Disrupting and Preventing Racial Trauma Using UDL

A Guide for Trauma-Sensitive Educators

Jen Alexander, Andratesha Fritzgerald

• Publisher: Brookes Publishing
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9781681258133
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Behavioural Management

To make schools safer and ensure that all students are ready for learning, educators in trauma-sensitive schools must work together to actively understand, disrupt, and prevent racism. Pairing anti-racist educational practices with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is one of the best ways to counteract the effects of trauma and support high levels of learning, safety, and justice for all.

In this one-of-a-kind resource—part of a series of laminated quick guides for preK–12 educators—you’ll get foundational guidance on disrupting and preventing racial trauma in your school using the principles of the widely used UDL framework. Jen Alexander and Andratesha Fritzgerald give you an accessible introduction to this critical topic, encourage deep thinking and engagement through “Try This!” exercises, and give you ready-to-use tips for applying trauma-sensitive, anti-racist practices in your daily work. You’ll explore expert answers to these essential questions:

• What is racial trauma?
• What causes racial trauma at school, and what are the effects on health and learning?
• What role do trauma-sensitive educators play in stopping and preventing racial trauma?
• How can trauma-sensitive, anti-racist practices grounded in UDL help us do better?
• What are microaggressions, and what can teachers do to prevent them?

 

PRACTICAL DOWNLOADS INCLUDED! Eleven downloads—including reflection exercises, a glossary of key terms, an Identity Lesson Plan, and a resource list for diverse books and materials—help you fully engage with this quick guide and take practical steps to implement trauma-sensitive, anti-racist practices.

 

About the Series: Quick Guides for Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools

Practical, friendly, and immediately useful, this series of laminated quick guides addresses the essentials of building trauma-sensitive schools—safety, connection, regulation, and learning. Jen Alexander has collaborated with experts around the globe to bring educators tips, strategies, and activities they can apply right away in their classroom and school. Each guide in the series also includes downloadable lesson plans and exercises that educators can use to take action. Equally useful for experienced trauma-sensitive educators or those just getting started, these quick guides will help school staff create environments that support every person’s well-being and learning.