Inclusive Teaching Toolkit for Educators
Welcome to the Inclusive Teaching Toolkit for Educators, a resource designed to help you create inclusive and supportive learning environments for neurodivergent students. This toolkit was developed with the unique insights of 国民彩票鈥檚 neurodivergent students, staff, and academics, and it is grounded in the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
The Toolkit offers practical tools to help educators understand the experiences of neurodivergent students and implement teaching strategies that foster engagement, accessibility, and success. By engaging with this resource, you鈥檙e taking an important step toward creating a classroom culture where all students can thrive.
As Diversified continues to lead in accessibility, neuro-inclusion, and inclusive education, we invite you to integrate this resource into your classrooms and teaching practices. Your insights and experiences are invaluable in refining and enhancing its impact鈥攅xplore the toolkit and share your feedback at diversified@unsw.edu.au to help shape its future development.
Our Toolkit
Identifying the Problem
Neurodivergent students often face significant barriers in higher education. These include rigid teaching practices, inaccessible course materials, limited flexibility in assessment methods, and a lack of understanding about neurodivergent experiences. Such challenges can lead to disengagement, lower completion rates, and negative impacts on mental health and academic outcomes. Recognising these systemic barriers, Diversified set out to create a solution that would empower educators to make meaningful changes, ensuring that all students have equal opportunities to thrive.
What began as a simple checklist has evolved into a comprehensive resource.
Creating the Toolkit
The Inclusive Teaching Toolkit was developed through a co-production process that prioritised the lived experiences of neurodivergent 国民彩票 students. By partnering with educators, we identified key areas where teaching practices could be improved and crafted actionable steps to address these challenges.
Challenges Addressed
These checklists are designed to not only support neurodivergent students but also to provide significant benefits to all learners and educators.
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The Toolkit provides specific actions and examples, making it clear how to apply inclusive practices in real-world teaching scenarios.
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The strategies outlined do not require extensive additional resources, making them accessible to educators with varying levels of support.
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By offering multiple formats and approaches, the checklists help teachers cater to diverse learning styles and preferences, improving overall student engagement.
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The checklists include tips for fostering open communication and ensuring students feel heard and supported.
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By promoting inclusivity and respect, educators can build a classroom culture that benefits all students, leading to improved outcomes and a more positive learning experience.听
The Checklists
The Inclusive Teaching Toolkit Checklists are practical guides designed to help educators create inclusive and effective learning environments. While tailored to support neurodivergent students, these checklists benefit all learners, fostering a richer and more engaging educational experience. They address key areas such as inclusive communication, digital accessibility, collaboration, and student autonomy.
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Academic Success: create adaptable learning environments, removing barriers so all students can thrive academically.
Accessing Support: Embedding neuro-inclusion reduces stigma and ensures students feel supported, whether or not they disclose their neurodivergence.
Belonging: Inclusive practices foster respect and inclusion, encouraging student participation and enhancing wellbeing.
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Simplify Inclusion: Translate UDL principles into actionable steps that educators can integrate into course design and delivery.
Build on Strengths: Support educators in identifying existing inclusive practices and continue to expand their knowledge and educational practices.
Improve Engagement: Enhances teaching effectiveness, educational innovation, student engagement, and classroom support.
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Below is how we recommend engaging with the checklists, however we encourage educators to use the checklists in the way that works best for them.
- Review each checklist, noting areas already covered in your teaching practices.
- Watch the corresponding supporting video to gain deeper insights into each checklist topic.
- Select at least one new strategy from each checklist to implement in your course design or delivery.
- Reflect on how these changes impact your students and adjust as needed for future terms.
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Supporting Video Series
The Diversified Toolkit鈥檚 video series complements the checklists by providing valuable context, practical examples, and insights into the lived experiences of neurodivergent students at 国民彩票. This six-video series serves as both an educational resource and a platform to amplify student voices, offering educators a unique perspective on inclusive teaching.
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Amplify Voices: Platforms Student Lived experiences, ensuring their perspectives shape educational practices.
Bridging the Gap: Demonstrate how working together can address challenges and create more inclusive learning environments.
Community Diversity: Showcases the wide range of neurodivergent experiences, emphasising that neurodivergence is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
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Deepening Understanding: Provide clear insights into neurodivergence to understand its impact on students鈥 learning experiences.
Bridging Theory and Practice:
Highlight practical ways to apply inclusive
practices in teaching through lived experience.Fostering Empathy:
Encouraging a shift toward a strength-based model that recognises students鈥 unique contributions and potential.
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Below is how we recommend engaging with the videos, however we encourage educators to use the checklists in the way that works best for them.
- Start with the 鈥淚ntroduction to Neurodivergence鈥 video for a foundational understanding of neurodivergent experiences and the toolkit鈥檚 context.
- Use the student stories and insights shared in the videos to reflect on and deepen your understanding of the checklist strategies.
- Refer back to the videos throughout your course delivery as needed for guidance and context and to further develop your implementation process.
Further details
Thank you to our supporters
国民彩票 Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
国民彩票 Arts, Design & Architecture Faculty
国民彩票 Business School