Special Education Resources & Blog | So Very Spesh

I'm not turning a blind eye to the policy changes affecting the disability community. As a fomer special education teacher, parent, advocate, and teacher educator, I believe it's important to understand how these decisions may impact students, families, and educators--and what we can do moving forward.

As a new preservice teacher, I once unintentionally left a student using eye-gaze AAC out of a lesson simply because I didn't know how to include him. That moment changed the way I understand communication, participation, and inclusion forever. This post is an honest reflection on learning to slow down, presume competence, and make space for every voice -- because communication is not limited to speech, and inclusion is always a choice.

Disability rights and universal design are often misunderstood as issues that only affect a small group of people. In reality, they shape the everyday tools, spaces, and systems we all rely on -- from captions and elevators to smart technology and classroom supports. This blog explores how inclusion is already woven into daily life, why schools have always needed flexible design for diverse learners, and why accommodations should never be limited only to students with formal

Visual supports and social stories can make an enormous difference for neurodivergent children navigating new experiences. From reducing anxiety to increasing confidence and participation, accessible preparation helps children feel safe, informed, and included in the world around them.

I didn’t leave education—I left the classroom. I once planned to be a history teacher, but one unexpected opportunity working with a young man with autism changed my path. I loved teaching deeply, but I also care loudly, and eventually I couldn’t carry every gap alone. Leaving the classroom was hard and necessary. Now through Spesh, advocacy, and teaching at WKU, I’m still in education—just in a different form, on my own terms, building the dream I didn’t know I was already s

Wonderful Wins Wednesday celebrates the meaningful moments happening in special education and inclusion communities. Share student milestones, teacher encouragement, advocacy victories, and everyday SPED wins through the Spesh Facebook community.

Inclusion and co-teaching are often discussed in theory but misunderstood in practice. This post breaks down what meaningful inclusion truly looks like, how effective co-teaching functions in real classrooms, and practical strategies educators can use to move beyond simply sharing a room.