EALA

Disability: Intellectual Disability

  • What Are Intellectual Disability and Developmental Disabilities?

    What Are Intellectual Disability and Developmental Disabilities?

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    A guide to intellectual disability, developmental disabilities, and IDD terminology and supports.

  • Supporting People With Co-occurring IDD and Mental Health Needs Through a Trauma-Informed Lens

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    Experts in the IDD field believe that what people may think of as behavioral issues are actually often manifestations of trauma and trauma-based responses.

  • Youth Action Project Resources

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    Youth-led pilot projects demonstrate the power of community-connected learning to help students navigate their futures with confidence and purpose. Centering student voice and storytelling, these initiatives show how education can evolve when youth are trusted as change-makers and supported with care.

  • Youth Project Framework for Students with IDD and Autism

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    The Youth Project aims to empower students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and Autism by providing them with self-advocacy tools, identifying their learning styles, and exploring post-secondary pathways in college, entrepreneurship, vocational, and trade programs.

  • Demonstration Classrooms

    Demonstration Classrooms

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    The Special Education Cooperative’s Demonstration Classrooms Report highlights a professional learning model that uses classroom demonstrations to share instructional practices. The report details how these classrooms were structured, what strategies were used, and how schools and educators applied lessons learned.

  • Assistive Technology Resource Guide

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    This guide helps school teams understand how to review, choose, and document tools and devices that support students’ learning. It explains what these tools are, how to decide if they are needed, options for funding, and how to include them in an IEP.

  • Cultivating a Strong Assistive Technology Program

    Cultivating a Strong Assistive Technology Program

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    This resource from The Arc provides practical guidance on developing and sustaining strong assistive technology (AT) programs in schools and districts. It highlights best practices for evaluating student needs, integrating AT into instruction, training staff, and partnering with families to ensure students with disabilities have the tools they need to access learning and thrive.

  • The Power of Examples in Action: Catalyzing Change for All Learners

    The Power of Examples in Action: Catalyzing Change for All Learners

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    The EALA School Study Tours Learning Agenda Research Brief showcases how guided school visits, reflection protocols, and collaborative planning help educators adopt inclusive practices that benefit all learners. Featuring 12 Promising Practices—from leader commitment to community engagement—the brief offers evidence-based strategies and real-world examples for improving outcomes for students with disabilities and learning differences.

  • Mapping the Journey from Improvement to Impact

    Mapping the Journey from Improvement to Impact

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    This white paper from Marshall Street outlines lessons from a multi-year improvement initiative with 10 charter networks. It describes strategies like practitioner-led inquiry and data use to drive better outcomes for students with disabilities.

  • Mastery-Based Learning Collaborative Evaluation Report – Cohort 1, Year 3

    Mastery-Based Learning Collaborative Evaluation Report – Cohort 1, Year 3

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    This report from the Aurora Institute documents the third year of the Mastery-Based Learning Collaborative (MBLC) in New Hampshire. It explores how participating districts implemented mastery-based practices aligned with learner-centered, competency-based education. Through interviews, surveys, and observations, the evaluation highlights progress, challenges, and promising practices in areas like student agency, equitable grading, and personalized learning…