When learning communities come together across oceans to share ideas, something remarkable happens…perspectives broaden, possibilities expand, and the commitment to inclusion becomes even stronger.
This fall, a team from CAST had the honor of spending two days at Luanda International School (LIS) in Angola, facilitating professional learning on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) with their outstanding educators, administrators, and teaching assistants. What unfolded was far more than training; it was an exchange of ideas, cultures, and shared purpose.
Building a Culture of Inclusion
Luanda International School serves a vibrant and diverse community of learners and educators from around the world with 51 languages spoken. Their ongoing commitment to inclusive education and accessibility is evident in every conversation and activity.
Over two days, CAST’s team, Kelli Suding, Melissa Sanjeh, and Jennifer Levine, engaged with staff through interactive workshops, modeling how UDL principles can help all learners access, engage, and express what they know in ways that honor their strengths and needs.
Educators explored how to design learning environments that anticipate variability and support independence, agency, and belonging for every student. From classroom teachers to administrators and teaching assistants, the enthusiasm and curiosity in every room were unmistakable.
As one participant shared, “UDL gives us a framework to ensure no student feels left behind, it gives us a way to see and support everyone.”
Learning Together
Each day began with gratitude, laughter, and an openness to learn from one another. CAST’s facilitators were struck by how quickly educators embraced the collaborative spirit of UDL, not as something “new,” but as something that reflected the inclusive mindset, they were already living out at Luanda International School.
Throughout the sessions, participants engaged in hands-on activities, reflective discussions, and collaborative planning. They asked powerful, forward-thinking questions.
By the end of Day 2, the rooms were buzzing with ideas. Educators shared examples of how they could immediately apply UDL strategies, from flexible assessment options to new ways of fostering student voice and choice.
Even as the school prepared to begin their holiday break, the energy never wavered. Conversations continued into an afternoon campus celebration, where connections deepened, and the shared commitment to inclusive design was clear.
Centering Every Role in Learning
A highlight of the experience was the dedicated workshop for teaching assistants (TAs), many of whom are local to Angola. In this session, CAST facilitators and TAs built a space of trust, reflection, and laughter. Participants shared their daily experiences, celebrated their roles as essential partners in learning, and explored how UDL empowers them to better support students and teachers alike.
By the end of the session, what began as a group of professionals had become a community of colleagues. In true CAST fashion, the session ended with a moment of joy, a group photo and a
In another session, CAST facilitators worked with the School Leaders on building a sustainable plan to continue the learning. Participants examined their context and levers for change and as a result school leaders thoughtfully designed UDL implementation that will ensure that every learner, teachers and staff included, had access and agency in all of the spaces, policies and systems at Luanda International School.
Beyond the Two Days
Though the professional learning spanned just two days, the impact will continue well beyond the walls of Luanda International School. The CAST team left Angola deeply inspired by the educators’ passion, the school’s leadership, and the meaningful conversations that bridged languages, cultures, and experiences.
This collaboration also served as a powerful reminder that CAST’s mission, to make learning accessible and inclusive for all…is truly global. It’s a collective effort that involves every arm of the organization, from research and design to professional learning and partnerships.
As one CAST team member reflected, “We may have been the ones who traveled to Angola, but this work represents the collective effort of our entire CAST community. Every colleague’s expertise and dedication made this experience possible.”
Looking Ahead
As Luanda International School continues to integrate UDL into its teaching and learning practices, CAST is honored to have played a small part in supporting their journey. The experience underscored a universal truth that connects educators everywhere: when we design for variability, we design for humanity.
In the words of a CAST colleague often echoed by our team, “It takes a village, and we are the village it takes.”
Explore ways UDL builds a culture of inclusion
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