Disabled Educators Affinity Group

The ACTFL Disabled Educators Affinity Group provides a dedicated professional community for language educators who identify as disabled, offering a space for connection, advocacy, and shared experience within the world language teaching profession. Hosted by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), the premier membership association for more than 11,000 language professionals in the United States, this affinity group meets virtually via Zoom to discuss the unique experiences, challenges, and perspectives that disabled educators bring to the language classroom. Affinity groups within ACTFL serve as communities where educators with shared identities or experiences can connect, collaborate, and support one another in ways that complement the broader professional development offerings of the organisation. The Disabled Educators Affinity Group addresses an important and often underrepresented dimension of diversity in language education, creating space for conversations about accessibility, accommodation, inclusive pedagogy, and the valuable perspectives that disabled educators contribute to their students' learning. The group meets periodically throughout the year, with sessions held virtually to maximise accessibility for members across the country. Participation is free for those who sign up through the ACTFL website. For language educators who identify as disabled — or allies interested in supporting disability inclusion in world language education — this affinity group offers meaningful professional connection within a community that understands the intersection of disability and language teaching.