Podcasts about inclusive education

En este episodio hablaremos sobre la vida de Helen Keller y como transformar la lástima en potencial para las personas con diversidad funcional.  Deja tu reseña en Apple Podcast, Audible y Spotify con cinco estrellas. Comparte un screen-shot de este episodio en tus redes sociales y tus chats.  Sígueme en:  Instagram: Diversidad Funcional en Acción  Facebook: Diversidad Funcional en Acción  TikTok: Diversidad Funcional en Acción Suscríbete a este podcast en tu plataforma favorita: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Audible y iHeart Radio. Puedes enviarnos tus preguntas y peticiones de temas a diversidadfuncionalenaccion@gmail.com. Se incluye TRANSCRIPCIÓN. Referencias: Alquraini, T., & Gut, D. (2019). Critical components of successful inclusion of students with severe disabilities: Literature review. International Journal of Special Education, 34(1), 35-50. McConnell, D., Savage, A., & Hastings, R. P. (2020). Family attitudes and child outcomes: Pathways to resilience in children with disabilities. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 29(5), 1235-1249. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01648-1 McKenzie, J., & McConkey, R. (2019). Changing parent attitudes through disability training: Effects on family empowerment and inclusive education. Disability & Society, 34(9-10), 1469-1484. Rosenbaum, P., & Gorter, J. W. (2012). The "F-words" in childhood disability: I swear this is how we should think! Child: Care, Health and Development, 38(4), 457–463. Hehir, T., Grindal, T., Freeman, B., Lamoreau, R., Borquaye, Y., & Burke, S. (2016). A Summary of the Evidence on Inclusive Education.

About the Guest(s):Alissa Rausch is a dedicated advocate for inclusive education rights, especially for young children with disabilities and various intersectional identities. Based at the University of Denver, she has extensive experience as a provider, program leader, educator, and technical assistance provider, notably developing inclusive programs and participating actively in legislative initiatives with organizations like Disability Law Colorado and the Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ECTA) Center.Ben Riepe is a Senior Project Manager at the Positive Early Learning Experiences Center at the University of Denver, contributing significantly to ECTA and the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations. With 13 years supporting Head Start Classrooms as a teacher and coach, Ben focuses on embedding evidence-based inclusive practices into classrooms and communities.Episode Summary:Delve into a transformative discussion on the Think Inclusive Podcast with Tim Villegas, featuring an insightful conversation with Alissa Rausch and Ben Riepe from the University of Denver. They discuss the significance of the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center's inclusion indicators, designed to guide systems at varying levels, like state and community, towards enhancing inclusive practices, aiming for a profound societal impact.In this episode, Alissa and Ben emphasize the critical role of systems in fostering inclusive environments for children, particularly those with disabilities. They explore the implementation science behind these indicators and how it supports sustainable and meaningful inclusive practices. Through poignant real-world examples and insights, they expound on the barriers families face and the power of family partnerships in achieving truly inclusive educational settings. Their experiences and collaborative work highlight opportunities for systemic change, especially through intentional community-based approaches and systems-level transformation, positioning early childhood inclusion as a foundational element of lifelong success.Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/transforming-inclusive-education-through-inclusion-indicators/Key Takeaways:-Inclusion Indicators: Developed by ECTA, the indicators serve as a North Star for programs implementing inclusive practices across various levels such as state, community, and local programs.-Systems Approach to Inclusion: Emphasizes working at every level of the educational ecosystem, from state policies to individual classrooms, ensuring comprehensive support for inclusive practices.-Family Partnerships: Building genuine partnerships with families is critical, recognizing them as co-constructors in the journey of inclusion, thereby facilitating better educational outcomes.-Long-Term Impact: Highlighting the necessity of early childhood inclusion as a foundation for lifelong educational and community success.-Implementation Science: Using strategic, science-based processes for planning and executing inclusive practices, aiming for scalable and sustainable change.Resources:ECTA Center: https://ectacenter.org/Disability Law Colorado: https://disabilitylawco.org/Thank you to our sponsor, IXL: https://www.ixl.com/inclusive Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special sponsored episode of Teachers Talk Radio, hosts James Radburn and Darren Lester spotlight the crucial role of language accessibility in modern classrooms—powered by Pocketalk, a leader in AI-enhanced translation solutions. They're joined by Kayleigh Hughes, an English teacher and Deputy SENCO, and Jessica O'Dwyer, General Manager at Pocketalk Europe, to discuss how translation technology is breaking barriers for EAL (English as an Additional Language) students. Hear classroom stories, parental engagement wins, and insights on how tools like Pocketalk help create more inclusive and connected learning environments. Learn more about how Pocketalk is reshaping education at pocketalk.com

Our guest this week is Dr. Patrick Schwarz, of Highland Park, IL who is CEO of Creative Culture Consulting, a public speaker, author of numerous books and an outspoken advocate for inclusive education for people of all abilities.Dr. Schwarz earned his BS, MS and PhD in special education from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.  Dr. Schwarz is a dynamic professor, author, and motivational speaker renowned for his leadership in inclusive education, special education, and educational leadership.Dr. Schwarz has dedicated his career to transforming educational practices to better serve students with diverse support needs.  His seminal work, From Disability to Possibility, advocates for inclusive classrooms that recognize and nurture the potential of every learner.Collaborating with Dr. Paula Kluth, he co-authored influential titles such as You're Welcome, Just Give Him the Whale!, and Pedro's Whale.Through global presentations and consultations, Dr. Schwarz continues to inspire educators to create environments where all students can thrive.  And you can hear his story on this episode of the SFN Dad To Dad Podcast. Show Notes - Phone – (708) 912-9994Email – PSchwarz@nl.eduLinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-schwarz-55770717/Website - https://www.patrickschwarz.com/Books – From Disability to Possibility, (2006) https://tinyurl.com/mtxhphuu You're Welcome: 30 Innovative Ideas for the Inclusive Classroom (2007) https://tinyurl.com/3hbevvjmJust Give Him The Whale: 20 Ways To Use Fascinations, Areas of Expertise and Strengths to Support Students With Autism. (2008) https://tinyurl.com/mrw3sjj9Pedro's Whale (2010) https://tinyurl.com/49sfd8f4From Possibility to Success (2013) https://tinyurl.com/yeya7hsnHoward Gardner Multiple Intelligences - https://www.simplypsychology.org/multiple-intelligences.htmlRegister for the 6th Annual SFN Dads Virthual Conference on May 10, 2025: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TLkN_ViJTTqnaK-M8pHPNA After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.Special Fathers Network -SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated.  There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videosPlease support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/  

Mx. Leo Wilder is the founder of Pride Learning Academy, a microschool intended to better meet the needs of students. Wilder spoke to Community Voices about his inspiration behind starting the academy and how the school can prevent bullying, promote outdoor activities, support mental health, accommodate diverse learners and prepare students with practical skills.For more information about Pride Learning Academy visit: https://www.pridelearningacademy.com/

Send us a textWhat if we stopped seeing some students as "difficult to teach" and started designing our classrooms for everyone from the beginning? That's the transformative question at the heart of my conversation with Devon Warnock and Jennifer Mercer, Consultants for Inclusive Education at Lester B Pearson School Board.Both educators began their careers in classrooms with diverse learning profiles – "We didn't even know it wasn't normal," Jennifer reflects. "We just did what we had to do." Their journeys from overwhelmed teachers to inclusive education experts reveals how Quebec's approach to inclusion has evolved over the past two decades.The conversation tackles a persistent challenge: even experienced teachers struggle with understanding the difference between flexible pedagogy, adaptation, and modification. This confusion led Devon to develop an Inclusion Toolkit, providing practical strategies for designing lessons that work for all students rather than retrofitting for those who learn differently. When surveying 250+ teachers, they discovered that many with 15+ years of experience still felt unprepared to support students with diverse learning needs.Perhaps most compelling is their vision of what true inclusion looks like – not just shared physical space, but environments where every student feels they genuinely belong. Through established routines, positive relationships, and thoughtful planning, teachers can create classrooms where diversity becomes the expected standard rather than the exception.Whether you're a new teacher feeling overwhelmed by diverse classroom needs or a veteran looking to refresh your approach, this episode offers practical wisdom for moving beyond just "integrating" students to truly celebrating their unique contributions in our learning communities.

Massachusetts Inclusive Postsecondary Education (MAIPSE) Program at Fitchburg State UniversityThe MAIPSE/PIE Program at Fitchburg State University is a program to support students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), ages 18-22, in partnership districts in the north-central Worcester County, as well as adults with IDD that are 22+ years of age, that have exited school and are receiving special education services through adult services disability agencies such as DDS or MassAbility. The purpose of MAIPSE is to increase the students' academic and career success by being included in the university's community of learners. My guests, Rebekka Farquharson, Program Coordinator and Mike LaVoie, Program Education Coach as well as student Monue Figeroa speak about  the program's key objectives student eligibility the goal to locate paid employment for participating students as well as some fundraising events.For more information about this program you can visit https://www.fitchburgstate.edu/academics/massachusetts-inclusive-postsecondary-education-maipse-program.#healthylivingyogaanita #WLPZ #fitchburgstateuniversity #inclusiveeducation #postsecondaryeducation 

