About

Welcome to Promoting Academic and Social Inclusion of Students with Intellectual Disabilities—I am delighted you are here!

My name is Tom MacDonald, and I am an experienced educator and department leader specializing in Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity (EID), specifically working with neurodiverse and intellectually diverse (ID) learners. With over 20 years of experience in high school education, I have dedicated my career to advocating for inclusive practices and developing effective, research-informed strategies to support the academic and social growth of students with intellectual disabilities.

In my current role, I lead a team of specialized educators, collaborate closely with Educational Assistants or Inclusion Education Support Workers (IESW), support staff, and mentor colleagues on best practices for inclusive education. I am passionate about creating equitable learning environments, and I actively promote tailored strategies and peer-assisted learning approaches that meet diverse student needs.

What This Website Offers

This website is designed as a central hub for educators, support staff, administrators, policymakers, and parents interested in Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity (EID), tailored explicitly toward supporting students with intellectual disabilities in high school environments.

Here, you will find:

• A collaborative, updated research summary and knowledge mobilization (KMb) strategies translated into accessible language to help bridge research and practical classroom use.

• Collaborative, Professional resources, including assistive technology guides and peer-assisted learning (PAL) strategies to support student success.

• Collaborative Interactive resources, including videos, infographics, and step-by-step guides aimed at enhancing your professional practice.

• Collaborative Opportunities for professional development  and knowledge.

• A collaborative blog and forum to share inclusive education insights, challenges, and innovations.

My goal is to create a welcoming and collaborative informative space that simplifies and accelerates your ability to implement inclusive education strategies, ensuring all learners can thrive both academically and socially.

Thank you for visiting—I am excited for you to join our journey toward meaningful, inclusive education for every student!

Warmly,
Tom MacDonald