The Inclusive Class Podcast

Gary Brucker, Program Director for Courage for Youth Association and Lauri Swann Hunt, founder of Ollibean, are guests at our roundtable this week.  The topic we are discussing is the notion that inclusion is more than a program and is based on attitudes and belief systems. In addition, it is important that schools must foster these attitudes through emotional and relational development in students.  This is a discussion you won't want to miss!  

Listen to Frances Stetson and Mary Eaddy.

How should we be teaching our students with special needs? We start by presuming competence and believing that all children be held to high academic expectations.  To hear more about the importance of presuming competence, listen to guests, Paula Lieb and Lauri Swann Hunt share their thoughts with Nicole and Terri.  

Carolyn Coil, education expert and author, and Frances Stetson, CEO of the Inclusive Schools Network, join the roundtable on The Inclusive Class Podcast this week.  Together with Terri and Nicole, our roundtable guests will describe the elements of an inclusive classroom. We will talk about scheduling, supports, curriculum, accomodations, IEPs and more. This is one podcast you don't want to miss!

Confused about inclusion?  Listen to The Inclusive Class Podcast this week and learn what parents need to know about inclusive education. You will understand what inclusion is, how schools become inclusive, options for inclusion, and how to work with staff to create a more inclusive environment for your child. Lauri Swann Hunt from the site, Ollibean and Amanda Morin, author of The Everything Parent's Guide to Special Education will be at our roundtable this week.

Amanda Morin is our guest on this epidsode of The Inclusive Class Podcast. She is with us to talk about ways in which parents can advocate successfully for their child's special education Amanda is an education writer and author of two books, the newly-released, The Everything Parent's Guide to Special Education and The Everything Kids' Learning Activities Book. In addition to being an author, Amanda works with organizations such as the National Center for Learning Disabilities and Child Mind Institiute. In addition, she has experience as a kindergarten teacher, early intervention specialist and parent trainer with additional training in advocacy and IDEA.  

Nancy Peske, co-author of Raising a Sensory Smart Child, returns to the show to talk about anxiety in kids with sensory processing issues. For more information go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.  

What is Universal Design for Learning and how can it be used to support learners in the inclusive classroom? On this episode of The Inclusive Class Podcast we have guest, Dr. Loui Lord Nelson, join us to discuss the importance of UDL and how it can be used successfully to help all learners access the curriculum. Loui Lord Nelson has extensive experience through practice and research with UDL. She is an Educational consultant specializing in Universal Design for Learning (UDL), CAST cadre member, and currently works at the University of Kansas - SWIFT Project as a UDL Specialist. In addition, she has recently authored a book published by Brookes Publishing called, Design and Deliver. For more information about this show, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.  

This week on The Inclusive Class Podcast, we talk with Christi Kasa, Ph.D., about differentiating lessons to reach all the learners in a classroom.   Christi Kasa is the owner of Inclusion University, a consulting company that helps parents and educators create successful inclusive schools. Christi is also a professor and Department Chair in the College of Education at the University of Colorado.    Christi began her career teaching in the public schools of California as a general education teacher, special education teacher, and an inclusion facilitator. Christi conducts research on inclusive schooling, collaboration and co-teaching, and communication for people with autism and other movement differences.

Listen to guest, Celia Oyler, as she describes ways in which teachers can use research-based practices to faciliate inclusion. Celia taught in public schools for 15 years before getting her Ph.D. at the University of Illinois at Chicago. For 10 of those 15 years she worked in inclusive classroom settings. She is currently a Professor of Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Oyler is also author of the book, Learning to Teach Inclusively. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

***There were some technical difficulties with this show but please keep listening as there is some fantastic information!*** We are pleased to have Dr. Ashleigh Molloy join us on this episode of The Inclusive Class Podcast. Dr. Molloy is going to help us understand what the role of a paraprofessional is in the inclusive class and how a paraprofessional can facilitate inclusion. Dr. Molloy is a respected and recognized expert on inclusion with a Ph. D in Disability, Diversity and Special Needs Education. He is currently the Director of the TransEd Institute where he consults and presents at international conferences on varied educational topics with a special focus on diversity issues as seen through the lens of inclusion. In addition, Dr. Molloy is an author and an internationally renowned presenter who has appeared on both radio and television programs.  For more information about this episode, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

