K-12 Panel 7: Strengthening Inclusive Practices: A Collaborative Model for Neurodiversity Awareness and Support in K–12 Education
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Strengthening Inclusive Practices: A Collaborative Model for Neurodiversity Awareness and Support in K–12 Education
Moderator: Lakshmi Balasubramanian, PhD
Objectives:
- Identify collaborative strategies for engaging students, families, and educators in strengthening neurodiversity inclusion efforts.
- Apply strengths-based models and survey-driven tools to assess, design, and sustain inclusive practices in K–12 settings.
Tracy Steel, Phd, Director of Student Affairs, Stanford Online High School
Tracy Steele holds a Ph.D. in Psychological Studies in Education, with an emphasis on Child and Adolescent Development, from Stanford University, as well as Master’s degrees in School Counseling and Guidance and Secondary Teaching. These credentials inform her collaborative approach to education. In her current role as Director of Student Affairs at Stanford Online High School, Dr. Steele oversees student accommodations, develops support plans, and promotes social-emotional growth, prioritizing the well-being of all students. She has played an instrumental role in establishing protocols for online student health and safety and collaborates with university partners to ensure comprehensive support for students. Additionally, she works with Stanford’s Graduate School of Education on research initiatives aimed at connecting academic research with practical strategies to address student needs and foster holistic development.
Anne Hruska, PhD, Senior Instructor at Stanford Online High School, Stanford Online High School
Anne Hruska is a Senior Instructor at Stanford Online High School, where she has been working l since 2014. She teaches 7th grade English as well as a course for advanced high schoolers on Russian Literature. She has a Ph.D. is in Russian literature from U.C. Berkeley.
Abby Kirigin, EdD, Executive Director, REEL
Abby is the Executive Director of REEL, a nonprofit dedicated to twice-exceptional student success. Abby is a lifelong learner and passionate advocate of education for all. She brings her many years of experience as an interaction designer with technology startups and parent to three exceptional children to her work. Abby received her doctorate from the Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education, where she developed a curriculum to support neurodivergent middle schoolers in strengths-based career exploration. Abby holds a Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon and a B.A. from NYU in Computer Science & Philosophy. She has served as a writer, guest speaker, and presenter for many organizations including the Stanford Neurodiversity Project, Parents Place, KnowledgeWorks, California Association for the Gifted, and the National Association for Gifted Children.
Hannah Poplack, Educator, Stanford Online High School
Hannah Poplack is a senior at Stanford Online High School and a dual-enrolled student at San Jose State University, who is also autistic and has Tourette's syndrome. For the past two years, she has led the Neurodivergent Student Alliance, an affinity group dedicated to building community, advocating for accessibility, and empowering neurodivergent students. Hannah's academic interests span pure mathematics, autistic psychology, and social justice, fields she hopes to integrate in her future studies and career to improve the lives of neurodivergent individuals. Outside of academics, Hannah is passionate about everything Star Trek and creating art out of recycled materials.
Sadie Giessner, Student, Stanford Online High School
Sadie is a junior at Stanford Online High School where she serves as Student Body Vice President and co-leader of the Disability Culture Club, is a member of the Neurodiversity Club, and previously served as Chair of the Board of Student Academic Support and Services. During the summer of 2025, Sadie attended SNP-REACH and worked as an intern for the Massachusetts Legislature, closing accessibility gaps on the public website. Sadie has worked on multiple accessibility projects for the Stanford Online High School community, and she is honored to serve as a member of the Stanford Online High School Inclusive Practices for Accessible Education Project.
Nell Forgacs, EdM, Parent, Stanford Online High School
Nell holds an Ed.M. in Learning and Teaching from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. from Connecticut College. She is currently the parent of a Stanford Online High School junior and co-leads the Stanford Online High School Family Network for Families Managing Chronic Illness and Complex Medical Conditions, a family-supporting-family community within the school. She is honored to serve as a member of the Stanford Online High School Inclusive Practices for Accessible Education Project.