Pre Conference

Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2027

Time: Time: 8 AM – 1 PM
Tempe Mission Palms Hotel, Tempe AZ


Physical Space and Pedagogy: Designing Doxological Classrooms for Students with Disabilities

After the overwhelmingly positive response to the Pre-Conference at Symposium 2026, we read the survey feedback and listened! More Amy, more Tom, and more concrete!
In this pre-conference series of workshops, we will look more concretely at how classical principles and pedagogy provide pathways for effectively welcoming students with disabilities and learning differences. Far from excluding such students, classical education has unique resources for welcoming all kinds of learners given its grounding in a rich and full understanding of the human person. But it can sometimes be difficult to see how this grounding can provide the tools needed to shape classrooms where all students can thrive.
Join us to see how to bridge this perceived gap! Through seminar and workshop sessions, you will explore concrete examples of and tools for putting classical principles into practice to welcome students with disabilities and learning differences. From classical principles of beauty and balance in physical classroom design to classical pedagogical approaches to learning design we will build a vision of genuinely Doxological Classrooms together, which you will be able to take back to your schools to renew your welcome for all learners!

Pre-Conference Program

Introduction: 8:30 - 8:50am

Seminar: 8:55 - 9:50am

Session 1: 10:00 - 10:55am

Session 2: 11:00 - 11:55am

Q&A, Conclusion: 12:00 - 12:30pm

Lunch: 12:30 - 1:00pm



Session Leaders

Dr. Amy Richards

Dr. Amy Richards

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Tom Doebler

Tom Doebler

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Disability and Classical Education: Student Formation in Keeping with Our Common Humanity by Dr. Amy Richards More Info