This week on The Inclusive Class Podcast, Terri & Nicole will interview Brenda Scheuermann about ways to positively support behavior in the classroom. A tenured professor at Texas State University, Dr. Scheuermann is nationally known as a professor and advocate for students with behavioral disorders. With the growing expectation of inclusive classrooms, teachers have students with a variety of needs and challenges. Being properly equipped and trained to work with students who have behavior challenges is important to successfully educating all the students in the classroom. Parents should also be aware of ways to positively support their children in an inclusive class so they can work with the teacher to ensure full inclusion. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

On this episode, Nicole & Terri will speak with Dr. Lisa Dieker about inclusive education at the high school level.  With her exceptional knowledge and experience, Dr. Dieker will address ways in which inclusion can be achieved with older students. Dr. Dieker is a Pegasus Professor and Lockheed Martin Eminent Scholar at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Dieker has produced 5 books, two national videos, over 40 articles and chapters and provided more than 50 keynote addresses. She has been the editor of the Journal of International Special Needs Education and is the current Associate Editor of Teaching Exceptional Children. For more information about the show, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.  

Dr. Kristin Kosmerl returns to this episode of The Inclusive Class Podcast to talk about making plans and writing IEPs that keep kids with challenging behaviors in the classroom and not in the Principal's office. Dr. Kosmerl is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst as well as a Supervisor of Special Education for a public school district in Pennsylvania.  For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Nancy Peske, co-author of Raising a Sensory Smart Child, will be our guest on this program.  Using her own experiences with a child who has sensory processing issues, Nancy will discuss ways in which schools can support and include students with sensory processing challenges. For more information, go to www.theincusiveclass.com.

Dr. Temple Grandin will be our guest on this episode of The Inclusive Class Podcast. Dr. Grandin is a leading advocate for Autism, an animal expert, author and professor.  In 2010, HBO released an Emmy award-winning movie about her life. In addition, she is one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Dr. Howard Margolis is our returning guest on this episode of The inclusive Class Podcast. He will talk about 11 things that struggling readers need to succeed. Howard Margolis, Ed.D., is Professor Emeritus of Reading and Special Education at the City University of New York. Howard is former editor of the Reading Instruction Journal and the Journal of Psychological and Educational Consultation; for more than two decades he has edited the Reading & Writing Quarterly: Overcoming Learning Difficulties. He has helped write two books titled, Reading Disabilities: Beating the Odds and Reading and Learning Disabilities: 5 Ways to Help Your Child. For more information about the show and Dr. Margolis, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.  

On The Inclusive Class Podcast this week at 9 AM EST, we will be interviewing expert, educator and author, Dr. Stuart Shanker.     Research tells us that one of the keys to student success is self-regulation. Self-regulation is the ability to monitor and modify emotions, to focus or shift attention, to control impulses, or to tolerate frustration or delay gratification. Educators and parents can help support and strengthen self-regulation skills in various ways. Dr Shanker will be on air with us to talk about understanding and improving self-regulation skills so students can stay in the class and learn.   Dr. Shanker is a leading expert on self-regulation. For more information about the show, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Charles Fox, a special education attorney, will be a guest on this episode of The Inclusive Class Podcast. Charles also writes the Special Education Law Blog @ www.specialedlaw.blogs.com. He will be on the show to discuss what happens when schools do not offer inclusive environments. Real-world aspects of inclusion will be discussed and ways in which parents can respond to resistance.  For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Carol Quirk who is the Co-Executive Director for the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education, will return to the podcast. Carol is going to talk, on behalf of the MCIE, about disability being a part of the human experience. Therefore, it would make sense that inclusion should be a part of every child's school experience. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

On this episode of The Inclusive Class Podcast, we interview Mara Kaplan about what is needed to facilitate inclusive play.  Mara Kaplan is an educator, an advocate for inclusive play and a parent of a child with profound disabilities.  She has more than 17 years' experience reviewing toys and designing playgrounds.  Mara's consulting business, Let Kids Play!, designs inclusive playgrounds, reviews and recommends toys and edits the website accessibleplayground.net, which includes a comprehensive listing of accessible playgrounds in North America.      For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Katharine Beals, PhD, is the author of "Raising a Left-Brain Child in a Right-Brain World: Strategies for Helping Bright, Quirky, Socially Awkward Children to Thrive at Home and at School".  She will be our guest on this episode of The Inclusive Class Podcast. Katharine will share tips and strategies with listeners to help socially awkward children thrive in today's classrooms. Using her experience as a teacher and mother, Katharine will use her insight to give suggestions and guidance for parents and teachers.  For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Wendy Kruse, founder of the Military Special Needs Network, is our guest on this episode of The Inclusive Class Pocast. No stranger to moving frequently with her military family, Wendy realized how important it is to have a support system in place for families with special needs. In her interview, Wendy will tell us how she created her vast network of support for herself and other military families. That support includes resources, information, education and advocacy. Listen to Wendy's tips, advice and reasons for beginning and/or expanding your own network of support. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.      

