Inclusion means every student feels a sense of belonging and learns alongside peers, with the right support in the least restrictive environment.
We plan for the full range of learners, from those who need deeper challenge, to multilingual learners, to students receiving special education services.
Inclusion benefits all students, not just those receiving support. When schools are inclusive, students build friendships, grow in confidence, and learn to solve problems with empathy and respect for differences.
Inside the Staff Inclusion Series: Centering Neurodiversity
On January 15, educators came together for the latest Inclusion Series session focused on neurodiversity. The session explored what it means to affirm and support the natural diversity in how brains think, learn and process the world.
Educators examined how ableism can show up in schools and how to interrupt it with intention. They reflected on how identity, power and privilege shape the learning environment, often in ways we don’t see until we slow down and listen.
What Does Neurodiversity Affirming Practice Look Like?
Participants explored inclusive strategies they can bring into their classrooms and schools right away:
- Using data to understand patterns, not to label
- Creating sensory-friendly spaces accessible to all learners
- Including neurodivergent voices in decisions that affect them
- Partnering with families through authentic, transparent communication
This session is part of an ongoing effort to shift from a deficit lens to a strength-based mindset by recognizing and valuing the unique ways students learn and connect. Upcoming sessions will focus on inclusive lesson planning through a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) lens and on opportunities to learn from what is working for their peers.
Looking Ahead: Deepening Practice Through Collaboration
The Inclusion Series continues with upcoming Secondary Systems Workgroup sessions. During these sessions, participants will collaborate to:
- Analyze successful inclusive practices
- Problem-solve barriers within current systems
- Design strategies to adapt existing protocols and structures for their schools
Inclusion is a continuous commitment to belonging, access, and shared responsibility. By learning together and supporting one another, we move closer to classrooms where every student feels welcome, valued, and safe.
Learn More about Highline’s Inclusion Work
- Belonging First: How Educators Are Strengthening Inclusive Learning | November 2025
- Our Big 4 Priorities for Student Success | September 2025
- Inclusion Moves to Middle School | March 2025