About the Guest(s):Nicole Eredics is a seasoned expert specializing in inclusive education, boasting over 25 years of experience in the field. Armed with degrees in elementary and special education, Nicole began her career as an inclusion teacher in British Columbia, Canada. She is the founder of the Inclusive Class and has been instrumental in implementing inclusive systems in over 150 schools across the United States since 2008. Also an esteemed author, her best-selling book "Inclusion in Action" is a vital resource for educators aiming to foster inclusive educational settings. Currently, Nicole offers her expertise as a national presenter and trainer for the Bureau of Education and Research, as well as an education and ed-tech consultant.Episode Summary:In this engaging episode of Think Inclusive, host Tim Villegas is joined by inclusive education expert Nicole Eredics. Eredics offers valuable insights into fostering inclusive education practices within school systems. The episode kicks off with an exploration of Nicole's rich history in education and her journey from advocating for inclusion in Canada to transforming schools across the United States. As the discussion unfolds, Nicole shares her experiences working with school districts, highlighting the advancements made in personalized instruction and the integration of technology to support diverse student needs. The conversation also delves into the complexities of standardized testing, the role of co-teaching models, and the substantial influence educators have on crafting positive educational experiences for all learners.As the dialogue deepens, Eredics underscores significant changes in education, particularly the growing emphasis on individual student needs and diversity awareness. These changes have sparked an evolution in instructional practices, the use of universal design for learning (UDL), and the availability of resources enhancing teachers' capabilities. However, Nicole also sheds light on the enduring challenges, like the rigidity of standardized systems and the struggles of grading students with varying needs. Offering tactical advice, she encourages educators to begin with small, manageable changes, such as observing their current classroom practices, while leveraging technology and collaboration to enhance their inclusive teaching methods.Complete show notes + transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/empowering-educators-navigating-inclusive-education-challenges-and-opportunities-with-nicole-eredics/Key Takeaways:-Inclusive education requires a nuanced understanding of personalized instruction and the commitment to supporting diverse learners within the general education classroom.-Recent advancements highlight increased awareness of diversity and personalized instruction among educators, yet challenges like standardized testing and rigid grading systems remain barriers.-Co-teaching and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) are increasingly being embraced as vital components of inclusive educational practices.-Technology, particularly AI, is transforming how educators tackle customized learning needs, offering streamlined solutions for adapting lessons and teaching approaches.-Effective inclusive systems are bolstered by insightful leadership from administrators who understand and value inclusive practices.Resources:Nicole's book: https://amzn.to/3GdExBrVisit Nicole's website: https://www.theinclusiveclass.com/Thanks to our sponsor, IXL: ixl.com/inclusive Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About the Guest(s):Chelsea Hutchings is a dedicated advocate for inclusive education, residing in Gwinnett County, Georgia. As a mother of five, with her youngest son having Down syndrome, she became intricately involved in advocating for systemic reform in special education after experiencing the challenges firsthand. Chelsea actively engages with local representatives, school board members, and community leaders to push for change and is a part of the Theo Hutchings Task Force for Inclusion. She has taken part in extensive learning experiences, including conferences and fellowship programs, to deepen her understanding and efficacy in advocacy work.Episode Summary:In this engaging bonus episode of the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education podcast, host Tim Villegas sheds light on the tenacious efforts of Chelsea Hutchings as she navigates the rugged terrain of advocating for inclusive education in Georgia. Meeting Chelsea at the Georgia State Capitol provided a firsthand look at her dynamic advocacy work with state representatives, including State Senator Clint Dixon.Chelsea Hutchings, a Gwinnett County parent, shares her inspirational journey advocating for inclusive education reform, driven by her direct experiences with the special education system's shortcomings. Chelsea ardently illustrates how her son, diagnosed with Down syndrome, was isolated within the educational system, leading her to champion the cause of inclusive education. By building a community-focused advocacy approach, Chelsea rallied support from local authorities, such as her city mayor, and worked on forming the Theo Hutchings Task Force for Inclusion. Throughout her advocacy journey, Chelsea highlighted the importance of being informed, persistent, and collaborative in effecting systemic change.Read the Weeklyish: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/one-parents-fight-for-inclusive-education-in-georgia/Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/7Fv-AGGijZrPiXRl86K-dJsn7h8?utm_source=copy_url Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About the Guest(s):Tim Villegas: Tim is associated with the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education. He is also the host of the Think Inclusive podcast and Director of Communications at the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education.Ashley Barlow: A special education attorney and advocate, Ashley also hosts the Collaborative IEP Podcast. She offers extensive insights into legal aspects and advocacy for inclusive education.Janet Roche: Known for co-producing the Inclusive Designers Podcast alongside Carolyn Robbins, Janet is also an advocate of trauma-informed design and a co-founder of Trauma-Informed Design Society.Sam Drazin: As the Executive Director of Changing Perspectives, Sam is engaged in promoting inclusive education in schools. He is also known for his podcast, Sip and Sam Inclusion Coffee Talk.Savitha Sundar: Host of the Inclusive Occupations Podcast, Savitha brings her expertise as an occupational therapist to offer insights into inclusive practices throughout different professional environments.Lori Boll: Executive Director of Senia International and host of the SENIA Happy Hour podcast, Lori's work focuses on championing inclusion for students with special needs around the world.Diana Pastora Carson: An educator with a passion for disability advocacy, Diana hosts the Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters podcast.Episode Summary:Join Tim Villegas and an esteemed panel of experts as they dive into the complexities of rebuilding education in light of recent policy changes affecting schools. This episode is brimming with insightful discussion on the importance of inclusive education and the challenges posed by changes at the political level. Each guest shares their perspectives reflecting varied fields, from special education law, occupational therapy, to teacher preparation and inclusive design, emphasizing the urgency of collaborative advocacy for students with disabilities.The conversation is rich with details about potential impacts of policy alterations on inclusive educational practices. Ashley Barlow breaks down complex legal shifts, while Janet Roche introduces the principles of trauma-informed design. The discourse extends to Sam Drazin who passionately highlights the significance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Savita Sundar who discusses concerns faced by service providers in education. Lori Boll tunes in with a global perspective, discussing how changes in the United States affect international schools, while Diana Pastora Carson emphasizes the role of educators in advocacy. Sam Drazin powerfully closes with a call for unity in advancing disability inclusion worldwide. This episode is a treasure trove for educators, advocates, and families focused on inclusive practices during these challenging times.Complete show notes + transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/rebuilding-education-navigating-policy-changes-and-their-impact-on-schools-think-inclusive-now/Key Takeaways:-The current political climate demands increased awareness and advocacy from educators, focusing on protecting students' rights under IDEA.Trauma-informed design plays a critical role in creating calming, inclusive environments in schools.-The removal of DEI initiatives could harm the educational system by reducing the empathy and understanding necessary for truly inclusive practices.-Grassroots advocacy in education has proven impactful, reflecting a need for continued collective action to address policy challenges.-The discourse on school choice and voucher systems highlights a concern for increased segregation and inequity in education. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Crook, Executive Director at Achieve Kids, explains how the organization supports students with special needs through individualized education, behavioral support, and vocational training. For over 60 years, Achieve Kids has provided a structured and supportive environment where students can develop independence. By working closely with school districts, educators, and families, the organization helps students transition back into public schools or the workforce. Stephen also shares the challenges and rewards of leading a nonprofit in special education, the impact of mentorship on student success, and how Achieve Kids partners with 35+ school districts to fulfill its mission.Stephen Crook, Executive Director at AchieveKids, explains how the organization supports students with special needs through individualized education, behavioral support, and vocational training. For over 60 years, AchieveKids has provided a structured and supportive environment where students can develop independence. By working closely with school districts, educators, and families, the organization helps students transition back into public schools or the workforce. In this special Podcasthon episode, Stephen also shares the challenges and rewards of leading a nonprofit in special education, the impact of mentorship on student success, and how AchieveKids partners with 35+ school districts to fulfill its mission.In this episode, you'll learn:[03:00] How Stephen's journey from psychology research to teaching led him to AchieveKids[07:34] What makes AchieveKids different from traditional special education programs[14:01] A powerful success story of a student overcoming severe behavioral challenges[20:50] Why teacher shortages threaten special education and what's being done about it[23:09] The biggest challenges families face when seeking support for their children[26:04] The future of AchieveKids and how the program is expanding to meet growing needsAbout Stephen CrookStephen Crook is the Executive Director of AchieveKids, a nonprofit school serving students with special needs. With a background in developmental psychology, teaching, and school administration, he has dedicated his career to improving special education programs and advocating for students with disabilities. Before joining AchieveKids, Stephen worked as a therapeutic teacher and school director, helping students with significant behavioral and emotional needs gain the skills to succeed in school and beyond.About AchieveKidsAchieveKids is a nonprofit school that serves students ages 5 to 22 with autism, intellectual disabilities, emotional needs, and developmental challenges. With campuses in Palo Alto and East San Jose, AchieveKids partners with 35+ school districts to provide individualized education, behavioral support, mental health services, and vocational training. The goal is to help every student transition into a more independent and fulfilling life.Subscribe to our podcast and stay tuned for our next episode.

Traditional classrooms can be overwhelming for neurodivergent students. Rigid schedules, sensory overload, and one-size-fits-all approaches leave many feeling anxious, disconnected, and unable to thrive. Parents often ask: Is online education a viable alternative?In this episode, we sit down with Kate Longworth, CEO and founder of Gaia Learning, a global online school designed for neurodivergent learners. Kate shares how personalized online learning can reduce stress, increase accessibility, and help students build the confidence they need to succeed—whether in virtual or in-person settings.Key takeaways include:✔️ The misconception that distance learning isn't suited for marginalized students—and why the reality is quite the opposite.✔️ How Gaia Learning's tiered approach helps neurodivergent students transition from disengagement to confidence.✔️ Why emotional safety is the foundation of academic success, and how online learning can foster trust and connection.✔️ Strategies for scaling personalized education while maintaining meaningful, individualized support.

Dr. Shruti Shankar Gaur is a polymath and thought leader working at the intersection of education, inclusion, diversity, policy, and innovation. Holding a Ph.D. in Inclusive Education, she has been honored with a University Gold Medal and the Certificate of Academic Excellence by India's Ministry of Human Resource Development, reflecting her commitment to transformative change.As founder of Research & Innovation in Education (RIEDU), she leads initiatives like the Young Editors Program, fostering young global writers focused on inclusion and diversity. Inspired by UN SDG 4.5 and 4.7, her work includes teacher training workshops, academic publishing, and her poetry collection, Four Decades.At The Digital Economist, till recently she served as Program Director at the Center of Excellence, managing the fellowship program and interdisciplinary collaborations. She has represented the organization at G20 India, the World Economic Forum in Davos, and Cannes Lions, contributing to global discussions on AI, policy, and socio-economic transformation.Beyond policy, she is a Creative Partner, Mentor, and Strategist at Sankarsingh-Gonsalves Productions in Canada, advocating for culturally inclusive storytelling. In New Delhi, she is Director of Research, Innovation, and Inclusion at ae-research, leading the launch of its first DEI Lab.Dr. Gaur's work spans education, policy, and creative industries, ensuring a lasting impact on global inclusion, equity, and innovation. Whether mentoring young writers, shaping policy, or driving research, she remains a catalyst for transformative change.https://linktr.ee/dr.shrutishankargaurhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/drshrutishankargaur/https://drshrutishankargaur.com/https://www.amazon.in/Four-Decades-Prose-My-Life-ebook/dp/B0B4K8B4M5/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1673179228&sr=8-1https://www.thedigitaleconomist.com/

Dr. Shruti Shankar Gaur is a polymath and thought leader working at the intersection of education, inclusion, diversity, policy, and innovation. Holding a Ph.D. in Inclusive Education, she has been honored with a University Gold Medal and the Certificate of Academic Excellence by India's Ministry of Human Resource Development, reflecting her commitment to transformative change.As founder of Research & Innovation in Education (RIEDU), she leads initiatives like the Young Editors Program, fostering young global writers focused on inclusion and diversity. Inspired by UN SDG 4.5 and 4.7, her work includes teacher training workshops, academic publishing, and her poetry collection, Four Decades.At The Digital Economist, till recently she served as Program Director at the Center of Excellence, managing the fellowship program and interdisciplinary collaborations. She has represented the organization at G20 India, the World Economic Forum in Davos, and Cannes Lions, contributing to global discussions on AI, policy, and socio-economic transformation.Beyond policy, she is a Creative Partner, Mentor, and Strategist at Sankarsingh-Gonsalves Productions in Canada, advocating for culturally inclusive storytelling. In New Delhi, she is Director of Research, Innovation, and Inclusion at ae-research, leading the launch of its first DEI Lab.Dr. Gaur's work spans education, policy, and creative industries, ensuring a lasting impact on global inclusion, equity, and innovation. Whether mentoring young writers, shaping policy, or driving research, she remains a catalyst for transformative change.https://linktr.ee/dr.shrutishankargaurhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/drshrutishankargaur/https://drshrutishankargaur.com/https://www.amazon.in/Four-Decades-Prose-My-Life-ebook/dp/B0B4K8B4M5/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1673179228&sr=8-1https://www.thedigitaleconomist.com/

Send us a textIn this episode of Crisis in Education, Dr. Paulie sits down with educator and leader Jamia Green to discuss the challenges and opportunities in supporting deaf students. With experience as a teacher of the deaf, a STEM technology educator, a principal, and now a state-level leader in Hawaii, Jamia brings a wealth of knowledge on how to create inclusive and effective learning environments.They dive into why deaf students are often overlooked in discussions about special education, the importance of understanding deafness as an "invisible disability," and how behavior science can be leveraged to enhance learning, communication, and engagement for deaf students. Tune in for an insightful conversation on advocacy, accessibility, and the power of culturally responsive education.

About the Guest(s):Dr. Priya Lalvani is a professor of Disability Studies at Montclair State University, where she also coordinates inclusive education graduate programs. Holding a PhD in developmental psychology from CUNY and a Master of Arts in Special Education from Columbia University, Dr. Lalvani brings over 14 years of professional experience working with young adults with disabilities in New York City. Her academic focus is on ableism, the segregation of students with disabilities in educational settings, and she has authored over 20 research articles alongside the co-authored book, "Undoing Ableism."Episode Summary:In this thought-provoking episode of Think Inclusive, host Tim Villegas engages in a deep conversation with Dr. Priya Lalvani, an esteemed professor and advocate for the rights of children with disabilities. The episode kicks off with Dr. Lalvani's poignant thoughts on the paradox of segregating children to foster a sense of belonging, asking difficult questions about educational environments that fail these students. This podcast episode is an insightful dive into the history and ongoing challenges of parent advocacy in special education.Dr. Priya Lalvani shares her extensive research on ableism in education, uncovering systemic resistance parents face when fighting for inclusive educational practices. A significant part of the discussion revolves around Dr. Lalvani's recent study on "battle fatigue" experienced by parents advocating within the system, offering both a critique of current practices and practical solutions to overcome these barriers. This episode is a must-listen for educators, policymakers, and advocates passionate about genuine inclusion, as it delves deeply into the responsibilities and challenges of creating inclusive spaces for all learners.Complete show notes + transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/battle-fatigue-the-fight-for-inclusive-education-with-dr-priya-lalvani/Key Takeaways:Segregation vs. Inclusion: Dr. Lalvani questions the logic behind segregating students with disabilities to create spaces of belonging, advocating instead for transforming existing educational environments to become more inclusive.Parent Advocacy and Systemic Challenges: The history and current landscape of parent advocacy in special education reveal systemic barriers that make the fight for inclusion strenuous for families.Battle Fatigue in Advocacy: Dr. Lalvani introduces the concept of "battle fatigue," describing the emotional and physical toll on parents as they continuously advocate for their children's rights in a resistant educational system.Privilege Disparities: The discussion highlights how disparities in privilege affect the efficacy of advocacy efforts, with certain families able to leverage resources and knowledge to push for change more effectively than others.Policy Recommendations: Practical solutions, such as improving professional development for educators on IDEA and inclusive practices, could shift the current paradigm towards more effective inclusion.Resources:Undoing Ableism: https://bookshop.org/p/books/undoing-ableism-teaching-about-disability-in-k-12-classrooms-susan-baglieri/ Battle Fatigue: Parents, Institutionalized Ableism, and the “Fight” for Inclusive Education: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/15407969241259365Thank you to our sponsor, IXL: https://www.ixl.com/inclusive Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About the Guest(s):Dr. Rebecca Brooks serves as an Associate Professor of Education for the School of Education and Program Director for the Aspiring Scholars Program (an inclusive post-secondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities) at California State University at San Marcos. Dr. Brooks has worked with individuals with disabilities in recreational, vocational, residential, and educational settings for over 30 years. Prior to her faculty appointment, she served as a special educator in public schools for 16 years, dedicating her career to including students with disabilities in general education settings. She developed peer tutoring programs and focused on creating accessible curriculum for all students. Her published works have been in the areas of inclusive education, curriculum adaptations, and peer tutoring. She is a nationwide presenter and consultant in the area of effective inclusive schooling practices. Her research interests focus on access to general education curriculum, accommodations and modifications, the development and implementation of peer tutoring support systems, and inclusive post-secondary education programs.Episode Summary:In this compelling episode of Think Inclusive, Tim Villegas sits down with Rebecca Brooks to delve into the nuances of peer tutoring as a vital strategy in inclusive education. The discussion kicks off with defining what peer tutoring entails and differentiating it from peer buddy systems often rolled out in schools. Rebecca brings to light her extensive experience and insights on effectively implementing peer tutoring systems, underlining how this approach benefits not just students with disabilities but also the peers who assist them.Rebecca Brooks shares vital information on the logistics of setting up peer tutoring systems, including selecting appropriate peer tutors, training, and ensure ethical practices are upheld. The episode explores the significant benefits peer tutoring has on both academic and social facets for students with disabilities. Additionally, Rebecca highlights the profound impact this interaction has on peer tutors, preparing them for roles in diverse and inclusive societal settings. With insightful anecdotes and informed advice, this episode offers educators, administrators, and inclusive education advocates the tools and motivation to adopt more integrative teaching practices.Key Takeaways:Understanding Peer Tutoring: Peer tutoring involves a structured system where peers provide academic and social support to students with disabilities, differing significantly from informal peer buddy systems.Selection and Training: Successful peer tutoring programs rely heavily on careful selection of tutors and offering them adequate training and guidance to support their peers effectively.Personal Growth and Benefits: Both peers and students with disabilities gain immense personal and educational benefits, fostering a culture of inclusion and mutual growth.Documenting Peer Support: The episode discusses how peer tutoring can and should be documented within IEPs to align with student goals and ensure strategic supports.Collaborative Cultural Change: Implementing peer tutoring should be part of a broader systemic change aimed at creating inclusive educational environments, emphasizing collaboration among educators and school leaders.Resources:Rebecca Brooks' Email: rbrooks@csusm.edu MCIE: https://mcie.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if assessment wasn't just about measuring learning—but actually deepened it? Traditional assessment often fails because it's something done to students rather than with them; leading to disengagement, surface-level work, and a lack of real ownership. Rigid rubrics, one-size-fits-all grading, and limited student input leave learners disconnected from their own progress, making assessment more about compliance than growth. But what if assessment could be different? Research shows that when students actively participate in learning design, failure rates drop from 32% to 21%, and assessment performance improves significantly. That's exactly what Mehak, an international educator and assessment innovator, experienced when she shifted from teacher-driven evaluation to co-created assessment. She shares how this simple shift fosters ownership, motivation, and more authentic collaboration—all while keeping learning goals on track. We learn:  How co-creating success criteria makes assessment more meaningful Why student-led rubrics increase engagement and quality of work How peer and self-assessment drive accountability and reflection The shift from teacher-as-evaluator to teacher-as-facilitator Curious how this shift can improve self-directed learning and work quality in your classroom? Tune into our short conversation. Access the High-Quality Assessment Checklist: High-Quality Assessment Audit Get the 12 Shifts Book: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Teacher-Shifts-Student-Centered-Environments/dp/1032484713  Mehak's Bio: Mehak Temur is a seasoned educator specializing in the Primary Years, with a strong background in mathematics and technology integration. Her roles as an IB PYP Learning and Teaching Coordinator, Numeracy Coordinator, and Project-Based Learning Facilitator reflect her dedication to student-centered learning with real-world applications. Certified in Inquiry-Based Learning, Concept-Based Learning, Assessment, Google Educator, and Inclusive Education, Mehak brings a wealth of expertise to her work. Her active involvement in program evaluation enables her to address diverse learning needs, meet curricular requirements, and promote inclusivity. With a focus on using technology to enhance math education and problem-solving skills, Mehak's teaching philosophy emphasizes lifelong learning, equipping students for life beyond the classroom, and fostering responsible, well-rounded individuals.

