What started as an idea for a Community of Practice has evolved into what we now call a Community of Action. Simply put, this Community is different. The EALA Community of Action brings together an uncommon group of professionals twice a year to solve shared challenges affecting students with disabilities or learning differences. Each Community of Action convening centers on selected promising practices. By the end of each event (within 36 hours), participants team up and present group ideas to their peers. Convening participants select one to three proposed solutions from their peers for implementation funding through participatory grantmaking.
The EALA Community of Action brings together an uncommon group of professionals twice a year to solve shared challenges affecting students with disabilities or learning differences.
Each Community of Action convening centers on selected promising practices. By the end of each event (within 36 hours), participants team up and present group ideas to their peers. Convening participants select one to three proposed solutions from their peers for implementation funding through participatory grantmaking.
January 2023
Participant feedback
On January 8–9, 2023, a group of 20 professionals convened for the EALA Community of Action. This page includes participant feedback and additional resources from the event.
December 2023
Participant feedback
From December 3-4, 2023, a group of 27 professionals gathered for the EALA Community of Action. This page includes participant feedback and additional resources from the event.
December 2024
Participant feedback
On December 12–13, 2024, 35 professionals gathered in Scottsdale, Arizona, for the EALA Community of Action. This page includes participant feedback and additional resources from the event.
May 2025
Participant feedback
On May 20–21, 2025, a group of 24 professionals for the EALA Community of Action. This page includes participant feedback and additional resources from the event.
We’ve invited professionals from the world of education, across many different sectors: from direct service providers and school and district leaders to intermediaries and non-profit organization leaders to participate as members of our Community of Action.
We envision this community to include both people with a perspective on real-world problems, and those who have intermediary leverage to propose and implement solutions that may come out of each convening.
"The opportunity to serve as an EALA CoA coach was a highlight of my year. I had the honor of holding space for an inspiring team that focused on generating a solution that was reflective of a collective challenge their orgs shared, to support learners with differences. It provided an opportunity for fun, authentic connection, deep listening and to put into practice mindful and emergent coaching skills. The EALA team created a very thoughtful framework for the competition process and brought a wonderful group of organizations together. THANK YOU EALA team." (Dec 2023)
"It truly takes a village. There’s still a great deal of work to be done in this space, and meaningful progress will only happen if we collaborate. Without collective action, students with disabilities will continue to be left behind." (May 2025)
"The work we all lead is IMPORTANT and they is more than enough space for us all to lead what we do. This type of collaboration and ACTION that results from this convening is so needed and will bring justice and belonging to the our young people across the map!" (May 2025)
"My top take away from this year's CoA was that the networking and collaboration opportunities... will continue beyond this conference and there is the potential to remain connected and collaborative for years to come." (Dec 2024)