Online Learning: Engaging Families Using Culturally Relevant Pedagogy

Students with disabilities are choosing to engage in remote schooling. Families of children with disabilities may never set foot in a physical school building. Yet, it is important for families to feel connected to their child’s education and the school community. This column discusses strategies based in culturally relevant pedagogy to engage parents of students with disabilities who are learning remotely. Strategies can be applied to families of all students with disabilities, but a focus is placed on families of students with a learning disability. Educators can facilitate culturally relevant practices that (a) establish effective, culturally honoring two-way communication with families online, (b) connect families to necessary resources that are typically provided when children attend a physical school building, and (c) encourage social ties between families to raise critical consciousness.