Each year, the TASH Conference brings together a diverse community of stakeholders who gain information, learn about resources, and connect with others across the country to strengthen the disability field. This year’s conference theme, “Be Creative - Innovative Solutions for an Inclusive Life,” reminds us to think outside the box during times of uncertainty. Creativity, innovation, and determination can pave the way for meaningful and inclusive lives for people with disabilities.
Current research states that students with extensive support (ESN) and complex communication (CCN) needs may experience opportunity barriers in their educational setting (Pufpaff, 2008). Special and general education teachers must now ensure that students with ESN and CCNs are fully engaged in their educational environment (Browder et al., 2007). Educators may not have the experience or expertise to effectively accommodate or modify grade-level curriculum for these students (Browder et al., 2007). The purpose of this review is to identify opportunity barriers and investigate how they are perceived and impact students with ESN and CCN in their educational setting. A secondary aim is to identify identifying evidence-based practices (EBP) that would increase opportunities to learn (OTL) in inclusive educational environments (Taub, McCord, and Ryndak, 2017).