Welcome Back! In this episode, we sit down with Gail Ewell, the founder and executive director of Hope Technology School (HTS), to explore how friendships and inclusive environments can profoundly impact neurodiverse learners. Gail shares practical strategies for fostering inclusion at school, in the community, and at home. She also offers guidance on advocating for accessible spaces and the critical role of communication in empowering children to thrive. Whether you're a parent, educator, or community member, this episode is filled with actionable insights to help create a more inclusive world for all. Guest: Gail Ewell Gail Ewell is a leader in inclusive education and the visionary behind Hope Technology School, an award-winning K-12 institution dedicated to integrating neurodiverse and neurotypical learners. With over 20 years of experience in teacher training, advocacy, and accessibility, she has transformed educational spaces to be more inclusive and empowering for all students. Gail frequently speaks at conferences and universities, sharing her expertise on building meaningful community connections. Website: Hope Technology School Social Media: Hope Technology School Instagram, Facebook, Gail's Instagram Key Takeaways: The Power of Friendship – "Having a strong circle of friends can significantly reduce the incidence and impact of bullying." Gail emphasizes how structured peer interactions, like buddy systems and mentorship programs, can help neurodiverse learners build confidence and social skills. Creating Inclusive Spaces – Whether at school, home, or in the community, inclusion starts with intentional design. Gail shares ways to foster welcoming environments that support all learners. Advocating for Change – Parents and caregivers play a vital role in shaping inclusive policies. Gail provides steps for educating others, building online support networks, and initiating school-based inclusion programs. Communication is Key – "Don't lose sight of communication, because no matter what kind it is, it's so important." Gail encourages parents to explore different methods of communication, from AAC devices to assistive technology, ensuring every child has a voice.   Subscribe Now and Leave a Review Apple Podcasts, Spotify,  Google Podcast, &  Stitcher Visit our Website: www.pureheartstherapy.com Follow Us: Facebook: Pure Hearts Therapy Facebook Group: Autism Family Resource Instagram: Purehearts_Therapy

About the Guest(s):Connie Senior is an Assistant Director and Project Manager for Project SHINE at YAI. She has over 27 years of experience in neurodevelopmental disabilities and mental health. With extensive experience advocating for and supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), Connie plays a crucial role in developing resources for this community. Her work focuses on bridging gaps in education and providing individuals with IDD the tools they need for personal empowerment, particularly in realms like sexual health education. Breon Williams is a Project SHINE Youth Ambassador who is committed to educating and raising awareness about SHINE's sexual health toolkit for youth with disabilities. Drawing from his personal experiences as a young man with I/DD, he connects meaningfully with both youth and families, fostering open and inclusive conversations. Williams earned a general diploma in high school and pursued two years of college. Like many young people with disabilities, he initially felt uneasy discussing sexual health. However, through his journey of self-empowerment, Williams has overcome these challenges and now strives to help others gain confidence in having these important conversations.Episode Summary:In a thought-provoking episode of the Think Inclusive Podcast, host Tim Villegas from the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education discusses Project SHINE with Connie Senior and Breon Williams. Developed by YAI in collaboration with Planned Parenthood and other agencies, Project SHINE aims to bridge gaps in sexual health education for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The episode highlights the project's significant impact, including the launch of "Your Sexual Health Toolkit," a comprehensive platform empowering individuals with IDD. Connie explains how the project addresses the lack of sexual education in schools and adapts to different learning needs, while Breon shares his experiences promoting the toolkit and educating his family. They also emphasize the role of educators in integrating these resources into learning programs to support students with IDD holistically.Key Takeaways:Bridging Educational Gaps: Project SHINE aims to fill in the existing gaps in sexual health education for youth with IDD, ensuring they have the knowledge needed for personal safety and advocacy.Comprehensive Resources: Your Sexual Health Toolkit is an accessible, user-friendly resource designed to cater to individuals with IDD, featuring tools like glossaries, videos, and interactive games.Empowerment Through Education: Proper sexual health education empowers individuals with IDD to make informed choices, report abuse, and maintain body autonomy.Importance of Advocacy: Youth Ambassadors like Breon Williams are integral in spreading awareness about the toolkit and bridging the information gap within communities.Collaborative Efforts: The initiative underscores the need for collaboration among families, caregivers, and educational institutions to effectively deliver and promote inclusive education.Resources:Your Sexual Health Toolkit: https://yoursexualhealthtoolkit.orgThank you to our sponsor, IXL. https://www.ixl.com/inclusive Complete Show Notes + Transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/empowering-youth-with-disabilities-through-sexual-health-education/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hybrid psychological agents and transformative hybrid contexts offer new ways to bridge cultural divides, foster inclusion, and drive social change.Dr. Beatriz Macías-Gómez-Estern from Universidad Pablo de Olavide investigates hybrid learning spaces where diverse cultural, social, and institutional worlds connect. From service-learning projects with Roma communities to community music initiatives, her work highlights the transformative potential of collaboration, co-construction, and empathy in education and beyond.Read the original research:doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87406-3_2doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-60583-3_13

Over 50 million individuals are trapped in human trafficking globally, with 25% being children. How can you ensure your child is safe? Erin Williamson of Love146, an organization devoted to ending human trafficking and labor exploitation, shares her personal journey from Kenya to the United States, debunking myths that trafficking only affects women and girls, and emphasizes the need for inclusive education to protect all children. From holistic support and survivor care for victims and their families to the importance of community vigilance and digital safety, host Hilary Russo asks Erin the tough questions to keep your family safe and aware. ⁣ ⁣ HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE⁣ 888-373-7888⁣⁣ CONNECT WITH ERIN WILLIAMSON AND LOVE146⁣ https://love146.org/caregivers/https://www.instagram.com/love146⁣ https://www.facebook.com/love146.org/⁣https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-williamson-5b88b58b⁣ ⁣ EXPLORE HAVENING TECHNIQUES TRAININGS & WORKSHOPS⁣ https://www.hilaryrusso.com/training⁣ ⁣ GET BRAIN CANDY DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX⁣ ⁣ https://www.hilaryrusso.com/braincandy⁣ ⁣ WORK WITH HILARY ⁣ https://www.hilaryrusso.com/havening⁣ ⁣ CONNECT WITH HILARY⁣ https://www.hilaryrusso.com⁣https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilaryrusso⁣https://www.instagram.com/hilaryrusso⁣https://www.youtube.com/hilaryrusso⁣https://www.hilaryrusso.com/podcast⁣ ⁣ MUSIC by Lipbone Redding⁣ https://www.lipbone.com/⁣

Send us a textWhat if the secret to a more inclusive and supportive educational environment lies in prioritizing mental health? Join us as we welcome Dr. Ericka Goodwin, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist and bestselling author, who shares her remarkable journey from St. Louis to becoming a leader in mental health care. Through her experiences, Dr. Ericka highlights the pressing need to prioritize mental well-being, especially within communities of color. She passionately discusses the challenges and triumphs of her career, offering invaluable insights into creating environments that prevent burnout and allow individuals to thrive.Educators play a pivotal role in recognizing and addressing mental health challenges in children and families. Our conversation tackles these pervasive issues, focusing on the gap between the onset of symptoms and access to treatment. Dr. Ericka and I discuss the systemic limitations that educators face and the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to bridge these gaps. We dive into strategies for fostering emotional regulation and presence in educational settings, emphasizing the vital role of social-emotional learning (SEL) for both students and teachers. Tools such as yoga, breathing exercises, and grounding techniques are explored as ways to maintain emotional balance.The importance of family involvement is underscored, as we explore the integration of SEL activities into daily routines to enhance children's emotional well-being and reading skills. We address the challenges posed by inconsistent state mandates and increased screen time, advocating for consistent home routines to reduce anxiety. By fostering psychological safety and open communication between families and educators, we aim to better support students facing unique challenges. Our discussion offers a comprehensive look at the intersection of mental health and education, providing practical strategies for creating a more inclusive and supportive environment.Find Dr. Ericka's Better with Dr. Ericka Podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-with-dr-ericka/id1566743906 COME SAY Hey!! Instagram: @cultrallyjebeh_ Facebook: @JebehCulturalConsulting Pinterest: @Jebeh Cultural Consulting LinkedIn: @Jebeh Cultural Consulting Leave a Review on our Podcast! We value your feedback!Buy My eBook: Empowering Your BIPOC Students Enroll In My Digital Course: How To Be A Culturally Competent LeaderBuy My K-12 Lesson PlansSign Up For Our Newsletter

Send us a textImagine uprooting your life multiple times for the love of your child. This episode brings you an inspiring narrative of Tanya and her niece Dara, who embarked on a journey from Bulgaria to Belgium in search of better educational opportunities for Tanya's autistic son, Radi. We hear about the challenges and victories as Tanya relentlessly pursued a nurturing environment for Radin, moving through Slovakia and the Czech Republic before finally settling in Belgium. Radi's story is a testament to the power of perseverance, music's comforting embrace, and the profound impact of understanding and acceptance in autism education.We delve into the ways society can better support individuals with autism, exploring the use of AI to create personalized educational content and the need for more inclusivity in public spaces. Alongside Tanya's story, we discuss broader societal shifts necessary for meaningful change, from offering job opportunities to autistic individuals to fostering a more understanding world for everyone. This episode is a call to action for greater awareness and highlights the podcast's role in connecting families with shared experiences. Join us as we celebrate Tanya's advocacy, which not only transformed Radi's life but also inspires a global audience to push for inclusivity.https://tonymantor.comhttps://Facebook.com/tonymantorhttps://instagram.com/tonymantorhttps://twitter.com/tonymantorhttps://youtube.com/tonymantormusicintro/outro music bed written by T. WildWhy Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)

In this episode, we talk about easy ways for childcare teachers to create classrooms where every child feels included, especially kids with mood disorders. We explain why it's important to be kind and understanding, and share tips to help children manage their feelings, make friends, and feel supported. You'll also learn how to change your teaching style, build a classroom where everyone is accepted, and meet the emotional needs of all children, so they can grow and learn important social skills.The Teachers Lounge – • Offering early education teachers a tool to set your classroom onto a path of success and build a cohesive and strong team of educators. (theearlyeducationteacherslounge.com)SocialsFACEBOOK:  (1) The Early Education Teachers Lounge | FacebookINSTAGRAM:  The Teacher's Lounge (@eecteacherslounge) • Instagram photos and videosPINTEREST:  (4) Pinterest YOUTUBE:  coming soon! 

