What Most EdTech Companies Get Wrong About IEPs
By Ekaterina Vorobiev – Special Education Leader | EdTech Innovator | Advocate for Inclusive AI
When it comes to supporting students with disabilities, most EdTech companies miss the mark, especially when it comes to IEPs.
Despite good intentions, the majority of EdTech tools treat special education as an afterthought. Whether it's learning platforms, progress-monitoring tools, or AI-powered content generators, the needs of students with disabilities and the legal requirements of IEPs are often sidelined in product development. This isn’t just a missed opportunity; it's a barrier to equity.
The Problem: EdTech for the “Average” Learner
Most EdTech solutions are built around generalized user profiles. They prioritize scalability, standardization, and efficiency over individualization. They are legal documents that outline specific accommodations, goals, services, and supports tailored to a student’s unique learning needs.
When EdTech companies don’t consider this from the start, educators are left to either “hack” tools to fit IEP mandates or abandon them altogether in favor of more manual (and time-consuming) methods.
What EdTech Should Understand About IEPs
To create truly inclusive tools, developers need to deeply understand how IEPs and EdTech can and must work together. That includes:
Accessibility is non-negotiable – Tools must be built with UDL (Universal Design for Learning) principles and full WCAG compliance from the ground up. Screen readers, closed captioning, adaptable interfaces, and keyboard navigation aren’t features; they’re essential.
Progress monitoring must align with IEP goals – Vague analytics don’t help special educators. We need data tied to specific, measurable goals, customizable by skill, domain, and frequency, because one-size-fits-all progress bars don't meet legal or instructional needs.
Accommodations should be dynamic and embedded – Whether it’s extended time, alternative formats, or simplified instructions, accommodations shouldn’t rely on the teacher manually adjusting settings every time. These supports must be built in and customizable per student profile.
Collaboration features should include CST – Many platforms ignore the need for seamless communication between general education teachers, special educators, related service providers, and families. True IEP alignment means better tools for collaboration and documentation.
Data privacy and FERPA compliance are essential – Special education data is among the most sensitive in education. Any EdTech solution handling IEP-related content must take data protection seriously and transparently.
The Opportunity: Designing with Inclusion in Mind
The good news? The gap between IEPs and EdTech is also a huge opportunity. Companies that take the time to listen to special educators, learn about compliance requirements, and co-design with students with disabilities in mind will create tools that benefit all learners—not just those with IEPs.
EdTech for special needs isn’t a niche—it’s the future of equitable education.
Final Thoughts
As a special education teacher, leader, and EdTech advocate, I’ve seen firsthand how poorly designed tools create more work for educators and fewer opportunities for students with disabilities. But I’ve also seen the transformative potential of inclusive, flexible, and purpose-driven EdTech.
If you're an EdTech founder or developer, make special education central, not supplemental.
And if you're a special educator navigating these challenges, your voice matters. Let’s keep pushing for tools that serve all our students, starting with those who need them most.