Megan | Accessible Education (@accessible.ed)

Link to the Not Special Needs Video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=103&v=kNMJaXuFuWQ&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrum.com%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY&feature=emb_logo #accessibleeducation #accessibleeducationteacher #specialeducation #specialeducator #specialeducationteacher #firstyearteacher

These can all be found in my TPT store- Accessible Education Store! #accessibleeducation #accessibleeducationteacher #specialed #specialeducationteacher #autismclassroom #specialeducation #abaclassroom #abatok #selfcontainedteacher #classroomsetup #datacollection #dataismycardio #abateacher #verbalbehavior

The day can really get away from you when you’re a special education teacher, especially a self contained classroom teacher. These were little things I implemented over the years that made me more productive and less strung out. Did we hit hiccups in our day? Of course! But these little things made those less insurmountable IMO #specialeducationteacher #selfcontainedteacher #specialeducation #selfcontainedclassroom #accessibleeducation

If you’re a special education teacher in need of some community, you’re welcome to sign up for my newsletter that brings you teaching tips and insights for those of us working with students with significant support needs. The next newsletter going out is all about how to make recess more accessible for non-ambulatory students- think different games and activities you can easily facilitate outside! #specialeducationteacher #selfcontainedteacher #specialeducation #teachersoftiktok #autismteacher

I truly do believe, and have seen in my teaching practice, that all students can learn- you often just need to try different supports if it’s not clicking yet! #specialeducationteacher #selfcontainedteacher #literacymatters #nonspeaking #teachingkidsphonics

When you have too many different data collection systems going on, it becomes harder for you to implement all the necessary data collection and your paraprofessionals will have too much to manage. Try simplifying the sheets you use to just a couple of formats so that once everyone is trained on one kind of form, they can fill them out across students! #specialeducationteacher #accessibleeducation #teachertiktok #specialeducation #selfcontainedteacher

If you’ve ever wondered how to teach phoneme segmentation to nonspeaking students, this is a tutorial for you. I break down the ways that phoneme segmentation instruction differs when your students use AAC and how you can accommodate their communication styles to deliver high quality phonics instruction #creatorsearchinsights #teachingkidsphonics #nonspeaking #specialeducationteacher #literacymatters

Sharing some tips on the blog this week to help you avoid all the mistakes I used to make in parent teacher conferences… 😅 #parentteacherconference #specialeducationteacher #specialeducation #accessibleeducation #specialedteacher

As special education teachers, we all know how quickly a stack of IEPs can sneak up on us. One day you feel like you have a handle on it, the next you’re wondering how you’re going to be able to meet all the deadlines. Staying on top of the IEPs as they come up is the only way to stay afloat, but it takes some planning and tools. Here are my favorite that help me: 1. Reeval or annual meeting planning pages. I always forget when the consents need to be sent vs when the meeting needs to be sent- and is it calendar days or school days?? When I break down what needs to happen step by step with a guide like this one, I can easily see when a meeting needs to be scheduled and when I need to get my stuff done by. 2. A goal planning sheet. This is the way I’ve written IEP goals for years- I write out the student’s current level of performance, I see how many of their objectives they’ve met, and then I plan what the next objective will be based on the one they’ve just mastered. It helps me stay organized and it makes sure I’m basing my goals on CLP. 3. A communication log. Consultation minutes are one of the hardest things to keep track of in special education, so having a way to quickly note when and who you consulted with is key. #specialeducationteacher #specialeducation #teachertips #accessibleeducation #iep

October is AAC awareness month, and here is an idea for special education teachers and SLPs to help their coworkers and other students understand better what it’s like to be an emerging AAC user! #aac #slpsoftiktok #specialeducationteacher #communicationboard #specialeducation

A systematic curriculum for teaching phonics skills made specifically for nonspeaking students 👏👏 If you’re a special education teacher or homeschool teacher looking for phonics instruction for your nonspeaking students, head to the link in my bio to see if Access Phonics is the right fit for you! #specialeducationteacher #nonverbal #aac #phonics #literacymatters

I’ve been building my caseload schedule like this for YEARS and everyone on my team is so relieved we do it this way! Instead of having to sit with speech, OT, and PT separately and running around for weeks trying to finalize times, everyone gets to do it on their own times with their own caseloads in mind. I let the service providers all go first because they have way more kids and their schedules are more difficult. Then, I go through and plan out my IEP service delivery around the times they blocked out. #specialeducationteacher #specialeducation #schedule #teachertips #accessibleeducation

The free guide for writing PLAAFP statements will give you templates and checklists to make writing PLAAFP statements for your next IEP second nature. These can be tedious, but the work you do to write the PLAAFP will help you write the rest of the IEP with ease! #specialeducationteacher #specialeducation #iep #iepmeetings #teachertips

Replying to @K Emanuel Here’s how I’d begin and who I would partner with to figure out the best way for my nonspeaking students to show what they know! #nonverbal #aac #specialeducationteacher #specialeducation #assistivetech

How I assess phonics skills for nonspeaking students | Don’t let access method be the reason you don’t start phonics instruction with your nonspeaking students. All students are capable of learning when we remove the barriers they need to overcome to access instruction. Making phonics accessible for all does not have to be difficult, it just requires a little bit of planning and a whole lot of printing! #creatorsearchinsights #nonverbal #phonicsforkids #specialeducationteacher #literacymatters