Send us a textThis episode explores the cultural celebration of Kwanzaa and how its principles can be incorporated into educational settings to create more inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments. The host discusses the history and significance of Kwanzaa, its seven core principles, and provides practical strategies for teachers to bring Kwanzaa into their classrooms through cultural learning centers, project-based learning units, and community outreach. The episode emphasizes the importance of cultural education as an ongoing priority for shaping a more understanding and unified future generation.Resources for Kwanzaa in the Classroom:  https://www.patreon.com/posts/revolutionizing-117896303?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkSupport the showJoin our community. Go to bit.ly/3EPSubs and sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter and exclusive content.

In this episode of the Empower LEP Podcast, Jana chats with Dr. Jeremy Greene, a school psychologist and LEP whose journey has taken him from Sacramento to Shanghai and back. Jeremy shares how his natural ability to connect with people and offer guidance led him into school psychology, and he opens up about the pivotal role mentors played as he was starting out.Jeremy takes us inside his time working overseas at an international school in Shanghai, where he faced the challenge of building special education support into a system that looked very different from what we're used to here. Without IEPs or strict compliance rules, he leaned into trust, creativity, and relationships to help students succeed. He reflects on how those experiences shaped his approach to education, showing the power of honoring students' strengths, voices, and identities—no matter the setting.Jana and Jeremy also get real about the pressures school psychologists face, including burnout and the desire to explore opportunities beyond the traditional school system. Jeremy's passion for student advocacy and his vision for systemic change shines through as he shares insights from his recent doctorate work and his hopes for the future of education.If you're an LEP, a school psychologist, or someone curious about the many ways you can make a meaningful impact in students' lives, this conversation will leave you inspired and re-energized. Jeremy's honesty and warmth are a refreshing reminder that there are so many ways to show up, grow, and keep the work fulfilling.Listen to Episode 51 on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube—and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share this one with a friend who needs to hear it!Connect with Jeremy Greene:Email: jdegreene85@gmail.comWebsite: https://www.jeremydgreene.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackcaesar777/profilecard/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeremy.d.greeneTed Talk Episode: https://youtu.be/dWzBWToX4cg?si=2MoHONcY2jllh-2ZUniversity of the Pacific 2024 Black Grad Celebration: https://youtu.be/XmMZsO5AnVY?si=8nLHy5UXIvoE_5lMConnect with Empower LEP:https://empowerlep.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/empowerlepFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmpowerLEP/and the Empower LEP Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/583676341308649The website for this show is https://empowerleppodcast.com/If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five-star rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us continue to bring you more inspiring stories for LEPs and supporting professionals.

In this episode of The Resilience Lab with Rex Miller, Melissa Turnbaugh, Senior Principal, Firmwide PreK-12 Market Leader at PBK, shares her vision for transforming education through innovation and intentional design. Melissa discusses how connecting students to nature, fostering creativity, and designing spaces that reflect the identity of their communities can revolutionize the way schools serve their students. She dives into the power of public-private collaboration, the importance of creating equitable and sustainable learning environments, and how small changes—like reimagining outdoor spaces—can inspire pride and connection while addressing larger societal challenges. This conversation is a powerful exploration of how thoughtful design can shape the future of education and the communities it serves. Don't miss this inspiring episode!

In today's episode, you will learn a series of vocabulary words that are connected to a specific topic. This lesson will help you improve your ability to speak English fluently about a specific topic. It will also help you feel more confident in your English abilities.5 Vocabulary WordsPedagogy (noun)The method and practice of teaching, especially in an educational setting. Example Sentences:Modern pedagogy emphasizes student-centered learning and active participation.Teachers are trained in various pedagogical techniques to effectively engage their students.Pedagogy can vary greatly between different education systems, influencing how lessons are delivered.Bilingual Education (noun): An educational approach where students are taught in two languages, aiming to promote proficiency in both.Example Sentences:Bilingual education programs can enhance cognitive skills and cultural awareness among students.In some countries, bilingual education is a requirement to ensure students are proficient in both their native language and a global language like English.The school offers bilingual education to help students become fluent in Spanish and English.Inclusive Education (noun): An educational approach that ensures all students, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, are taught together and provided with the support they need.Example Sentences:Inclusive education aims to create a learning environment where every student feels valued and supported.Teachers in inclusive education classrooms are trained to adapt lessons to accommodate diverse learning needs.Implementing inclusive education practices can help address educational disparities and promote equity.Vocational Training (noun): Education and training designed to equip students with specific skills and knowledge required for particular trades or careers.Example Sentences:Vocational training programs often provide hands-on experience in fields such as carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work.Many students choose vocational training as an alternative to traditional academic paths to enter the workforce quickly.The school partners with local businesses to offer vocational training that aligns with industry needs.Exchange Program (noun): A program that allows students to study in a different country or educational institution for a specific period, often to gain international experience and cultural understanding.Example Sentences:The university offers an exchange program that allows students to spend a semester studying abroad.Participating in an exchange program can provide valuable cross-cultural experiences and language skills.Exchange programs are often facilitated through partnerships between institutions in different countries.A Paragraph using the 5 vocabulary wordsEducation systems around the world display a wide range of approaches to learning and development. From the structured curriculum of traditional models to the hands-on focus of vocational training, educational philosophies differ significantly. Many countries emphasize inclusive education to accommodate diverse learners, while bilingual education gains popularity for cultural and linguistic benefits. Exchange programs provide opportunities for students to experience different educational environments, fostering global perspectives. Ultimately, diverse pedagogical approaches and the integration of technology further shape the edu

Content warning: This episode discusses forced sterilization / removal of reproductive rights. Shéri Brynard is the only person with Down syndrome in South Africa with a tertiary education diploma in Educare. She achieved this without any special assistance or amendments made to the coursework, and despite the fact that her lectures and study material were only provided in English, which is her second language. She is currently a full-time qualified teacher's assistant at a Primary School for learners with special educational needs and presents motivational speeches to advocate for the rights of people with Down syndrome, all over the world.  Shéri is an international ambassador for all people with Down syndrome, appointed by Down syndrome international (DSi). She represents people with Down syndrome in South Africa at the DSi meetings, as well as at many other international meetings, and at the United Nations, focusing on disability. Shéri believes that all people can choose to make the best of their circumstances, and she is a living example of this choice. Through her own determination and her family's support, Sheri has been overcoming prejudice and stigma for her entire life to achieve her dreams. Shéri shares her experiences during this episode, including: ●    The barriers she faced to getting her education and working in South Africa, and how her family helped her challenge and overcome people's bias and assumptions about her ●    What inspired her to become a teacher   ●    What was it like completing her tertiary education in her second language, without any special accommodations from the school ●    How she became an advocate who speaks on disability rights To find out more about Shéri and her work, visit her website at SheriBrynard.co.za, follow her on Facebook or email her mother at Brynard.s @ gmail.com . Watch the video of this interview on YouTube. Read the episode transcript. Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes. Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds! *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*

What happens when an educator's personal journey intersects with a mission for global inclusion? Berna Bouwer, the Corporate Head of Inclusion at GEMS Education, shares her compelling journey from South Africa to Dubai, fueled by her passion for special needs education, a journey deeply influenced by her own experiences with ADHD and her son's cerebral palsy diagnosis. Berna's story is more than personal; it's a testament to the transformative power of inclusive education in a region as diverse as the UAE, where schools celebrate a rich tapestry of up to 129 nationalities. Join us as we explore the progressive strides the UAE has made in inclusive education, particularly for individuals with special needs. Despite misconceptions and criticisms, the UAE's unique compliance frameworks offer a refreshing contrast to the litigation-heavy approaches found elsewhere. Berna, drawing on her extensive experience, highlights how the UAE's comprehensive regulatory measures and innovative practices align with the nation's vision for an accessible and inclusive education system that champions tolerance and acceptance.But the journey doesn't stop at progress—there are challenges too. From the high financial burden on parents to the hurdles faced in employment for individuals with disabilities, the road to inclusion is fraught with obstacles. We'll touch on poignant stories that highlight both the triumphs and trials, such as the young woman with Down syndrome navigating communication barriers and a high-functioning student with ASD striving for future opportunities. This episode promises to provide insights into the UAE's leadership in assistive technology while addressing the pressing need for more affordable and effective solutions in inclusive education.Support the showFollow axschat on social mediaTwitter:https://twitter.com/axschathttps://twitter.com/AkwyZhttps://twitter.com/neilmillikenhttps://twitter.com/debraruhLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniovieirasantos/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/axschat/Vimeohttps://vimeo.com/akwyz

Ready to transform your teaching? In this episode of EduMagic, host Dr. Sam Fecich dives into Universal Design for Learning (UDL) with UDL expert Sarah Grossi! This episode is packed with practical tips and real-world examples to help you make your classroom more inclusive, engaging, and supportive of all learners.From boosting student choice and voice to designing lessons that allow every student to thrive, Sarah shares her go-to UDL strategies to create a learning environment where students feel empowered to succeed.Join us as we break down the three core UDL principles—engagement, representation, and expression—and discover how to apply them effectively in your daily teaching. Plus, find out how you can earn your Associate UDL Credential to level up your skills and stand out as an inclusive educator!Tune in for:Engagement Tips: Strategies to keep every student engaged and motivated.Representation Insights: How to present information in diverse, accessible ways.Expression Tools: Creative ways for students to demonstrate their knowledge.Whether you're new to UDL or looking to deepen your understanding, this episode will inspire you to take action and make every lesson more meaningful. Perfect for educators seeking to create a classroom where all students can shine!

About the Guest(s):Jamie Sowers: Jaime is a dedicated special education director focused on teacher retention and hiring. As Clinical Advisory Team Director at BlazerWorks, he aids school districts in recruitment and retention, emphasizing post-secondary outcomes for students with disabilities. With 20 years of experience, Jaime has been a teacher, coordinator, and principal. He holds a Doctor of Education from Wilmington University and a Master of Education from Mansfield University. Jaime is active in professional organizations and serves on two volunteer school boards.Jessica Bowman: Jessica is the co-Principal Investigator of the TIES Center and a researcher with the National Center on Educational Outcomes. She enhances the inclusion of students with significant cognitive disabilities in general education by creating resources and providing technical assistance. Starting as a teacher, she has extensive experience in professional development at the state level. Her research focuses on inclusion in mathematics for these students. Dr. Bowman holds a Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Utah.Episode Summary:In this enlightening episode of Think Inclusive, hosted by Tim Villegas, we dive deeply into the conversation about the cost and logistics of inclusive education. Jamie Sowers from BlazerWorks joins Tim to debunk myths about the funding required for inclusive practices and to discuss the efficient utilization of school resources. Next, Tim is joined by Jessica Bowman from the University of Minnesota to break down her recent research on separate school placements for students with extensive support needs. This dialogue sheds light on how geographical locale and charter school enrollment influence educational outcomes.Throughout the episode, key topics revolve around optimizing educational resources and innovative solutions to staffing challenges. Jamie Sowers emphasizes that while special education funding has historically fallen short, inclusive education doesn't inherently require more resources; rather, it calls for smarter use of available funds and staff. The discussion with Jessica Bowman highlights her research findings that suggest alarming discrepancies in separate school placements across different states and regions, raising questions about equitable access to education for all students. Their shared insights advocate for a continuous commitment to developing inclusive environments where all students can thrive.Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/ohPZW9go9tpraqmN5c9v5UUYMAQResources:BlazerWorks: https://blazerworks.com/TIES Center: https://tiescenter.org/.Separate School Placement for Students With Extensive Support Needs and the Potential Impact of Locale and Charter School Enrollment: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00224669241231546?icid=int.sj-abstract.citing-articles.4Inclusion Stories: https://pod.link/1633672526YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@think_inclusiveThank you to our sponsor, IXL! Learn more: https://ixl.com/inclusive Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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About the Guest(s):Brittni Sammons is a Professional Learning Coordinator with the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE), bringing a wealth of experience from her past roles as a special educator, assistant principal, and inclusive education facilitator. Before joining MCIE, she served the Calvert County Public Schools, where she played a pivotal role in partnership with MCIE to further inclusive practices. Later, she became a supervisor of instructional performance, focusing on culturally responsive instruction. Brittany's dedication is driven by a belief in every student's need to develop a sense of belonging within inclusive educational communities.Episode Summary:In this engaging episode of Think Inclusive, Tim Villegas, joined by his colleague Brittni Sammons, delves into one of the most frequently asked questions in inclusive education: scheduling. The podcast promises a practical exploration of how inclusive education can function effectively within the framework of school scheduling, emphasizing the concept of "natural proportions."The conversation unravels common misconceptions about inclusion, such as the over-reliance on "co-taught" classrooms. Brittni and Tim advocate for spreading resources evenly across classrooms, ensuring students with disabilities are included naturally within the school community. They highlight the importance of understanding students' strengths, services, and the supports needed, discussing strategies like "targeted" co-teaching which allow for dynamic support based on evolving needs. This detailed exploration aims to dispel myths and demonstrate a more efficient, community-integrated model for special education.Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/Xd3227PaT2hlVORApnZR56ghv5E?utm_source=copy_urlKey Takeaways:The principle of "natural proportions" ensures students with disabilities are naturally included in classrooms based on the proportion of students with disabilities in the general population.Effective inclusive education requires strategic and collaborative planning among general and special educators to meet individual student needs.Different models like "co-targeted" and "consultative" relationships offer flexible, collaborative ways to deliver special education services without relying solely on co-taught classrooms.Educators can adapt the inclusion model through phases—grouping students, assigning support roles, and building master schedules tailored to the school's needs.Reflective practices and adaptive measures can lead to more significant educational advances and a stronger sense of community belonging for students.Resources:MCIE: https://mcie.org/resources/Lou Brown on Natural Proportions: https://youtu.be/Cq5TiGbWAK0?si=JPzYoY5us1SXJTzBThank you to our sponsor, IXL. Learn more: https://ixl.com/inclusive Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: Mentions of suicidality. In the third grade, LeDerick Horne was labeled as “neurologically impaired” – a label that followed him through his schooling until he was eventually diagnosed with dyslexia. Today, LeDerick is a dynamic spoken-word poet, a respected author, and a passionate advocate for people with disabilities. He has performed at prestigious venues such as the White House and the United Nations. His workshops, speeches and poetry open doors to discussions on inclusive education, equal opportunity, systemic change, and hope for individuals with disabilities. During this episode, LeDerick talks about: The challenges he faced in K-12 special education, before being diagnosed as dyslexic What inspired him to go to college – and how the meaningful support and inclusive education he got there helped him thrive as a student  Discovering his passion for poetry, which led to his career as a spoken-word poet and author His work as a speaker and trainer on the topics of inclusive education and the intersections of education, disability and race Co-hosting the Black and Dyslexic podcast Stay tuned to the end of this episode to hear LeDerick read two of his poems! Find out more about LeDerick at his website LeDerick.com, find his social media and more on his LinkTree, and learn about his new video course "6 Steps to Empowering Young People with Disabilities." Watch the video of this interview on YouTube. Read the episode transcript. Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes. Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds! *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*

