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Fundamentals of Disability Inclusion & Social Emotional Learning in the Classroom

Create a Brighter, Successful Future — Together. A self-paced online course giving educators a practical foundation in disability inclusion and social-emotional learning — anchored by Joyfully Josie, the illustrated children's book included free with enrollment.

This Course Includes:

  • 4-Part Lesson

  • 5 Videos (12.35 minutes total)

  • 10 Notebook activities

  • 3 PD / CTLE credits

  • Access to all completed coursework

  • Bonus: LJ Digital Companion Book

  • Bonus: Early access to future lessons

  • Bonus: Communities (coming soon)

What's next:

  • Instant access to course

  • Welcome email with additional resources

Instructors:

Nicole Johnson

Nicole Zeitzer Johnson is a disabilities inclusion advocate who is on a mission to find a cure for the rare disease her daughter Josie was born with, called FOXG1 syndrome. She co-founded the FOXG1 Research Foundation in 2017, wrote the children’s book Joyfully Josie, and launched Live Joyfully Education.

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Gina Spagnoli

Gina Spagnoli is a New York State educator in the public school system with over 17 years of experience. In her role as an educator she also facilitates professional development on Social Emotional Learning and Diversity Equity and Inclusion. Her master’s is in secondary education in both General Education and Special Education. Gina is a mom of three children.

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Rachel Nicholson

Rachel has a Bachelors of Science in Human Development with a focus on Child Development from Cornell University, a Masters of Arts in Elementary Education (1-6) and Teaching Students with Disabilities (1-6) from Teachers College at Columbia University, and certificates in New York State School Building Leader and School District Leader from Hunter College's School Leadership Program.

COURSE DETAILS 

At a Glance

  • Format: Asynchronous, fully online, self-paced

  • Credit: 3 CTLE clock hours

  • Audience: PK–12 general and special education teachers, teaching assistants, related service providers, counselors, and building administrators

  • Availability: Open to educators nationwide; enrollment is not restricted by state or district

  • Course length: 48 steps · 5 instructional videos · 10 notebook activities

  • Cost: $149.99, including the digital companion book

Credit & Accreditation

Available Nationwide.

Live Joyfully Education is a New York State CTLE Approved Sponsor (ID #24018), approved by the New York State Education Department on December 3, 2025 and valid through December 2, 2030.

Participants earn 3 CTLE clock hours upon completion.​

Certificates are issued automatically by email, and Live Joyfully Education maintains all participant completion records as required of a NYS CTLE Approved Sponsor. ​

Because Live Joyfully Education holds its own CTLE sponsorship, partnering teacher centers and districts carry no credentialing, record keeping, or certificate-issuing responsibility for this course.

Educators outside New York receive a certificate of completion and may submit it to their district for professional development credit, subject to district policy.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Define disability inclusion and distinguish it from integration, accommodation, and compliance

  • Identify common barriers to belonging that students with disabilities encounter in general education settings

  • Apply the five core competencies of social-emotional learning to classrooms that include students with varied abilities

  • Use person-centered, respectful language when speaking with students, colleagues, and families

  • Use an illustrated children's text as a classroom tool to introduce disability awareness and prompt student discussion about belonging

  • Evaluate the physical, instructional, and relational components of their own classroom against inclusive practice criteria

  • Develop and document an action plan for strengthening inclusion in their own classroom or building

Course Outline

Before You Begin — How to Navigate This Course Orientation and completion requirements.

Introduction, Course Objectives, and Digital Book Framing, objectives, and the full digital text of Joyfully Josie, read before Part 1.

  • Part 1 — Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion · 13 steps Foundational concepts, language, and barriers to belonging.

  • Part 2 — Social and Emotional Learning · 17 steps SEL competencies and their application in inclusive settings.

  • Part 3 — Components of an Inclusive Classroom · 6 steps Physical environment, instructional design, and peer relationships.

  • Part 4 — Reflection and Conclusion · 6 steps Personal action planning and next steps.

  • Evaluation Course evaluation completed by every participant.

  • Course activities are sequenced along Bloom's Taxonomy: participants first define and recognize core concepts, then apply them to classroom scenarios, evaluate their own instructional setting against inclusive-practice criteria, and finally create an action plan for implementation.

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