Michael McSheehan on Building Inclusive Schools with MTSS and UDL

Michael McSheehan is the owner and lead technical assistance provider at Evolve and Effect, LLC. He partners with schools, districts, and state agencies nationwide to strengthen inclusive education by braiding MTSS (Multi‑Tiered System of Support) and UDL (Universal Design for Learning). His path started in speech‑language pathology with a focus on augmentative and alternative communication, and grew into systems‑change work—including years with the SWIFT Education Center across five states, 16 districts, and 64 schools.In this conversation, Michael McSheehan unpacks how MTSS and UDL fit together to make inclusive education work in everyday classrooms. He explains that UDL is the design foundation—assuming variability, elevating student voice, and removing barriers—while MTSS adds the structures and rapid response needed to prevent struggle and respond quickly when students need more. Together, they form a proactive, responsive system where all students start with “first, best instruction” and belong to a community of learners. Michael reflects on lessons from SWIFT systems‑change work (state–district–school alignment matters), names the biggest barriers (adult mindsets, insufficient collaboration time, leadership turnover), and argues we need stronger civil‑rights‑level accountability—akin to Brown v. Board—to move beyond incrementalism. He also tackles the hard question, “Is inclusion done badly better than segregation?” and explains why the answer is no, sharing a student story (“Andy”) that shows how harm from unsupported inclusion can necessitate a temporary separate placement—with a thoughtful path back. Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/michael-mcsheehan-how-mtss-and-udl-fit-into-inclusive-education/