In this episode of the Empower LEP Podcast, host Jana Parker sits down with Danielle Christy, a licensed educational psychologist with over 20 years of experience working as a school psychologist, adjunct professor, and contractor. With an impressive background that spans public, charter, and non-public schools, Danielle's expertise covers students from preschool through high school. After completing her undergraduate degree at UC Davis and earning her Master's at California State University, Sacramento, Danielle became passionate about ensuring children with disabilities are included alongside their peers in general education settings through her private practice, Inclusively Minded. Danielle's story is a mix of professional know-how and personal experience. As a school psychologist, she's spent her career making sure students with disabilities can learn alongside their peers in general education. But her work took on a whole new meaning when she became a mom to a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Balancing both roles gave her a special perspective on what it really takes to advocate for kids with disabilities.Danielle opens up about the emotional and practical challenges of moving from school-based work to private practice and how her personal experiences have shaped her professional life. She also shares the lessons learned from helping build an inclusive program at a charter school and how she continues to support schools in creating similar environments.Danielle's warmth, expertise, and personal stories make this episode a must-listen for school psychologists, LEPs, and anyone interested in inclusive education.Tune in to Episode 43 of the Empower LEP Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review!Connect with Danielle:Email: dchristy@inclusivelyminded.comWebsite: https://inclusivelyminded.com/index.htmlInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/inclusivelyminded/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-christy-688612173/Connect with Empower LEP:https://empowerlep.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/empowerlepFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmpowerLEP/and the Empower LEP Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/583676341308649The website for this show is https://empowerleppodcast.com/If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five-star rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us continue to bring you more inspiring stories for LEPs and supporting professionals.

About the Guest(s):Aaron Lanou (he/him) is an educational consultant supporting schools and organizations to reach all kids with inclusive, strengths-based practices. Through the lens of Universal Design for Learning, Aaron coaches teachers and others to teach and support autistic students and all kids with a variety of academic, executive functioning, and social support needs. A member of Carol Gray's Team Social Stories, Aaron also provides Social Stories workshops and collaborates with Carol and the team to continually update and refine the Social Stories philosophy and approach. Aaron was previously a special education teacher in the New York City Public Schools and Executive Director of the Nest Program at NYU, helping to lead the nation's largest inclusion program for autistic students.Episode Summary:In this engaging episode of Think Inclusive, host Tim Villegas sits down with inclusive education consultant Aaron Lanou from New York. They dive deep into the current landscape of inclusive education and the challenges faced by educators striving for more inclusive practices in schools. Aaron shares his insights on the necessary methods, mindsets, and structures that need to be in place to truly integrate inclusive practices in educational settings. With over 20 years in the field, his perspective offers a blend of practical advice and philosophical reflections on the state of education.Tim and Aaron also tackle some of the misconceptions surrounding inclusion, such as the belief that it's solely about placing students with disabilities into general education classrooms. They advocate for a more nuanced approach that emphasizes providing the necessary supports to allow every student to succeed. Celebrating the success stories and dissecting the persistent barriers, they urge educators to remain steadfast in their commitment to inclusive education, drawing on resources, supports, and community to fuel the journey towards more inclusive practices. This episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable strategies for educators and advocates at every level.Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/cMJupjKF1K5R5_Xv6F8M4SX8SBgKey Takeaways:Inclusive Education is Not Just Physical Inclusion: It requires supporting diverse needs with appropriate resources and training.Mindset Matters: Mindset, method, and structure are the three pillars of successful inclusive education—known as "The M&Ms."Barriers for Teachers Exist: Educators face obstacles in mindset shifts, lack of resources, and structural constraints.Resourcefulness is Key: Teachers are encouraged to find creative solutions in advocacy and classroom practice.Interdependence and Collaboration: Seeking supportive networks and resources is crucial for educators working in less inclusive environmentResources:Aaron Lanou: https://www.aaronlanou.com/Papi Por Que: https://papi-porque.com/Thank you to our sponsor, IXL! Learn more: MCIE: https://www.mcie.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Why Distance Learning, hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Maddie Roach, the Distance Learning Specialist at the National World War II Museum. Maddie shares her experiences building engaging virtual programs that connect learners to history in unique ways, discusses how the museum adapted post-Katrina, and explores how distance learning makes education accessible across the globe.Key Topics Discussed:Maddie's journey from museum volunteer to distance learning specialist.The development of digital exhibits and synchronous virtual field trips.Operation Foot Locker, a program that ships World War II artifacts to classrooms.The museum's mission to preserve history and teach lessons of tolerance.Golden moments when students connect personally with history, including stories from underrepresented groups.The importance of balancing synchronous and asynchronous learning experiences.In-depth insights for educators:Maddie explains how distance learning bridges physical gaps and brings the museum to students worldwide. She discusses how their programs meet the needs of diverse audiences, from K-12 classrooms to lifelong learners, and shares strategies to create meaningful connections through primary sources and oral histories.Call to Action:Tune in to this episode to discover how Maddie and her team use technology to make history come alive. Learn how virtual programs like Operation Foot Locker and interactive webinars are transforming history education. Check the show notes for links to the National World War II Museum's virtual offerings and explore how to bring these experiences into your classroom.About today's guest:Maddie Roach is the Distance Learning Specialist at the National World War II Museum. With a background in history and public history from the University of New Orleans, Maddie blends her love of technology and education to develop engaging, meaningful virtual programs for learners around the world.See the museum's promo video, featuring Maddie and mentioned in the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QBMSd7fLxsHost Links:Discover more virtual learning opportunities at CILC.org with Tami Moehring and Allyson Mitchell.Seth Fleischauer's Banyan Global Learning has performed over 40k live virtual teaching periods while improving students' language, digital, and cultural competencies.

About the Guest(s):Kayla Coburn is an inclusive education advocate and former special education teacher, known for her transformative work in promoting inclusive practices within schools. Having taught in both inclusive and segregated classrooms, Kayla brings firsthand experience to her consultancy, "Inclusion Starts Now." She is also a children's book author with titles focusing on inclusion and diversity, aiming to educate young minds on these crucial themes. Her creative efforts extend to her podcast, also titled "Inclusion Starts Now," where she engages in meaningful discussions about educational practices.Episode Summary:In this engaging episode of the Think Inclusive Podcast, host Tim Villegas welcomes Kayla Coburn from "Inclusion Starts Now" for a rich dialogue on promoting inclusive education practices. Both Tim and Kayla share their experiences as former special education teachers and discuss the complexities of working within school systems resistant to change. The conversation delves into practical strategies for fostering inclusive environments, even when structural obstacles exist. Tim and Kayla explore the nuances and challenges of expanding inclusive practices in school districts that still perpetuate special education classrooms and programs. They address the metaphor of "planting seeds" as critical to pushing forward the boundaries of what inclusive practices can achieve, especially in historically non-inclusive settings. The episode highlights the importance of relationship-building and persistence in advocating for systemic change within education.Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/QgahJWww2zvGk4a-Ix7GmHfWQ3YKey Takeaways:Building trust and relationships with colleagues is essential for fostering an inclusive educational environment.Educators should not feel shame for using methods such as "reverse inclusion" but should continue to work towards more authentic inclusion for all learners.Persistence and continued advocacy are vital for driving systemic change in school districts.Inclusive education benefits everyone—students with and without disabilities—by creating a more enriched learning environment.Innovative leadership and grassroots efforts can effectively pave the way for broader inclusive practices in education.Resources:Inclusion Starts Now: https://www.inclusionstartsnow.com/Inclusion Starts Now Podcast: https://pod.link/1732870059Books by Kayla: https://www.inclusionstartsnow.com/shopThank you to our sponsor, IXL. Learn more at https://ixl.com/inclusiveMCIE: https://mcie.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About the Guest(s):Liz Zogby is a dedicated advocate in the special education and disability space based in Baltimore City. She is the co-chair of the Maryland Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition (MDAC) and the Special Education Policy and Advocacy Project. Liz also co-chairs the special education workgroup with the state superintendent under the Maryland State Department of Education. Her advocacy efforts are deeply personal, inspired by her daughter Hope, who has Down syndrome.Steven Davis is a policy advocate focused on special education reform. He resides in California, has a background in mathematics, and is known for his analytical approach to education data. Steven is dedicated to improving local policy advocacy infrastructures in his community. He founded Disability Almanac and actively engages in discussions and actions to enhance educational inclusivity for children with disabilities.Episode Summary:Join Tim Villegas on the Think Inclusive Podcast as he hosts Liz Zogby and Steven Davis to explore the crucial intersection of data and special education advocacy. Both guests bring a wealth of knowledge and personal experience as parents of children with disabilities, which fuels their passion and dedication to inclusive education practices.In this compelling episode, Liz and Steven share their journeys into the world of special education advocacy, underscored by a deep dive into the use of data to inform and drive policy changes. Liz discusses her initiatives in Maryland and how understanding and leveraging data can shift legislative perspectives. Steven provides a critical look at the alarming statistics surrounding inclusion rates in California, emphasizing the need for high expectations and proper resource allocation. Together, they highlight the importance of combining both data and personal stories to make a significant impact on educational reform.Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/FFx3Ms0th62yMOHjGYBECmtcgPYKey Takeaways:The Role of Data in Advocacy: How Liz and Steven use data on inclusion rates to inform and drive policy changes.Systemic Challenges: Steven's insights into California's dismal inclusion statistics and his efforts to build better local advocacy infrastructures.Personal and Statistical Storytelling: The importance of merging personal stories with data for effective advocacy.Actionable Strategies for Educators: Recommendations for educators on understanding and utilizing data to support inclusive practices.Parent Empowerment: Encouragement for parents to use their expertise about their children in IEP meetings and advocacy.Resources:National Council of Disability PDF: https://www.ncd.gov/assets/uploads/docs/ncd-segregation-swd-508.pdfHow to Find a School District's LRE %: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/how-to-find-a-school-districts-least-restrictive-environment-percentage/Thank you to our sponsor, IXL: Learn more at https://ixl.com/inclusiveMCIE: https://www.mcie.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Savitha Sundar Bio In this episode, Diana and Savitha discuss the value and importance of occupational therapists roles in inclusive education vs. the traditional roles of occupational therapists in schools. Savitha sees her OT role as a "participation access interventionist," as opposed to a deficit remediator. She also believes that access advocacy is a key to occupational justice. People and Sources Mentioned Inclusive Occupations Podcast InclusiveOccupations@gmail.com Dr. Shelley Moore - (One Without the Other) Dr.George Dei Quote - "Inclusion is not bringing people into what already exists. It's making a better space for everyone." Unknown Author Quote from Insight Timer - "Alone you can go fast. Together you can go farther." Dr. Cheryl Jorgensen (Book: It's More Than Just Being In) Dr. Jennifer Spencer-Iiams (Co-Authored Book Leading for All: Creating Truly Inclusive and Excellent Schools) Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website, including blog Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness Free Resource - How to Talk with Kids about Disability Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights Thematic Unit/ Disability History Lesson Plans "Beyond Awareness" Digital Course Diana's TEDx Talk Beyond Awareness Facebook Page Diana on Instagram Beyond Awareness Tote Bag Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt Beyond Awareness Journal/Notebook Diana's Teachers Pay Teachers Store - Disability as Diversity Diana's Trifold Laminated Resource: Beyond Disability Awareness: An Educator's Guide, Published by National Professional Resources, Inc. (NPR, Inc.) Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro. Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography. Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."