Here’s what I wish I could tell myself if I could go back in time before my first few IEP meetings if my teaching career. If you are a new special education teacher, I walk through what I wish my mindset was as a new teacher- I hope this helps! #creatorsearchinsights #newteacher #specialeducationteacher #iepmeetings #specialeducation

An IEP at a glance is a 1 page document where you summarize the important information other teachers need to know about the student. It contains service delivery minutes, contact info for case managers, student strengths, goal areas, accomodations and modifications, and it is totally editable! You can either print it and write it by hand, or edit it in Adobe for a more polished look. Make sure you are only sharing this with adults who work directly with the student, otherwise you will be violating their FERPA privacy rights! This is a great freebie to give to PE teachers, art teachers, gen ed teachers, paraprofessionals, coaches- anyone who works with the student but isn’t super familiar with their IEP! #specialeducationteacher #iep #specialeducation #iepadvocate #accessibleeducation

I was looking for a way to teach letter sounds to my nonspeaking students that was systematic, based on the science of reading, and quick and easy to administer. So many other programs out there just weren’t the right fit for my students, or they incorrectly assumed that just because my students couldn’t use verbal output, they couldn’t learn to read. I created this program because it’s exactly the solution I wish I had when I first started as a special education teacher- because ALL students are capable of learning! #creatorsearchinsights #worththesearch #specialeducationteacher #aac #autism

Special education teachers, I want to help you modify the curriculum for your students! Comment or email me a scenario with some student info, the lesson you’re having trouble modifying, and I’ll post a reply with helpful tips for modifying that lesson for your students! #specialeducationteacher #teachersoftiktok #creatorsearchinsights #inclusionmatters #worththesearch

Replying to @Chelsea Here’s how I handled maternity leave sub plans as a special education teacher! #selfcontainedteacher #maternityleave #subplans #specialeducationteacher #specialeducation

When is the right time to abandon phonics instruction for more functional skills? #literacymatters #aac #selfcontainedteacher #specialedteacher #creatorsearchinsights

If you’re wondering how to set up paraprofessional rotations in your special education classroom, I’ve got you covered! I’ve been organizing my classroom this way for years and it works really well to help students generalize their skills across multiple staff members and prevent staff burnout. #selfcontainedteacher #creatorsearchinsights #paraprofessionals #worththesearch #specialeducation

A Meet The Student page that introduces a general education teacher to a student’s team and outlines the team’s roles and responsibilities is a must at the beginning of the year! As a special education teacher, it’s your responsibility to communicate expectations with the general education teachers you work with as part of being a good team member. Use the link in my bio to customize your own Meet the Student pages for your special education classroom! #inclusionmatters #selfcontainedteacher #specialeducationteacher #specialeducation #accessibleeducation

So many students who are nonspeaking miss out on literacy instruction because schools lack the tools to properly assess their knowledge and know how to proceed with their literacy instruction. Screeners that don’t rely on any verbal output help you see where your students are at and what skills you need to work on next. #aac #accessibleeducation #literacymatters #selfcontainedteacher #nonspeaking

I’ve gotten this question a few times and so thought I’d share my thoughts here. When you get your masters in education is sometimes up to your individual circumstances, but if I had to do it over again this is when I’d get my masters in special education. #creatorsearchinsights #specialeducationteacher #mastersdegree #teachersoftiktok #selfcontainedteacher

If you are a special education teacher of students with high support needs and are in need of some community, head to the link in my bio to sign up for my biweekly newsletter! #specialeducationteacher #selfcontainedteacher #selfcontainedclassroom #specialedteacher #teachersoftiktok

If you’re looking to teach your nonspeaking students phonics and need something based in science of reading, this approach teachers letter sounds systematically and doesn’t require any verbal output! All students are capable of literacy instruction- sometimes it just takes the right tool to unlock it! #specialeducationteacher #phonics #scienceofreading #aac #literacymatters

Looking for free decor for your classroom? Whether your are a general education teacher or a special education teacher, a small but meaningful way to create an inclusive space is to include the materials EVERYONE uses in your decor! It’s a small thing, but acknowledging that some students use AAC devices and buttons to communicate or use different chairs and writing utensils shows the school you value all your students’ needs. If you’re interested in this free download, head to the link in my bio! #specialeducationteacher #inclusionmatters #classroomdecor #walgreensbanner #custombanner

In no particular order here’s the top 5 PD providers for special education teachers that I’ve loved and think are actually worth the time to use your precious PDP hours/funds on!! Some of them are free, like Dr Janice Light’s series on YouTube. #teacherprofessionaldevelopment #specialeducationteacher #selfcontainedclassroom #specialedteacher #teachersoftiktok

When I’m setting up a classroom with the goal of independence in mind, the first thing I’d work on is visuals! Visuals provide environmental prompts aka you and your paraprofessionals do less prompting! The right visuals in a general education or special education classroom give students communication opportunities as well as chances to find and practice things on their own. #specialeducationteacher #teachersoftiktok #classroomsetup #selfcontainedclassroom #backtoschool2026