide to IEP/504 Plans in Virtual Learning Environments
  • Guide to Professional Learning for Accessibility and Assistive Technologies 
• Video Series and Professional Learning Kits: Building a Foundation for Inclusive Technology Systems
  • The What & Why of Inclusive Technology
  • Cultivating a Culture of Inclusive Practices
  • CITES Framework Overview
  • Inclusive Technologies in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support

• The CITES Community of Practice provides universal technical assistance to any educator via bimonthly convenings and a private Slack channel. 

What can education leaders do to support their inclusive technology journey? 

• Visit the CITES website.
• Check out the Get Started by Role page.
• Read the District Examples.
• Distribute the CITES Virtual Project resources to virtual program/school leaders.
• Share the CITES Community of Practice. 
• Send questions to cites@cast.org.
• Follow @CAST_UDL on X/Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook to stay informed.

This content was developed under a grant from the US Department of Education, #H327T180001. However, the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government. Project Officer: Anita Vermeer, M.Ed.