Aubrey O'Grady is currently studying a Bachelor of Education (Honours) specialising in Inclusive Education. This week on Lecture Me, Aubrey tells us about a lecture from EDUC759: Inclusivity Practices in Neurodiversity taught by Professor Missy Morton. Whakarongo mai nei ~  Thanks to Blue Hills Books!

About the Guest(s):Erik Carter serves as Executive Director of the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities, which aims to promote the thriving of people with disabilities and their families. He joined the Baylor faculty in 2023. His research and writing focus on principle-driven and research-based strategies for promoting full participation, relationships, and valued roles for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).One strand of his research addresses the intersections of faith and disability. Dr. Carter's work in this area addresses the spiritual lives and flourishing of people with IDD and their families, the practices and postures of inclusive churches, and faith-based partnerships with disability service systems. A second strand explores the pathways to inclusion and belonging for individuals with IDD. He is particularly interested in capturing the reciprocal and lasting benefits that come through friendships and life lived together in community.Episode Summary:In this episode of the Think Inclusive podcast, Tim Villegas welcomes Erik Carter, the esteemed Executive Director of the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities, to discuss the intricate topics of disability, inclusion, and belonging. Erik shares updates on his current work at Baylor and the initiatives he is spearheading to promote flourishing within communities, schools, and faith congregations. Erik's transition from Vanderbilt to Baylor signifies his broader focus on community-wide inclusion and ensuring every individual's sense of belonging and purpose.Erik delves into the concept of "flourishing" versus "thriving," defining flourishing as living rich, full, and abundant lives with strong relationships, community connections, and a sense of purpose. In a thought-provoking discussion, Erik outlines ten dimensions of belonging that extend beyond mere inclusion to emphasize the importance of being invited, welcomed, known, accepted, and loved. The conversation highlights the practical, everyday actions that can foster these dimensions of belonging in both educational and faith-based settings, encouraging listeners to re-evaluate and improve their approaches to inclusion and community building.Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/CfJq-Oo4E_1D2ljznGNv0hNFOxQKey Takeaways:Erik Carter's move from Vanderbilt to Baylor emphasizes a broader community focus on inclusion and belonging.The concept of "flourishing" involves more than just good outcomes; it incorporates strong relationships, purpose, and community connections.Erik outlines ten dimensions of belonging: being present, invited, welcomed, known, accepted, supported, heard, befriended, needed, and loved.Belonging extends beyond schools to faith communities, where inclusion must be reimagined to prevent the deep wounding caused by exclusion.Practical steps to foster belonging include noticing who is excluded, reflecting on intentional actions, and transforming both educational and faith institutions to be more inclusive.Resources:Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities: https://bcdd.soe.baylor.edu/10 Dimensions of Belonging: https://promotingprogress.org/sites/default/files/2022-02/Fostering_Belonging_Handout.pdfThank you to our sponsor, IXL! Learn more: https://ixl.com/inclusiveMCIE: mcie.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Tune in to the Marc Cox Morning Show with Kim St. Onge for a rollercoaster ride through the land of gender inclusivity in children's education. We'll dive headfirst into the chaos of introducing 437 genders into kids' games,.

Most of the country is off and running into another school year, and it's a great time to reflect on where we can improve and how we can be more knowledgeable in supporting students and addressing their needs. This episode focuses on training for school staff, district staff, and parents. Today, we share part two of our interview with Andrew Goff. Part one aired at the end of the last school year and share his perspective as an early childhood teacher advocating for students at IEP meetings. If you missed part one, listen to Episode 311 here. Join us to learn more about ongoing trends in teacher training. Andrew Goff taught early childhood special education in five different least restrictive environments spanning 12 years. He is currently the lead instructor at Colorado Northwestern Community College, not far from Steamboat Springs. He wrote a memoir, Love is a Classroom, and is a fierce advocate for “inclusion–early, everywhere, and always.”Show Highlights:Andrew's role at community colleges training in the virtual spaceThe importance of collaboration in developing and implementing accommodationsTeacher experiences and three components of curricula: indirect, direct, and temporalThoughts about co-teachingA big root of the problem is that we aren't educating all teachers on all the varieties of ways kids learn.All children deserve to learn equally and have their needs met.Barriers to learning—and how they show upRelationships and connections allow students to learn better!Teaching teachers to create cultures in a classroomTeachers with biases find it difficult to show up and give a child what they need.Links/Resources:Connect with Andrew Goff: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Love is a Classroom Podcast, and Love is a Classroom bookContact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org Thank you for listening! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:

In this roundtable podcast episode, join Rex Miller and our panel as they explore how education environments are transforming in response to new needs and challenges. Our roundtable panel guests include:Audrey Metz, Manager of Furniture and Design at Washington UniversityMelissa Turnbaugh, Partner and National Education & Innovation Leader at PBKAmanda Costell, Interior Designer at the University of ToledoJudy Hoskens, Principal and Senior Planner at DLR GroupJoin the conversation as they dive into the impact of neurodiversity on education design, the shift towards flexible learning environments, and the challenge of fostering community in hybrid learning models. They discuss how libraries and student unions are becoming the new hearts of campus life and emphasize the importance of collaborative partnerships in addressing broader issues affecting students.Packed with thought-provoking insights and innovative ideas, this episode is a must-listen for educators, designers, and anyone passionate about the future of education.How are you reimagining educational spaces? Share your thoughts and join the conversation! Discover the Resilience Lab: https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place/podcast/the-resilience-lab Follow The Resilience Lab.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resiliencelabpodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/80048242/Follow Rex Miller on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rexmiller/ Get your copy of education-focused books authored by Rex Miller.Humanizing the Education Machine: How to create schools that turn disengaged kids into inspired learners. https://www.amazon.com/Humanizing-Education-Machine-Disengaged-Inspired/dp/1119283108/Whole: What teachers need to help students thrive.https://www.amazon.com/WHOLE-What-Teachers-Students-Thrive-ebook/dp/B0859NT635/ The Resilience Lab Podcast is an Imagine a Place Production.