On this episode of The Inclusive Class Podcast, we will be speaking with well-known educator, leader and scholar, Dr. George Theoharis. Dr. Theoharis has had extensive experience as a teacher, administrator and principal. He has first-hand experience in creating inclusive schools and understands the role of a principal in an inclusive school. He will provide valuable information about inclusive education from a principal's point of view. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

On The Inclusive Class Podcast this week, we will be talking to Dr. Linda Silbert at 9 AM EST.  Dr. Silbert is eager to share ways in which parents can support their child's learning, particularly over the summer months, to ensure school success.    Dr. Linda Silbert is a world-renowned educator, administrator, school counselor, speaker, and award-winning author. She has devoted her life to working with parents and their children to help make schooling more pleasant and successful. Dr. Silbert has worked to help children with learning disabilities, dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalulia overcome the struggle of school.   For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.  

Carol Castellano is Director of Programs for the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children and President and Co-Founder of Parents of Blind Children-NJ will be our guest this week on The Inclusive Class Podcast. She has served as Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator for the Teacher of the Blind/Visually Impaired Program at The College of New Jersey. Carol makes presentations for parents and teachers across the country and writes frequently on the education and development of blind/visually impaired children.  For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.  

JoAnne M. Malloy is our guest on this episode of The Inclusive Class Podcast. JoAnne will be talking to Nicole & Terri about ways schools can support students with emotional and/or behavioral needs. JoAnne Malloy is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire. Ms. Malloy has experience and interest in working with youth who have emotional and behavioral disorders. She has worked to prevent school drop-out, improve employment opportunties and identify transitions needed from youth to adulthood. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

  Nicole and Terri will be talking about ways to prepare your child with special needs for the end of the school year on The Inclusive Class Podcast this week.   The end of the school year is fast approaching and is a very busy time for students and teachers.    Learn strategies and tips for helping you and your child survive those last few months of school! For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Carolyn Coil returns to The Inclusive Class Podcast to talk with Nicole & Terri about assessment in the differentiated classroom.  With classrooms becoming more inclusive yet diverse in abilities and skills, teachers are creating lessons to meet the needs of individual students. This is known as differentiation. But how does the teacher measure the growth and development of all the children who are at various levels? Carolyn Coil will provide tips and strategies for ways to assess student learning. Carolyn is an expert on differentiated instruction and is an internationally known speaker, author, trainer, consultant and educator. This is a podcast for both teachers and parents who want to know more about differentiated instruction. For more information about this episode, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Join us for this special event! On this episode of The Inclusive Class Podcast, we will be speaking with documentary filmmaker, Lee Hirsch.  Hirsch is Director of the movie, Bully, which was released in April, 2012. Bully followed the lives of 5 students who faced bullying every day. Through his life experiences and observations, Lee will give us insight into bullying in schools. He will discuss where he thinks bullying stems from and the type of school environmment that gives students the opportunity to bully one another. In addition, Lee will offer ways in which the school community can change to eliminate the culture of bullying. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.    

Julie Cevallos, from the National Down Syndrome Society, will be our guest on this show. Julie will join Nicole and Terri to talk about ways in which students with Down Syndrome can be included in the classroom and school life. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

When you buy a house or a car, you do you do your best to be an informed consumer. You do your research about the product, interest rates, loan details and warranties. When you send your child with special needs to school, you should also be an informed parent. Parents with children who have special needs must be informed and know their rights and responsibilities in Special Education.  Listen to The Inclusive Class Podcast on 03/22/13 @ 9 AM EST, as Nicole and Terri interview Mary Eaddy. Mary is Executive Director of PRO-Parents of S. C.; the South Carolina Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), where she has been affiliated since it's inception in 1990. She has provided extensive training related to special education, parent involvement, disabilities and non-profit management at the state and national level.  However, Mary's most relevant knowledge and passion for her work comes from parenting two children with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder and being grandmother to a young man with developmental delays.  Mary will discuss ways in which parents can become more informed about their child's special education and why it is so important to be informed. She has insight in how extra services can be obtained as well as what the school must legally provide for your child.   For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Listen to this espisode of The Inclusive Class Podcast to learn more about Augmentative and Alternative Communication that students can use in the classroom. Michael McSheehan, who is the project director with the Institute on Disablitily at the University of New Hampshire and an Assistant Professor, will talk with Nicole and Terri about ways students with special needs can learn alongside their peers. He will discuss how AAC can be used to support students with special need and explain why is not being used in so many schools. In addition, Michael will have suggestions for ways in which families can get involved in making sure their child has a voice. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

