Providing Support for Learners with Disabilities

Scaffolding techniques are vital for supporting students with learning disabilities, as they provide structured, personalized pathways to understanding while honoring each learner’s unique needs. For students with dyslexia, tools like phonemic awareness activities, color-coded texts, and audio books can reinforce decoding and comprehension, allowing them to engage with content without being hindered by reading challenges. Those with dyscalculia benefit from hands-on manipulatives, visual models, and real-life math applications that make abstract concepts more concrete and accessible. Students with dysgraphia thrive when given graphic organizers, typing options, and chunked writing tasks that reduce cognitive overload and promote expression. For learners with ADHD, scaffolding might include clear routines, visual schedules, movement breaks, and task segmentation to maintain focus and reduce impulsivity. Meanwhile, students with auditory processing disorders need multimodal instruction such as written directions, visual supports, and opportunities for repetition to fully grasp spoken information. These scaffolds not only enhance student confidence and independence but also help teachers create inclusive environments where every learner can flourish. #AccessibleEducation

What would you do if your audience couldn't see you or your slides? This past weekend, I had the honor to work with the Florida Business Enterprise Program (BEP), The mission of the BEP is to provide people who are legally blind with rewarding and profitable entrepreneurial ventures, broaden their economic opportunities, and invigorate all blind people to be self-supporting, while dispelling misconceptions about blind people by showcasing their abilities. The BEP administers one of the largest vending and food service programs operated by people who are legally blind in the United States. The BEP prides itself in allowing visually impaired entrepreneurs independence in their day-to-day operations, while at the same time providing continual support through professional business consultants and educational workshops. I was invited to speak because one of their members heard me speak at their National Conference. As a professional speaker I pride myself in making all of my programs an engaging interactive learning experience. Here are few ways I work to make my programs impactful for people with a visual impairment: 1. Paint pictures with your words. Slow down and be very descriptive during your presentation. Let people hear the images you want them to "see." Let people know where you are in the room or where people are who ask questions. Describe in detail what you look like or how you are moving. The people you work with appreciate when you make time to "set the table" before you "serve the meal." 2. Make content accessible before you step on stage. Provide notes or slides in screen-reader friendly formats so everyone can fully participate. 3. Prioritize clarity over flash. Meet with the organization ahead of time to understand participants wants and needs. This will help you establish clear structure, strong pacing, and intentional pauses. 4. Connect through voice and presence. Your tone, energy, and authenticity become your “visuals.” People feel your passion before they see your slides. This experience reminded me: when you strip away distractions, the heart of speaking is human connection. And that’s something everyone can see. 5. Let them participate. Your program can't be engaging if you don't allow the audience to engage. I made time for attendees to share their experiences with me, so I could understand what it was like to be a visually impaired or blind business owner. Participation leads to understanding and as attendees shared with me...a program that isn't boring. Bonus - Be sure to add alt text to all images you post on social media and your website. This allows for people who lack vision to "see" your photograph or image because you can describe the image to them. Thank you Deia Starr Rank and Speaker Exchange for making my experience possible. #keynotespeaker #speakingtips #publicspeakingadvice #workingwiththeblind #mindset

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 💡 Are your learning programs inadvertently excluding certain groups of employees? Let's face it: a one-size-fits-all approach in Learning and Development (L&D) can leave many behind, perpetuating inequity and stalling both individual and organizational growth. When learning opportunities aren't equitable, disparities in performance and career advancement become inevitable, weakening your workforce's overall potential. Here’s how to design inclusive L&D initiatives that cater to diverse learning needs and backgrounds: 📌 Conduct a Needs Assessment: Start by identifying the various demographics within your organization. Understand the unique challenges and barriers faced by different groups. This foundational step ensures your L&D programs are tailored to meet diverse needs. 📌 Develop Accessible Content: Design training materials that are accessible to all employees, including those with disabilities. Use subtitles, closed captions, and audio descriptions, and ensure compatibility with screen readers. This ensures everyone can engage fully with the content. 📌 Multimodal Learning Materials: People learn in different ways. Incorporate various formats such as videos, interactive modules, written guides, and live sessions to cater to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners. This diversity in material format can enhance comprehension and retention. 📌 Cultural Competency: Make sure your content respects and reflects the cultural diversity of your workforce. Incorporate examples and case studies from various cultural backgrounds to make the material relatable and inclusive. 📌 Flexible Learning Pathways: Offer flexible learning options that can be accessed at different times and paces. This flexibility supports employees who may have varying schedules or commitments outside of work. 📌 Inclusive Feedback Mechanisms: Create channels for feedback that are accessible to all employees. Ensure that feedback is actively sought and acted upon to continuously improve the inclusivity of your L&D programs. 📌 Train Trainers on Inclusive Practices: Equip your trainers with the skills and knowledge to deliver content inclusively. This involves understanding unconscious bias, cultural competency, and techniques to engage a diverse audience. Creating an inclusive learning environment isn’t just about compliance—it’s about unlocking the full potential of every employee. By prioritizing inclusivity, you promote equality, enhance performance, and support a more dynamic and innovative workforce. How are you making your L&D programs inclusive? Share your strategies below! ⬇️ #LearningAndDevelopment #Inclusion #Diversity #WorkplaceLearning #EmployeeEngagement #CorporateTraining