In the education world “IEP” stands for Individualized Education Plan. IEP also stands for the Inclusive Education Project. In the latter case, the IEP is a boutique law firm started by two women, Amanda Selogie and Vickie Brett, who decided to devote their lives to helping parents of children with disabilities and the children themselves to get the best possible education. While there are special education teachers and others who help facilitate the education of “children with special needs”, they can't do it alone. The education system tends not to know much about special education in specific and disabilities in general. In the United States, one of the basic ways “special education” is monitored and controlled is through the initialization of what is called an Individualized Education Plan for each child with a disability. This plan is something that must be agreed upon by representatives of the education system, the parents of children with disabilities and, when possible, the children themselves. The process can often be somewhat acrimonious and daunting especially for the families. Vickie and Amanda work to represent their clients and help get the services and equipment their children require to get a full education. This episode is quite informative especially if you are a parent of a child with a disability. Even if this is not the case, you well may know of someone who can take advantage of what Vickie and Amanda offer. On top of everything else, this is clearly an inspiring episode about two women who are doing very important work. About the Guest: Amanda Selogie received a bachelor's degree in Child and Adolescent Development, specializing in Education from California State University, Northridge and a Juris Doctorate from Whittier Law School where she served as a Fellow in the prestigious Center for Children's Rights Fellowship Program and served in the school's pro-bono Special Education Legal Clinic. Amanda immersed herself in the world of civil rights and educational advocacy through her work in education, empowerment and advocacy with the Inclusive Education project, supporting inclusion in early education through her appointment to the Orange County Child Care and Development Planning Council and their Inclusion Collaborative Committee, previous work serving as a supervising attorney for UCI Law School's Education Rights Pro-bono project and coaching of AYSO's VIP (Very Important Player) program coaching players living with disabilities and creating an inclusive soccer program. Vickie Brett was born and raised in Southern California and through the Inclusive Education Project she focuses on advocating and educating families about their legal rights. Vickie is committed to strengthening her clients who come to her disheartened and beaten down by the current education system. Because Vickie is bilingual, she represents and empowers many monolingual Spanish-speaking families. She is a dedicated pro bono attorney for the Superior Court of Los Angeles's Juvenile and Dependency 317(e) Panel and in the past was a supervising attorney for the UCI Law School's Special Education Law Project. Ways to connect with Amanda & Vicki: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inclusiveeducationproject/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IEPcalifornia/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inclusive-education-project About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Welcome to another episode of unstoppable mindset where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet, and today we get to really deal with all of those. Our guests are Vickie Britt and Amanda Selogie, and if I were not a nice person, I would really have a lot of fun with saying they're both lawyers, and we could start into the lawyer jokes, but we won't get there. We won't do that, but they are. They're very special lawyers, very seriously, because what they do is spend their days dealing with helping to get students in California the services and the support that they need. A lot of times, working with what's called the IEP, which they'll explain and representing parents and students when it's necessary to work with school districts to get the districts to do the things that they should, there are laws, and unfortunately, all too often, the districts aren't aware of the laws, or choose to ignore the laws because, oh, that would be too expensive for us to do, and they're going to talk to us all about that. So Amanda and Vicky, I just want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. Thanks for being here.   Vickie Brett ** 02:34 Thanks for having us.   Amanda Selogie ** 02:35 Thanks for having us.   Vickie Brett ** 02:36 So I'm Vicky Brett, and we have   Amanda Selogie ** 02:41 Amanda Selogie I didn't   Vickie Brett ** 02:43 know if you wanted me to say your name or not. And we are from we are special education attorneys in Southern California, and we have our own nonprofit law firm called the inclusive education project, for those people in the know. The acronym is IEP, which also shares the same acronym for the students with disabilities that we represent. They have individualized education plans which lovingly go by IEP, so that's how people can remember us. We're the IEP gals, right? And we've been doing this for, oh my goodness, for like, 12 plus years now as attorneys and advocates, obviously, Amanda and I started in law school as special education advocates, and that's actually how how we met. Amanda, do you want to talk about what other things our nonprofit does before kind of get into how we met?   Amanda Selogie ** 03:40 Yeah, of course. So the Inclusive Education Project provides kind of a number of services. One of the primary services we provide is legal services. So because we are a nonprofit, we provide both pro bono, so free services, legal services, and what we call low Bono, which are low cost, flat rates for families, our representation is a little bit different than what you would think of as a normal, traditional attorney. Traditional attorneys file lawsuits, and that's the primary purpose of their practice. And while there are lawsuits to be had in special education, we call them filing for due process. It is not the only thing that we do. A lot of what we do is advocating and collaborating, both for and with students living with disabilities, their families and the school team. Most of the time when families come to us, there's already conflict, things going on that there's disagreements. So we try to come in and bridge that gap, if we can. We love when families come to us at the beginning of their journey, because then we can help guide them through that process to avoid a lot of problems that fall and get to you. Know due process. So along those lines, the reason we have this as a nonprofit not just to provide low cost services and free services, but our mission is really to educate and empower parents on their legal rights, but also provide more education and have a better conversation around disability rights and education between service providers and parents and families and school districts and teachers and administrators. So along those lines, we do trainings for schools and parents, and we also have a podcast where, you know, we kind of touch on any topic under the sun relating to Education and Disability Rights and special education, and really trying to make this world a little bit smaller in terms of getting families and schools a little bit more knowledgeable about the resources available and just the different techniques we could be using to help better educate These kids   Vickie Brett ** 05:58 well, and going beyond just acceptance to understanding and inclusivity. I think that's that's really the, the cornerstone of our nonprofit, and like, why we have the podcast, the Inclusive Education Project podcast, the mentality is just to start those conversations. I think a lot of people have those conversations, but they're very surface, and so whatever we can share in our experiences of the clients that we fight for, the students, we try to do that and and it's been a nice way to kind of blow off some steam as well, because a lot of administrators and parents who actually reach out, and we've had some of them, which, which is so wonderful, because it really is, you know, it just shows that we're all kind of, we're all humans, and we could always be doing better. But when we see that administrators, you know, listen to us, it really, it makes us feel that, you know, we're not just shouting into a void, or we're just not preaching to the choir, where we are actually being able to have these tough conversations and have people from from the district side, really receive it and then provide us feedback, which, which has been nice. Yeah, like Amanda said, Oh, go ahead.   07:27 Oh, you go ahead. Oh, I   Vickie Brett ** 07:30 was just gonna say, Yeah, we, you know, we, we do our, our bread and butter is special education. So that would be issues that children with special needs are encountering in school districts. We also do a bit of probate. We do try to provide kind of a one stop shop for our clients in that if they have their child, because when their child becomes an adult and they need assistance with getting a limited conservatorship or certain powers to help that child transition into adulthood, we can with the limited conservatorships, and then we also provide special needs trust, which come into play when the parent wants to kind of set up a trust. You know, their will to leave their the child, their inheritance, and to be sure that their disability is protected, we we help create special needs trust for those families. So you some, I mean, now we've had the firm 10 years, and I feel like, yeah, Amanda, you've had your clients starting from, like, kinder to, like, High School, which is, like, phenomenal. I know I've had clients you know that I got, you know, in the fourth grade, and they've already graduated, and it's just it really warms our heart to be able to kind of discuss what it is that we do, because not a lot of people know, I think you would think that other attorneys know, but they really don't know. It's just a very small percentage of us in in the nation. But then, just let alone in California, you know, compared to Arizona, where there might be only a few special education attorneys, you know, maybe three in the whole state, California obviously will have a little bit more because of our our state is so big, but compared to family law attorneys or personal injury attorneys, we are very small percentage. So it's nice to be able to kind of speak to that, and what it is that we, we do do, well, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 09:38 well, go ahead. Oh, I   Amanda Selogie ** 09:40 was just gonna say a lot of a lot of people think attorneys, and they think, Oh, it's just lawsuits. And everyone thinks like, Oh, our country is too happy. And like, what we love to say is, like, we are counselors in every sense of the word, like we, we try not to have lawsuits. Like we really try to encompass so much more. I mean, our practice, and that's part of just what special education is and why. Some families have been with us for so long is it's more than just the legal side, sure.   Michael Hingson ** 10:06 And I thought the reason I wanted I started this one, I should say, differently than I've done a lot of podcasts. And the reason because I think that what you guys do is really so unique, and that you have done so much to address the issue of disabilities and so on. I really wanted to give you an opportunity to really, kind of explain it, but tell me if you would a little bit more about why you chose to go into the field of dealing with disabilities.   Amanda Selogie ** 10:44 Amanda, I can start. Oh, you can start.   Vickie Brett ** 10:50 This is Vicki, you know, it's, it's really funny, because Amanda and I a lot of the special education attorneys in the field, it's it's changing. We, I feel like we were like, that first tide of changing. But a lot of them were attorneys in business litigation, district attorneys, and then they had a child with special needs, and then they, like, stumbled across this area of the law, Amanda. And I really, or I'll let Amanda go into hers, but I did actually kind of stumble, stumble into it very early on in law school. Amanda and I were a year apart. I was a year ahead of her, and we both decided to study abroad in Spain and hit it off. And she was like, we should have a class together. I'm I'm taking this clinic, the special education clinic, you should do it too. And I thought, oh, okay, I was kind of already set on my path of environmental law, dating myself a little bit. I wanted to be like Aaron Brockovich, you know, my dad was in environmental science, and so I, you know, I really wanted to take it up for the environment. And I had a internship with Coast keepers, and really was kind of on that path. And once I joined the clinic, I realized that being bilingual, I could help Spanish speaking families, and I really kind of fell in love with this area of the law. It was really just, you know, being a people person, and getting involved and seeing how you could advocate on behalf of these, these children with unique learning challenges. And I had, I have a cousin on the spectrum, and at the time, I kind of known, oh, he had a plan and things like that, but I really didn't know the intricacies of it. And after I graduated, I actually was hired by the professors that ran the clinic. So Amanda and I never got our class together. She was in the LA, and they pulled me from LA to the Orange County sector because I spoke Spanish. So we didn't even get the class together, but we did keep in contact, and while I kind of worked at this boutique law firm that did special education and then also did family law. And then once Amanda graduated and passed the bar A year later, and she started working for a separate just special education law firm, we would always get together and talk about our cases and like how we could do things differently. And what's so funny to think is we thought 10 years from now, which would be right now, right would be ridiculous, but like 10 years from now, we're gonna open up our own firm, but we really quickly realized that we could just do it ourselves. And so I'll let Amanda tell how she got into Yeah, because it's completely different.   Amanda Selogie ** 13:40 Yeah, yeah. I went to law school specifically, knowing that I wanted to practice special education law. I fought going to law school for a very long time. It wasn't my plan. I had a very young age, thought I was going to be a teacher, and I dabbled in costume design for theater. Changed a lot, and then I kind of got back to teaching, and my or, or the plan of teaching. My aunt is a special education teacher in LA and has been for like, 25 years. And I had worked with kids with disabilities on and off, different capacities, summer camps, tutoring, that sort of thing in high school. And when I was getting a degree in child development, I started working as a one on one a for a child in a charter school. And the charter school was a full inclusion school. So one of those schools that was is kind of one in a million, where full inclusion is done very well, and works very well. And so I had the benefit of seeing that while I was in college, and I worked primarily with this little boy who had Down syndrome, but I worked with a few other students as well, and I absolutely fell in love with it. I fell in love with working with the kids, and I was just so inspired by. Not only the kids that I've worked one on one with, but the other kids in the class and the whole school, that just the dynamics and the vibe and just the collaborative nature of the school, everyone working together, everyone was on the same page. Everyone was treated the same like things. And it wasn't. It wasn't, unfortunately, what we see in a lot of school. And I, I thought, this is this is right, I'm going to be a special ed teacher. But then that kind of shifted, because as I worked more and more with the school and with certain families and learned how just what an anomaly this one school is, and that that that was not the case in 99% of schools, and that families really had to fight tooth and nail to get services even a fraction of what I saw in this school. And I learned about due process. I learned about some of these families having to fight for the legal system. And you know, I had this thing in the back of my head of being told, as a kid, you should be an attorney, because I like to argue, I guess, and talk. It's something that I never wanted. I never wanted to go to law school. English was not my subject. I was a math kid, but I just I felt in my gut that I would be one of those teachers that would speak up and get fired, or I would push too many buttons, and it would be very challenging for me to sit on my hands and not say anything. And so it kind of just fell together, like I kind of fell into it as, like an awful moment of this is the way that I can support and work with these kids and do something that I was kind of pushed to do. And I found out a little bit more about the theory of law and how there's very few attorneys that do it, and I was really intrigued by the fact that it was very individualized and new, and it wasn't something that was very cookie cutter. And I liked that I could be creative and have that creative side to it. So went to law school, and, you know, Vicki shared our story of how we met, and was fortunate enough that I did go into this field, and I absolutely I continue to fall in love with it and the kids that we work with. And you know, when Vicki and I started our practice, a big part of it was because we saw the way things were being done with other firms, and the focus was on cases and lawsuits and getting the case law and pushing for changes in legislation. And while that's important, it's it takes a toll on families, and it's not something that is a quick resolution. And so while these cases go through the court system, these kids are getting older and older, and next thing you know, they're out of school. And while the system may have been impacted by their case, they haven't been and we just felt like this. This wasn't what we were meant to do. We were meant to help a different way, similar to how I felt when I was in undergrad. And so when we started our firm, we had this, this, this goal of having a bigger impact than just one case at a time. And I think that's why, like, we have clients, Vicki mentioned that we've had for a very long time. I have some that started in kindergarten that are now in high school. Because our goal isn't to file lawsuits. Our goal isn't to hide things and prepare for a hearing or prepare for litigation, which is what a lot of attorneys do. That's their focus. Our goal is, how can we help this child right now? How can we help the school right now? Because a lot of what we're doing is help the teachers get more services and more support into the classroom, to get teachers and school staff trained to keep environments safe and so our and that's why, you know, we love what we do, because we can be very creative, and the law allows us to be because everything is supposed to be individualized, and the law is there to protect kids. And unfortunately, one of the biggest problems we see is that enforcement is just not there, because it does take attorneys like us coming in to enforce the law. It takes parents fighting to enforce the law, choosing to fight to enforce the law. So yeah, you know, we do things just a little bit differently,   Michael Hingson ** 19:09 okay? And I can appreciate that how much of your caseload deals with disabilities and and special services like what we've been talking about,   Amanda Selogie ** 19:20 100% because all of our clients have a disability, even our small sector of probate still deals with it's not traditional probate, it's only the conservatorship special needs trust. But I'd say about 5% is probate. The rest of it is dealing with schools and school districts, so just about all of our cases.   Michael Hingson ** 19:41 So the I'm familiar with IEPs, and actually, when I was growing up, I don't think we had an IEP if we did, I never knew about it, but I've been a staunch advocate, and love to help people when they have questions about IEPs and so on. So again, it's. Virtual, individualized education plan. But what are some of the biggest challenges that parents face when dealing with the whole special education and educational process?   Vickie Brett ** 20:13 Yeah, I mean, sometimes it ebbs and flows, but I would say the biggest challenge is not knowing what they don't know. And when you have a child that maybe you know, has some type of disability, right, if it's if it's outward, you know, they'll they're diagnosed with cerebral palsy once they're born, and you kind of have some time to really be able to kind of digest that information, I think that parent will come to the school district a bit more prepared to say, Hey, this is my child. This is what I think my child needs, and they'll be able to speak to it when we have parents that have their child go into the school system and they don't know that their child has some type of learning challenge. That is where I think it kind of gets sticky. So the child may have dyslexia, the child may have some of these disabilities that you wouldn't necessarily know until your your child really started learning things. And of course, you know, here in California, we always talk about zero to five and the push to, you know, read to your children and all this stuff. But you know, unless you have a child development background, sometimes it's and you know your child best, but sometimes you don't really understand what their challenges are until they're in the school system. And so oftentimes will get parents that have maybe had IEPs for a couple years, and they've had a great team, but some of those team members change, and then they start to feel not heard. They feel that their child is not seen, and then they get mad, and they Google, you know, attorney and so and so. That's why, you know, we we feel that some of these challenges, and what our podcast really tries to focus on, at times, are these different issues that come up. What is it that you have to look for if you believe that your child should be eligible for an IEP, how do you request that? What is an IEP? What are present levels? But yeah, I think the biggest challenge, because even if you know your child inside out, it's sometimes really hard to navigate the politics, if you will, of these individualized education plan meetings I have, for instance, like one case where the child very clearly needs a One to One aid. Everybody has said it, but the administrator, for whatever reason, has not put it in the IEP that the child has said it, the the general education teacher says he needs one. The RSP teacher says he needs one. His speech and language pathologist says he needs one. But, you know, we just haven't gotten there. And that to me, just seems wild, right? That that this child has not put it in, they haven't put it in the IEP, and it's because, and they even said it, well, you know, we're in an age shortage. We don't have an aid that we can provide them. Oh, well, if we try to hire one, it's going to take forever. These are not excuses that, you know, you should be standing on. The law is very clear about it, but yes, do we understand that there are some things that we need to kind of push in order to get it done. It just because you can't hire an aide that would just work exclusively for the district doesn't mean you can't go with a private agency that could provide an aid, right? But that's going to cost more. So that's what I mean about, like, the politics of it. Amanda, what big challenges do you think? And like I said, it ebbs and flows, so it just depends on our caseloads. That was one that just came to my mind. But what about you? Yeah, yeah,   Amanda Selogie ** 23:54 I think that training and experience plays a big role. You know, whether we're dealing with a child who's in a general education class and that general education teacher has a general education credential, they do not have a special education credential. The majority of times, they have not received any training. Maybe they've had a few kids on IEPs, maybe they haven't. And the reality is, is that a general education credential doesn't come with specialized training for special education. They may be a bit knowledgeable about there may be a child with a disability. You know, I my degree was at a school where a lot of students were getting their teaching credentials at the same time, so I took the majority of the same classes as the students that were going to get their credentials. They just had one extra year. And I can tell you, based on my course load, and based on the course load of all my friends that were in the teaching credential program, there was one class that had anything to do with special education. And it was very minimal, and it wasn't a guarantee that even everyone took it. And I took that class, and I can tell you that it's very minimal. It doesn't really it doesn't really train you on how to implement an IEP, or how to understand the why behind a lot of what's in the IEP. And while a general education teacher may come to an IEP meeting, an IEP meeting isn't training, it's, you know, development of the accommodations and the goals, and they may get a fraction of the information about that child's disability, but they're not an expert on autism, they're not an expert on ADHD. They're not an expert on sensory processing deficit or and so a lot of perceptions occur. We have a lot of teachers that make assumptions. They may have had one child with ADHD, and they think they're all doing the same, and this worked for them so that not there's a lot of perceptions that they seem fine if they would just and then fill in the blank, right? If they would just do their work, if they would just show up to class, if they would just pay attention. The assumption is that they should be able to do all these things, just like every other child. When   Michael Hingson ** 26:10 you say they, who are you referring to as they?   