The Power of AI in Inclusive Education

Inspired by Susan Aylor, Nora Brooking, Emily Smith, Sara Taylor, Jessie Gardner, Mary Clancy, Tiffanie Zaugg, Tracey Antista & Adelaide Jones

AI won’t replace teachers, but it can give us back our time—and help us reach every student.

I came to CEC this year already using AI in my classroom and business—but still unsure how to talk about it with other educators.

There’s fear. There’s confusion. There’s a lot of “Isn’t that cheating?” or “That’s going to replace us.”But what I saw at CEC? A whole movement of educators asking better questions:

How do we use AI to save time and increase equity?
How do we integrate it responsibly and ethically?
How do we help students with disabilities access and engage more deeply?

That’s the conversation I want to be in.

My 'Aha' Moments from CEC

I sat in sessions packed with practical, powerful insights from incredible educators—like Susan Aylor, Tracey Antista, and (shameless plug) myself.

Here’s what stood out:

AI can streamline lesson planning, differentiation, and data management.That’s time back in your day to actually teach.
Special ed teachers are already using AI—often without training. It’s happening. We need to guide it, not ignore it.
AI + Universal Design for Learning (UDL) = Inclusion Superpower.From visual supports to tiered reading passages, AI tools can make content more accessible in seconds.

What AI Looks Like in My Classroom

I use AI the way I used to use Google: as a thinking partner. I feed it a messy idea and ask for feedback. I ask it to differentiate a passage for 3 reading levels. I give it my SMART goals and ask for a lesson plan with visuals and executive functioning supports.

Here are some real tools I use and love:

My AI Prompt Toolkit for Teachers – Use better prompts, get better results. This is how you turn “meh” into magic.

Gamification for Differentiation = 🔥 – I shared how I use AI to create gamified lessons like my

SMART Goals Escape Room and SEL mystery puzzles.

Gamification + AI = Equity + Engagement

When I talk about AI, I always talk about gamification too. Why?

Because students who are often left behind—especially those with disabilities—thrive in gamified environments. With AI, I can design leveled questions, visuals, and puzzles way faster than before.

In one class, my students who never spoke up in math were suddenly working together to solve an escape room on fractions. That’s not just about engagement—it’s about access.

The Myths We Have to Dismantle

🚫 “AI will replace teachers.”

✅ No—it replaces repetitive tasks so teachers can focus on real connection.

🚫 “AI means students are cheating.”

✅ Not if we teach them how to use it responsibly, just like we taught research or calculators.

🚫 “I’m not tech-savvy enough.”

✅ You don’t have to be. Start with one prompt. Use a tool like MagicSchool. Let it help you—don’t overcomplicate it.

Where to Start

Start small. Use my Prompt Toolkit. Try one tool like Goblin Tools, Diffit, or MagicSchool. Reflect after one lesson.

How did it go?

What saved you time?

What did you learn about how your students respond?

We don’t need to become AI experts overnight—but we do need to understand it if we want to stay in the conversation and protect our students' futures.

Final Thought

AI can’t replace what you bring to the classroom. It doesn’t have your heart, your instincts, your humor, or your love for your students.

But it can help you be less exhausted. It can help you reach more learners. And it can help us build classrooms where every student feels included, challenged, and understood.