This week Terri & Nicole will talk to guest, Paula S. Lieb, Esq., about planning "Just Right" supports for students in the inclusive class. It is important to balance the needs of special needs students with just the right amount of support in order to succeed. Paula is a returning guest and is the President and CEO the New Jersey Coalition (NJCIE) for Inclusive Education, a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization which acts as a statewide catalyst for creating, enhancing, and promoting inclusive schools and communities.  Paula obtained her law degree from Seton Hall in 1993 following a career as a secondary school social studies teacher.  She concentrated in the area of special education law prior to taking her present position as the President and CEO of NJCIE in 2003. In addition to leading the agency, Paula provides training and consultation on inclusive education to schools and parent groups throughout the state.  She is a member of statewide committees, task forces and university advisory committees on inclusion.  Paula has two grown daughters (Diane, an attorney in Seattle and Amy, a teacher in Connecticut) and five grandchildren.  She and her husband Jim live in East Brunswick.   For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Our topic this week will be the importance of teaching reading and writing to all students in the inclusive class. Nicole & Terri will interview guest, Leigh Rohde, Ph.D. Leigh Rohde is an emergent literacy specialist with over 20 years' experience working with young children with disabilities, and has coordinated projects focusing on professional development, inclusion, curriculum design, and system development. She provides technical assistance and training for school districts, community providers, preschools, and child care programs on inclusion, emergent literacy, and Response to Intervention (RtI). She is an Early Childhood Master Professional, a Certified Trainer in the Early Language and Literacy Classroom Observation Tool (ELLCO Pre-K), and she teaches courses in the Early Childhood/Special Needs program at the University of New Hampshire. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

  Have you ever wondered what it takes to educate your child with special needs in their neighborhood school? Learn valuable insights from an author, public school teacher, guest lecturer, advocate, and parent of a child with special needs. Listen to this episode to hear one parent's story of advocacy for inclusion. During our interview guest, Jennifer Greening, will discuss the triumphs and tribulations of advocating for inclusive education for her daughter.  You will gain valuable insights into creating successful inclusion experiences.     For more information about Jennifer Greening and her book, Opening Doors, Opening Lives: Creating awareness of advocacy, inclusion, and education for our children with special needs visit http://www.jennifergreeningbooks.com/about.html.    For more information about the show, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.  

Terri & Nicole talk about making education appropriate for your child. Behavior, classroom setting and iep goals are discussed in this espisode. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Lindsey Biel, co-author of Raising a Sensory Smart Child, is the expert guest on this podcast. Nicole & Terri will talk with Lindsey about ways to make classrooms more sensory-friendly for children with special needs. Lindsey is an occupational therapist and author who has extensive experience working with children who have sensory integration dysfunction. She has worked to help children cope with the abundance of stimuli in their everyday world, especially classrooms. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.  

