Approximately one in five U.S. children is neurodivergent, meaning they process information and learn atypically. Neurodivergent conditions include autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, sensory processing disorders, and Tourette syndrome.
Neurodivergence does not correlate to low intelligence. However, neurodivergent learners often need additional support and resources in the classroom. The proportion of students with disabilities ages 3–21 served under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) enrolled in US public schools increased from 13 to 15 percent between the 2012-13 and 2022-23 school years.
A concurrent shortage of special education teachers has impacted the delivery of quality education and services to these students. This shortage, coupled with the increase in the number of students with disabilities, is driving demand for qualified educators and leaders committed to providing all students with a quality education.
The American University (AU) School of Education boasts an established record of preparing teachers, education leaders, and policymakers dedicated to promoting social justice and creating fair and inclusive learning environments for every student. To this end, AU maintains partnerships with local, regional, and national organizations that improve access to higher education. Students benefit from experiences within these organizations, which also offer opportunities for tuition discount programs and scholarships. The Lab Fellows Program, offered by The Lab School of Washington (Lab), is one such opportunity.
Become a Change Agent in Education
Develop Real-World Skills With Hands-on Projects
What is The Lab School of Washington?
Lab, a longtime champion of inclusion in education, uses an immersive, arts-centered approach to teach students with language- or attention-based learning differences. Sally L. Smith launched The Lab School in 1967 to educate students with learning differences. The parent of a son with a severe learning disability, Smith conceived of Lab after discovering that her child demonstrated improved learning and retention during creative, hands-on birthday parties. Smith eventually became an adjunct professor at AU’s School of Education and one of the first directors of the special education/learning disabilities master’s program.
Lab’s revolutionary teaching model emphasizes the arts, combining enjoyable activities with opportunities for self-expression and learning. The curriculum promotes brainstorming, organizational skills, and sequencing while building connections between subjects and learning about the human experience. The arts can also boost academic performance, build confidence, and help students gain such essential life and career skills as critical thinking, decision-making, focus, mindfulness, and empathy. Students perform better in Lab environments because they are engaged and happy.
The Lab School serves students of all ages diagnosed with language-based and/or attention-based learning differences, such as dyslexia and ADHD. Four divisions, tailored to different age and developmental needs rather than a designated “grade,” serve students in the Washington, DC, area and worldwide:
- The Lower School covers the equivalent of grades one through four. It focuses on helping students “learn how to learn.” The curriculum includes hands-on projects and small-group activities that spark students’ intellectual curiosity.
- The Middle School caters to students at the grade five through eight levels. It focuses on building students’ skills, knowledge, independence, and ability to champion their own interests.
- The Upper School prepares students for college and career success by helping them develop their strengths, take on leadership roles, and create strategies to overcome challenges.
- The Global Division, tailored to children ages eight to fourteen, offers online access to Lab’s highly specialized approach to education for students worldwide with mild to moderate language-based learning needs.
With over 80 percent of graduates attending a four-year college, The Lab School has left its mark on thousands of students with learning differences from DC (and beyond). Its small class sizes, focus on the arts, and approach to providing students with personalized instruction from educators who are experts in the field of learning differences have made all the difference in the lives of its students.
An anonymous former Lab student summarized their experience at the school this way: “The Lab School of Washington in DC is not just a school; it’s a sanctuary for students like me with learning differences. The teachers here aren’t just educators; they’re mentors who lead with heart, kindness, and unwavering compassion. Whether in small reading groups or intimate math classes, they meet us where we are, tailoring their approach to our individual needs. This personalized attention has been nothing short of life-changing… The Lab School doesn’t just teach; it sees people like me in ways we’ve never been seen before, fostering growth, confidence, and a sense of belonging. It’s more than a school; it’s home.”
Lab and AU: Working Together to Innovate in Education
The partnership between AU and the Lab advances equity in education, benefitting the broader community in numerous ways. It inspires AU’s coursework, equips special education teachers with the knowledge and skills to make a meaningful difference, and helps address the teacher shortage by preparing qualified teachers to enter the field.
