Preparing for and Implementing Effective Inclusive Education With Participation Plans

This article discusses the use of participation plans, an organizational strategy educators can use to support systematic use of research-based practices for effective inclusive education for youth with disabilities. Participation plans include ecological assessment, curricular supports (i.e., accommodations and modifications), embedded instruction, and standards-based instruction focused on prioritized skills. By considering these critical elements, general and special education teachers collaboratively use participation plans to develop effective instructional strategies for youth with disabilities in general education classrooms. Designed as a matrix, participation plans include classroom- and student-specific information to support educators to systematically teach individualized education program (IEP) goals, prioritized skills, and other identified skills during the class period within the naturally-occurring schedule of activities to identify and implement universal and individual supports.