About Lauren

Lauren Sheehan, M.Ed, ATP, BCEA
Empowering ALL learners and educators
Lauren brings over 18 years experience as a special educator to help coach, mentor, support and empower others.
She is a passionate, creative and energetic educator!
Lauren specializes in supporting students with complex learning and communication needs through comprehensive literacy instruction, AAC, assistive technology, and individualized supports that promote meaningful access and participation.
Lauren has supported many learners with various ability levels including Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and other developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Lauren works in the public school system as an educator and an inclusion facilitator. She also works as an adjunct instructor teaching and mentoring future educators.
Lauren provides coaching and consultative services to school districts on various topics in the field of special education.
Lauren provides individualized comprehensive literacy instruction to learners of all ages through both in-person and virtual services. She works alongside families to design and implement individualized literacy instruction for learners educated in homeschool and other nontraditional settings.
Lauren is a RESNA Certified Assistive Technology Professional and a Board Certified Education Advocate.
She has presented on topics in the field of education, special education, literacy instruction and assistive technology at local, state, national and international conferences.
Lauren's Experience:
Closing the Gap Presenter
We Teach Readtopia!
An Instructional Blueprint for Students with Complex Needs
Dr. Karen Erickson, Jeanmarie Jacoby, Don Johnston, Lauren Sheehan

Infinitec Webinar Presenter
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Shared Reading
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Collaborative Approach to Comprehensive Literacy Instruction

Readtopia Trainer
Trainer for the Readtopia curriculum. School districts in Illinois, New York Public Schools and Pinellas County School District in Florida.

ATIA Presenter
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Solutions for Educators: Emergent Literacy at Home
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Literacy, Letters and Language: Embedding Opportunities for students with complex communication needs

Lomah Podcast Guest
With Ashley Larisey, SLP


ISAAC Presenter, Cancun
July 2023
Poetry Power: Supporting Emergent to Conventional Writing, Emotions, and Learning (Apps Included!)
Co Presenting with Dr. Caroline Musselwhite, Beth Poss, Brandi Wentland and Justice Killibrew
Readtopia Webinar Presenter

RESNA Certified ATP


Illinois State University Teacher of the Year Finalist
2023 College of Education
Teacher of the Year Finalist

AZTAP Conference
Comprehensive Literacy Instruction

TCEA Librarian Conference
Opening Doors: Accessible Literacy Through Assistive Technology
LessonPix Live Guest
With Ashley Larisey, SLP

GiGi's Playhouse Literacy Tutor Volunteer

AAC in the Cloud Presenter
With Ashley Larisey, SLP

Illinois State University
New Teacher Conference
Teaching in the 21st Century Conference

Indiana AAC Summit
Co-Keynote Speaker
Indiana AAC Summit with Ashley Larisey
September 26, 2025
Literacy in AACtion


CEC Conference 2026
Writing without Limits: Tools and Strategies for Learners Who Haven't Spelled or Scribbled, Yet!