Sheldon Horowitz, Ed.D., director of LD resources and information at the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), joins Nicole & Terri on this episode of The Inclusive Class Podcast. With an extensive history in the field of special education, Sheldon is frequently citied in the press, presents at numerous conferences and provides leadership to various programs with the NCLD. On the show Sheldon will talk about ways to support students with learning disabilities in the inclusive classroom.  For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Rhonda J. Greenhaw, MA, BCBA, will be our guest on this episode of The Inclusive Class Podcast. Ms. Greenhaw will discuss strategies for inclusion at the college level.   Rhonda is a clinician and researcher in the field of autism. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and is the Director of the Center for Adults with Autism at Towson University. The Center conducts research and provides programming for adults with autism. These programs, which cover a wide array of interests and needs, provides unique opportunities for Towson University students and adults and adolescents with autism to interact, promoting mutual learning experiences.  For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Our guest on this show of The Inclusive Class Podcast will be Cheryl Jorgensen, Ph.D.  Cheryl is an inclusive education consultant in private practice whose focus is on supporting families and schools with inclusive practice. Listen as Cheryl describes ways in which teachers can facilitate inclusion in the general education classroom. As an educator, author and advocate, Ms. Jorgensen will provide strategies and tips to get inclusion working in schools. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Listen to Nicole & Terri talk to Lauri Hunt, mother of self-advocate Henry Frost, about her son's journey to inclusive education. Widely regarded as one of the biggest inclusion success stories to date, Lauri will share her son's self-advocacy experiences and the result it had on his education. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Listen to international speaker, author, trainer, consultant and educator, Carolyn Coil, on this episode of The Inclusive Class Podcast! Carolyn has worked in the field of education for over 30 years and offers listeners realistic and user-friendly strategies for raising student achievement, differentiating curriculum and assessing student performance. These are integral components of an inclusive class! Whether you are a parent or teacher, listen to Carolyn for tips that can be used in the classroom to support ALL learners! For more information about Carolyn, go to www.carolyncoil.com. For more information about the show go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Listen to Nicole & Terri interview guest, Tim Villegas, on this episode of The Inclusive Class Podcast. Tim Villegas has worked in the field of special education and people with disabilities for nearly a decade. Tim is an educator and is passionate about inclusion. He advocates for the inclusion of all people with special needs in our society through his blog, www.thinkinclusive.us.  On this podcast, Tim will discuss ways in which students with significant cognitive disabilities can be included in the general education classroom. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

  Inclusive education is regarded as the gold standard for educating students with special needs. However, is it also beneficial for the typically-developing students in the inclusive classroom?   This week on The Inclusive Class Podcast, we will talk with Sean Adelman. Sean is a father, advocate, writer, surgeon and musician.  Recently, Sean and his daughter Devon were featured in an article titled, "Why Inclusion in Classrooms Benefits ALL Kids" in which Sean discussed the many ways that inclusion has been a positive experience for his family and others.   For more information go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Many of our podcasts have talked about ways to include students with special needs in the classroom. On this podcast, the topic will focus on including students with special needs in Physical Education.  Listen to Nicole & Terri as they interview guest, Matt Schinelli. Matt is the founder of the New Jersey All People Equal organization that advocates for inclusive recreation, fitness and physical education. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Due to Hurricane Sandy, we had to change our scheduled interview with Dr. Sheldon Horowitz. He will join us at a later date. Given all the disruptions that the east coast has faced this past week, Terri and Nicole discussed how these changes impact children with special needs in school and at home. Listen to them talk about strategies for supporting students through difficult times - from a parent and a teacher's perspective!      

The Inclusive Class Podcast proudly presents this special roundtable event! This 60 minute program features 7 highly esteemed guests who are experts on the topic of inclusive education. Facilitated by parent advocate, Lauri Hunt, you can listen to panel members, Tom Mihail, Paula Kluth, Frances Stetson, Kathleen McClaskey, Mary Ulrich, Lisa Jo Rudy and Torrie Dunlap discuss ways in which parents can respond to schools when they say 'NO' to inclusion. You won't want to miss this opportunity to listen to The Inclusive Class Podcast on Friday, October 26, 2012 @ 9 AM EST! For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Our guest on this episode is Dr. Joyce Cooper-Kahn, who is a co-author of the book, Late, Lost and Unprepared. Joyce Cooper-Kahn, Ph.D., is a clinical child psychologist whose career has focused on helping children and their families to successfully manage academic, behavioral, and emotional challenges Dr. Cooper-Kahn has particular expertise in attention disorders, learning disabilities and school consultation with an emphasis on interventions for executive functioning difficulties. Listen as Dr. Cooper-Kahn offers suggestions and solutions for helping the disorganized child both and home and in the classroom. For more information, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.

Listen to Terri & Nicole as they speak with Megan Gross, co-author of the book, ParaEducate. Megan will talk about ways in which how paraeducators can work to facilitate inclusive opportunities for students with special needs. Megan is a special education teacher and inclusion specialist. She has facilitated inclusive education for elementary and junior high students. Megan has promoted effective teacher and paraeducator collaboration and advocated development of modified curricula at seminars, university classes and conferences. For more information about the show, go to www.theinclusiveclass.com.  

Zachary Fenell grew up physically limited due to a mild case of cerebral palsy. After earning his BA in communication, Zachary focused on writing to raise awareness for disability issues. He also wrote the book, Off Balanced. On this podcast, Zachary will talk with Nicole & Terri about his experiences in inclusive classrooms and why he feels inclusive education is important. In addition, Zachary has advice for students with disabilities for developing friendships with their able-bodied peers.