The MA in Teaching Special Education: Learning Disabilities
The online Master of Arts in Teaching Special Education: Learning Disabilities program prepares teachers to meet the individual needs of students of all ages living with or at risk for learning disabilities. It caters to busy students balancing work and family responsibilities by offering full- and part-time tracks and does not require a background in teaching.
The curriculum for this specialized MAT focuses on providing hands-on, personalized training in diagnostic-prescriptive teaching. This approach is rooted in the solid theoretical framework of the Sally L. Smith Methodology; it trains AU students on The Lab School’s successful model. Courses like Overview of All Exceptionalities: The Arts in Special Education and Foundations of Special Education for Exceptional Children expose students to various types of exceptional conditions, the experiences of those with exceptionalities, and how to meet the needs of these learners by designing programs that incorporate different art forms and focus on their abilities, strengths, and interests.
The MAT Special Education: Learning Disabilities program explores various approaches, materials, and academic skills through the arts, including woodworking, music, dance, and drama, training students to integrate theory and practice in daily activities. It also exposes students to the Academic Club Method, a hallmark of Lab’s immersive yet rigorous education model that immerses students in challenging academic material. For example, students might engage in historical role-playing and immersion activities. The MAT program boasts a 100 percent placement rate in graduate school or the workforce, and graduates are prepared for teaching licensure in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, with reciprocity in over 40 states.
The Lab Fellows Program for Future Special Education Teachers
Lab’s Fellows Program provides a select group of AU MAT Special Education: Learning Disabilities students with a 12-month hands-on internship at The Lab School, where they work with a master teacher and students with language-based learning differences. AU Fellows benefit from the opportunity to apply classroom concepts in the real world as they become fully immersed in The Lab School environment, developing lesson plans, engaging students with varying learning styles, and growing as teachers. Upon finishing the program, students can pursue advanced study in psychology, neuropsychology, and special education or roles as educators, learning resource specialists, and tutors.
The Lab Fellows Program Includes:
- A $10,000 training stipend
- A $25,000 tuition scholarship
- Advanced training in Orton-Gillingham approach
- Hands-on training in multisensory mathematics
- Preparation for DC licensure
Other Lab School and AU Connections
Without Sally L. Smith’s pioneering philosophy focusing on multisensory hands-on education, Academic Clubs, arts, and small class sizes, neither The Lab School nor AU’s MAT in Special Education: Learning Disabilities would exist. Under her guidance, both have become renowned for their innovative education models and achievements.
The close partnership and shared dedication to improving the lives of all students between The Lab and AU extends beyond the MAT program and fellowships. Many AU alumni work at Lab in various capacities—from classroom teacher and college advisor to academic dean—where they apply what they learned in their programs to improve education and help students achieve their goals.
In addition, AU faculty research informs school officials, district leaders, and lawmakers, helping drive organizational change and shaping education policy that impacts all learners, including those at Lab. It also helps inform other education programs at AU, including the online Doctorate of Education.
Advance Your Education and Leadership Career at AU
Earning an advanced degree at a world-class university with strong ties to local public and independent schools, as well as with innovators in special education like Sally L. Smith, puts students at the forefront of education and prepares them to be changemakers in the field. The school’s commitment to equity in education and inclusive learning environments for all students is the heart of each program.
AU’s School of Education programs feature diverse cohorts and center around the university’s long-held stance that a better, more equitable education leads to a better society. Curricula feature hands-on learning components and opportunities to connect with fellow students through projects, debates, and forums. Distinguished faculty members engaged in cutting-edge research and innovative partnerships apply their experience to develop industry-relevant coursework that prepares students to work in school districts, public and private schools, charter schools, and organizations. School of Education graduates join a vibrant alumni network and gain access to career services, networking, and mentoring opportunities.
Explore AU’s School of Education graduate programs:
- MA of Teaching Special Education: Learning Disabilities
- Master of Education in Education Policy and Leadership
- Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Education
- EdD in Education Policy and Leadership
Apply to the AU Online Doctorate of Education or MAT Program
If you’re passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and promoting equity and inclusion in education, explore AU’s online graduate programs to learn how you can prepare for a career in the field. To take the next step, review the admissions and application requirements, register for a webinar, and start your online application.
