Creating Communities of Belonging for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities

This resource from the TIES Center was developed by Erik Carter and Elizabeth Biggs to highlight how schools can create a place of belonging for every student. As defined in the guide, belonging is experienced when students are present, invited, welcomed, known, accepted, involved, supported, heard, befriended, and needed. This resource defines these ten dimensions of belonging, provides examples, tips, and reflection questions for each of the ten dimensions, and includes a tool to support educators and schools to reflect on the dimensions to ensure they are developing a sense of belonging for all students including students with significant cognitive disabilities.