Pathway 4 of 6

Pathway 4: Critical Frameworks and Curriculum Resources

Learn about putting access for everyone at the centre of learning.

By Beth Stark, M.S.Ed., CPACC,Educator and Consultant.Inclusive Learning Systems, UDL, Accessibility

Also available as: PDF of Critical Frameworks and Curriculum Resources (2 pages, 122 KB) Google Doc of Critical Frameworks and Curriculum Resources (opens in a new tab)

These frameworks and curriculum resources are for educators focused on going beyond compliance. The resources here are built around the idea of doing with, not doing for. They ask how we include all learners as co-constructors and honour the lived experiences of disabled people in our curriculum and instruction.

One resource here addresses AI in education directly. It asks who AI serves and who it may not serve.

Frameworks and Curriculum Resources

A. CITES Framework: Inclusive Technology & Education Systems (CAST) (opens in a new tab)

A no-cost framework from CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology) that helps districts identify and remove systemic barriers to inclusive technology implementation. Aligned to the 2024 National EdTech Plan and the UNESCO 2023 GEM Report on Technology, it covers five interconnected areas: Leadership, Infrastructure, Teaching, Learning, and Assessment, with family engagement woven throughout. Role-specific entry points for educators, administrators, AT professionals, ed tech professionals, IT professionals, and families make it practical for whole-school implementation.

Short link bit.ly/4cGav7c (opens in a new tab)

B. Co-designing with Children with Disabilities (Weavly) (opens in a new tab)

A no-cost, practical guide to involving children with disabilities as co-creators in the design process, beyond the roles of participant or tester. Covers how to plan sessions, make the process itself accessible, and learn from what comes out of it. It shows what becomes possible when children with disabilities are recognised as capable, creative contributors who shape the design.

Short link bit.ly/4dFRsLi (opens in a new tab)

C. Framework for Accessible and Equitable Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education (IDRC) (opens in a new tab)

AI tools are already in classrooms. This no-cost framework helps educators ask the right questions before adopting them: who benefits, who is harmed, and whose needs were built in from the start versus added as an afterthought? It notes that AI can lower barriers for some learners and create new ones for others. This resource is available in English and French, and relevant to educators in any country.

Short link bit.ly/47P65s2 (opens in a new tab)

D. Disability Equality Education: Lesson Prep Resources by Grade Level (DEE) (opens in a new tab)

A no-cost, growing library of disability-inclusive lesson prep resources from a cross-disability organisation led by disabled people. Every resource has been created or approved by disabled people. Lessons are organised by US grade level, from kindergarten through college, and by subject area. They treat disability as part of human experience, not as a problem to be fixed. One example from the library: a 9th and 10th grade (ages 14 to 16) geometry lesson where students redesign real public spaces for accessibility and share their work in a gallery walk.

Short link bit.ly/4vtQCYz (opens in a new tab)