On our first episode of 2025, Emily Kircher-Morris welcomes Mind, Brain and Education expert Allison Posey, to discuss the importance of inclusive practices in education, focusing on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and its application in classrooms. Allison shares her personal journey that led her to advocate for inclusive education, she and Emily discuss the need for understanding individual learning differences, and they talk about the role of emotions in learning. They also explore how neuroscience informs educational practices and necessitates shifting mindsets within educational systems to better support all learners. And, what is the impact of educational trauma on students?

Takeaways

• Personal experiences shape advocacy for inclusive education.

• UDL aims to meet diverse learning needs from the start.

• Parents can play a crucial role in advocating for UDL.

• Neuroscience reveals the importance of emotions in learning.

• Educational trauma affects students' self-perception and learning.

• Technology can enhance access and engagement in learning.

• Learning should be viewed as a lifelong journey.

Check out Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students, a course for educators by Emily Kircher-Morris, in the Neurodiversity University. You’ll find a variety of courses available there as well, with more being added soon.

Guest Allison Posey is an international leader for implementation of Universal Design for Learning. She works at CAST, where she collaborates to apply current understanding from brain research into innovative, equitable instructional practices. She taught a range of science courses in high school and community colleges, such as biology, genetics, anatomy, and psychology. She still teaches at Lasell University.

Allison earned a degree in Mind, Brain, and Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education, and is the author of two books, Engage the Brain: How to Design for Learning that Taps into the Power of Emotion, and Unlearning: Changing Your Beliefs and Your Classroom with UDL.

BACKGROUND READING

Allison’s website

Allison’s books and other helpful resources