Sensory Overload
Every morning, I walk my dog, Olive, around Dolores Park. Today, I was struck by the overwhelming sensory landscape: the scent of freshly cut grass, the steady drone of lawn mowers, and the rhythmic bounce of tennis balls. While these walks don’t replace my runs through Golden Gate Park, I miss passing the beautiful serpent, there is something deeply comforting about having my senses reassured by these familiar markers. Our senses possess a unique power to ground us in the present, calm our nervous systems, and stoke the fires of memory.
This sense of nostalgia followed me this week to the Kids Connection campus in Foster City, where I had the privilege of co-leading a workshop on Universal Design for Learning(UDL) with my colleague, Tanveer Alibhai. Being back on campus triggered a flood of memories; the specific sights and smells of a classroom, a school library, and even student bathrooms access a part of the brain where so many formative experiences are stored. It was the perfect backdrop for a week focused on how we design environments that honor every student’s unique journey.
Working with the Kids Connection faculty during their frantic prep week was a true gift. We explored the core UDL principles, Engagement, Representation, and Action & Expression, to help them prepare for the amazing students headed their way.
A major "aha" moment for the group was the shift from "retrofitting" accommodations, reacting to barriers after a student struggles, to "proactive design," where we plan for learner variability from the very beginning. By utilizing barrier analysis as a primary tool, the faculty can identify and remove obstacles before they hinder a student's experience.
I am incredibly thankful to Dana Goldberg Ganes, Elementary Head of School, for her commitment to this work. Providing ongoing training and support is critical when we aim for meaningful change in our practice, and I look forward to supporting these educators throughout the year as they design spaces where every child can thrive.