Inclusive Technology Leadership Tools and Resources

The Center on Inclusive Technology & Education Systems (CITES) at CAST provides a district framework that empowers leaders to create and sustain inclusive technology systems that serve all students, including students with disabilities who require assistive technology (AT) or accessible educational materials (AEM). Developed in partnership with multiple districts, the framework includes practices, action steps, and tools to support district leaders in planning and implementing inclusive technology ecosystems. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, this work focuses on identifying how the assistive technologies are acquired and implemented, and how students who require AT and AEM are supported. 

The framework focuses on six core areas: leadership, infrastructure, teaching, learning, assessment, and family engagement. For each area, there is a set of practices and action steps. In addition, tools are provided to support implementation, including self-assessments, guides, and a series of professional learning kits. Complementing this work, CITES' Virtual Learning Project includes promising practices and resources for part-time and full-time virtual learning program administrators to help guide their support of students with disabilities. 

Professional Learning Support: 

• The professional learning kits include a series of videos with supplemental materials available for administrators to implement ongoing training sessions for schools and districts. Topics include: The What and Why of Inclusive Technologies, About CITES, Cultivating a Culture of Inclusive Practices, and Inclusive Technologies in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support.
• The CITES Community of Practice provides universal technical assistance to any educator via bimonthly convenings and a private Slack channel. 

How can state leaders leverage the CITES Framework to support their districts? 

• Visit the CITES website.
• Check out the Get Started - Administrators page to learn more.
• Read the District Examples.
• Leverage the Building a Foundation for Inclusive Technology Systems video series: 
  • The What & Why of Inclusive Technology
  • Cultivating a Culture of Inclusive Practices
  • CITES Framework Overview
  • Inclusive Technologies in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
• Distribute the CITES Virtual Project resources to virtual program/school leaders.
• Share the CITES Community of Practice. 
• Send questions to cites@cast.org.
• Follow @CAST_UDL on Twitter/X, LinkedIn and Facebook to stay informed.

This content was developed under a grant from the US Department of Education, #H327T180001. However, the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government. Project Officer: Anita Vermeer, M.Ed.