Amanda Selogie ** 26:14 A lot of times the teachers because they don't, yeah, they don't have that specialized training, and frankly, even a special education teacher has a specific credential, but it's, there's so many vast different abilities and disabilities out there, and there's spectrums, there's, you know, not all kids that have one diagnosis to be the same. There's comorbidities, there's there's even, when you look at, like, if you analyze and review an assessment report for an individual child, there's, there's a lot of numbers in there right of low scores or average scores or below average and but there's not a lot of times an analysis of, how does This impact the child in the classroom? And so a lot of teachers have kind of a variety of knowledge and experience and training on kids. And IEPs are developed in a way that are supposed to be individualized that child. And so if that teacher isn't given training on that child's needs. A lot of times, like I mentioned, we have these assumptions about what a child should be able to do or shouldn't. But then we also have, how do we implement the accommodations that are there? How do we implement the services? And if we have speech therapy, are we really collaborating between the speech therapist and the special education teacher and the general education teacher and the parent, so that we're using a lot of the same strategies and implementing and so a lot of times we get families that come to us and the IEP on its face looks okay. A lot of times the IEP doesn't look okay. But in many circumstances, we can fight and we can make sure the IEP looks okay, but if it's not implemented appropriately, because there's not a lot of training, or not the right training, or we don't have ongoing analysis of these different factors, then it's going to cause problems. And there's not really a mechanism for the school district to sit there and say, let me analyze each of these IEPs and make sure that everybody involved has the proper training. There's nobody doing that.   Michael Hingson ** 28:28 Yeah, it's it's not even just the teachers. It's also the administrators who get no training in this at all. How do people find you? So it's not like your Jacobi and Myers or those kinds of things. So the reality is that there are so many people who probably aren't even familiar with the whole IEP process and what their rights are, what their children's rights are, or the parents rights, or the children how? How do they find you?   Vickie Brett ** 29:01 Most of the time it's word of mouth. So you have parents that either you know, like I said, Google us right, and are able to find us that way, or hear us on our podcast or even on our social media, they're able to find us and are able to kind of contact us that way, but for the most part, yeah, it's word of mouth. So one parent, you know, starts talking to other parents, and then, you know, our name comes up. We also do a lot of presentations for nonprofits, and have in the past done for schools, private schools, and really have tried to just kind of be out in the community and do pre covid. We had done a lot of panels and discussions. And really, just like I said, start, start those conversations, we network with a lot of professionals that are not Attorneys. Other attorneys usually get referrals from other attorneys. Potentially we could get and we've done conferences like family law attorney conferences and personal injury attorney conferences. They might be the ones more often than not, that come across a family with a child with some type of unique learning challenge or disability, but yeah, I would say the majority of our cases come from a parent that was talking to a parent in the hospital on the way to a physical therapy appointment or even just during pickup, which is great, because that's the, you know, it's, it's always easier to refer someone that you know, to somebody that you know hasn't has a problem that they need help, especially at a legal level with so   Michael Hingson ** 30:49 So one question that comes to mind is, who pays for your services and how does that all work out? Because I got to imagine that a lot of the parents can't really afford any kind of substantive legal fees.   Amanda Selogie ** 31:03 Yeah, so it depends, depends on what kind of services we're providing. We do have a portion of our services that are pro bono, so they're free to the families. There's a section of the legal statute that says parents should be entitled to legal representation because of the way the system was set up. So if you go through due process, through litigation, and you go to hearing and you win, then you are entitled to get your attorney's fees paid for. So whether the family pays up front or they don't, and it's pro bono, the if you prevail in hearing, you can get attorney's fees paid that way. 95% of Special Education cases settle. They don't go to hearing. So part of the negotiations in this settlement is for attorney's fees, because the school district recognizes that parents are entitled to that, and you know, the settlement wouldn't happen if not, but for the attorneys involvement, and because they are entitled to it, settlement funds do get part, get included as part of the settlement agreement. And then there are circumstances that don't involve litigation, and families want our help to either help coordinate or walk them through serve this the system of IEPs help them kind of manage it. And so those services we do offer a flat rate so we don't charge by the hour. We do low flat rate services, and typically, our clients retain us for an entire year that allows us to follow them through that IEP process, because it's not just one two hour meeting, it's a lot of follow ups and a lot of making sure that IEPs are being implemented and things need to be tweaked and follow up meetings. And so in those cases, families do pay, but we do have a sliding scale, so it's really based on how income and size, the complexity of their case. But they're all lower rates, and they're they're flat fees, when,   Michael Hingson ** 33:10 when you say lower rates. I'm just curious, can you give us an example, or is that something you can easily   Vickie Brett ** 33:15 Yeah, so, I mean, you know, because some of those attorney we know, I mean, obviously we're really transparent with our colleagues, but you know, the boards have to, at times, the school boards have to have meetings where they are approving the attorneys fees. So our attorneys fees, compared to some of those in Southern California, they if they charge hourly, it can be anywhere from about 678, $100 an hour out in LA if you're getting the cream of the crop, it's similar pricing as well. If they are charging hourly that there are very few that will take a majority of the cases as the pro bono cases as a man explain that we do they do then, because the statute does indicate that we can get some of our attorneys fees. But something that I think parents don't necessarily understand is that, you know, because it is, it's a negotiation tactic of the districts to not pay all attorneys fees, right? So if you're the parent and you're paying an attorney $10,000 and they've resolved everything at mediation, your child's getting everything that you wanted, but then the district comes back and says, Well, we're only going to pay you $5,000 that puts the attorney in a weird position, because you as a parent want all your 10,000 back, right? But this is a negotiation, and so then that's not likely going to happen. And we just, we, we just take that out of the equation, like we're going to be the ones that are going to be deciding what we are going to accept. We're. Not putting that on you, because we have had colleagues where over a couple $1,000 the parent had to go to hearing and then ended up ultimately losing on several issues that technically the settlement would have resolved for them very easily, simply because they they wanted all of their attorneys fees, and that was the client's decision, right? And so, yeah, we just, we just delete that from the equation. And if anyone's going to be making that decision, it's Amanda or I, especially knowing that a lot of these districts use it as a as a tactic to keep attorneys from providing these services for free to many families, what I was   Michael Hingson ** 35:39 thinking of more when I asked the fee question was not so much the cases that go into litigation, but more in the cases where you're helping someone go through the IEP and so on. And so I'm not really looking at it in terms of since I understand not all cases go to litigation, but yeah, yeah, other cases that don't go through litigation. How does that work? Yeah,   Vickie Brett ** 36:02 not a lot of attorneys will do like the yearly care maintenance package that we do with a flat rate. They will still charge hourly. So there are advocates that that will advertise that they can help at IEP meetings. So maybe this was a former school psychologist turned, you know, educational consultant, and they can walk you through the IEP process. And so some of them can be just as expensive as an attorney in Southern California. But yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, I mean, some of them are charging four or $500 and the the problem that they get into is that that's okay to help navigate. But when it comes to a point where you're you're leaving things on the table. For instance, let's say the child has needed speech and language services for two years, and you finally secure it as an advocate, but you are not. You know, going back to the district. They can't, because they can't sue them, but if you're not turning that case over to an attorney so that the child can be made whole by being provided compensatory education in the form of speech and language for them not having it for the past two years, I think that's where it kind of gets sticky. But, yeah, I mean a lot of but   Michael Hingson ** 37:19 if you got a lot of attorneys, if you were doing a flat rate kind of thing, sort of, what's the range of that over? Let's say you're, you're, you're going to be helping someone say, for a year, kind of, what's the general range of that for you guys?   Amanda Selogie ** 37:33 That kind of changes, um, year to year, obviously costs increase and stuff like that. But I mean, it can really go from a couple $1,000 up to 10 or more 1000. Just it really, really depends.   Michael Hingson ** 37:47 That's what I was. Just curious. Our   Amanda Selogie ** 37:48 board kind of lays out some guidelines. We do it based on, you know, income, so we try to keep the fees low. But some, some families, the case is fairly simple, and what we're looking to do is just kind of help and give them advice other times, like we possibly have to file for due process. So in those cases, it could be more, it could be less, it really depends. But of course, if you look at the amount of time that Vicki was explaining, it's nowhere near the hourly rate that most attorneys No.   Michael Hingson ** 38:25 And I understand, yeah, and I understand that. So here's another question regarding that, are there ever times when, again, let's, let's not go to a due process litigation kind of thing, but where you're helping a parent, and essentially, you're helping the school district as well, because typically, there isn't a lot of expertise. Do you ever find that when that kind of thing occurs, that the school district will help pay any of the fees? Or is that really always going to be on the parent alone?   Amanda Selogie ** 38:56 Usually, the only time the school district will pay for fees outside of litigation is if there's a settlement agreement. So there are times where we're working with the school team, and both sides recognize that there's a conflict that needs to be resolved. The school district maybe wants to provide something, but they want to be confidential. They don't want other families to know they're providing a service and but they don't want to go through litigation. They don't want to have to deal with a lawsuit. So we will negotiate settlements, sometimes outside of litigation, and usually included in that is attorneys fees, because if we're avoiding litigation, that's similar so, but usually not through just the IEP process. They don't say, like, hey, we'll, we'll, you know, throw you a couple bucks for these services. Unfortunately, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 39:44 it'd be nice, but unfortunately, that kind of funding isn't there, and so it, it is difficult, but what? What kind of advice would you give to parents who may. Disagree with an individualized education program, if I could talk, I'd be great. But what kind of things might you suggest for a parent who disagrees with a plan to to at least deal with the process? And I mean, obviously at some point they have to call in someone like you. But what are some things that a parent can do up front if they say, No, I really don't agree with this. Yeah,   Vickie Brett ** 40:27 so, I mean, you know, make that known, especially at the IEP. You know, get a copy of the IEP and if, for instance, let's say they're taking away occupational therapy your child's had it for, you know, 30 minutes a week for forever. And, you know, they do an assessment and they say, Oh, well, we don't think he needs it anymore. The parent can initiate stay put. And so essentially, what that says to the district is, I don't agree with taking this away, and so I'm not going to agree for you to take it away, and the services that we've had in the past are what's going to stay put right? That we're not going to change that. That also signals to the district that they either need to hold another IEP, and you can try to compromise at that IEP, oh, well, you know, maybe let's do a fade out plan. Or maybe, you know what, instead of 30 minutes a week, maybe we're willing to do every other week, right? Of course, they're going to have their own say in why they don't, you know, think that they need these services anymore, but at least it kind of gives them an indication like, oh, okay, there's something wrong here if the district doesn't do another IEP, maybe, you know, it's time for you to kind of raise the flag a little bit and say, you know, go to the the principal or the director of special education and ask for maybe a confidential meeting. Maybe you guys can resolve this outside of the IEP, the only thing that we would kind of advise as well is that we've had some districts that work really great with the parent and make changes to the IEP, even though the meeting was confidential. But more often than not, what the district will try to do in that confidential meeting is have you sign a confidential settlement agreement, and that is now a legal document, and you may be giving up rights that you didn't even know that you had. So if you were to do that, you know, always have an attorney, you know, review that information, but at least, you know, starting at the starting point would be, hey, let me see if we can informally resolve this by either having another IEP, you know, I'm staying put, or maybe having a separate conversation with with somebody higher up, like the direct special education for the district. And what we see a lot   Amanda Selogie ** 42:51 of times, I   Michael Hingson ** 42:52 think one of the important things that people really need to understand is that an IEP isn't just something that the educational system can say, this is it negotiable. It it is up to the parent to bring in whoever they feel they need to bring in to rep, to help, if they need to represent their rights. And the reality is that the child and the parents do have rights, and this school system does not have the right to just say, This is it. This is why it's an individualized education program or plan. It is a plan, and everyone needs to agree to it. And the reality is, many times you know what's really going on, it's a game of, I and the school district don't want to spend money, and the parent is saying, You gotta, it's the law, but, but a lot of parents really don't understand what their rights are regarding IEPs, and that is what is so unfortunate, because they can, can be waylaid in so many ways. How do they learn what they need to know about the whole IEP process, I realize, and I would say right off the bat, my answer to that would be, in part, fine you. But beyond that, how do parents learn? Because I would think that the smarter they are about the IEP process, the quicker it might be that they will bring you in, because they know what you can do. But how do they learn about the process? Yeah,   Amanda Selogie ** 44:26 I mean, there's certainly a lot of resources online. I mean, if you just Google terms, like, you know, my rights with an IEP or, you know, help with IEPs, there's, you know, tons of websites and articles out there. Certainly there's a lot of information on social media as well. We are very active on social media, providing tips and tricks, and you know the basics of what you know, parents, legal rights are, and that sort of thing. And then, of course, we have our podcast where. We do just that, try to provide some information for families and educators on things that they can be doing most of the time to avoid a litigation. So there are a lot of resources out there, I think. And one thing that we love that when parents find is that there's a lot of parent groups out there, both like that meet in person and then, as a consequence of covid, a lot of Facebook groups have popped up. So for families who are looking for like local support on their school district, a lot of times, they can find a Facebook group of parents within their school district or their geographic region, because there are some things that vary state to state, and so sometimes that can be really helpful is talking to other parents about, you know, what their experiences have been, and what they've done and things like that.   Michael Hingson ** 45:53 So what advice would you have for parents who really want to develop a good, collaborative and working relationship with their school district and their school assuming that the school district or school also wants to really develop a good, positive collaborative relationship. And I'm sure that there are some who don't, because they feel we know all there is to know and that's it. But what's the advice for parents who want to really establish a good relationship,   Vickie Brett ** 46:24 I think, is for the parent to have confidence in that they are the expert of their child. I think that kind of gets lost a little bit when you have 10 people on one side, you know, kind of describing a different child than than you see, you, you are the expert. And I think having the confidence to say that and and to really bring the room back to, hey, it's not me against you, it's us against the problem. I think being collaborative in the sense of, you know, if your child has diagnoses, you know, being able to provide that information to the school. You know, sometimes we'll get parents that, you know, for for privacy, you know, don't want to share, but if that diagnosis is impacting the child and how they're accessing the curriculum, and it's not something that's, you know, going to be on their forehead, right? And it's something to help the district kind of see, oh, yeah, I can see why she would need this as an additional accommodation. We, you know, you need to be as transparent as possible. We oftentimes get parents that have, you know, information that they're holding on to because they think it's going to negatively affect the child, but they don't really know, right? It's just them kind of hiding the ball. And while the district shouldn't do that, they do do that. I think people kind of pick up on that. But I think at the end of the day, being able to, you know, if you need to have an IEP meeting, you know, why are we having the IEP meeting, asking the district to provide documents, even draft documents, before the IEP, there's no set law in California that that mandates that they have to provide it to you. But one of the reasons that we ask for drafts of, you know, an assessment, or even the draft IEP is is not because we want to see what the district is going to do and say no. And say, No, we know it's a living document, but let's get it beforehand so that I can read it and come prepared to the IEP meeting to ask whatever questions or make any corrections. And I think just these few kind of tips and tricks of of and having that in your back pocket has helped a lot of our clients when when they no longer need our services, right? That's kind of like the baseline we're coming to open arms to this meeting. We want to know as much information beforehand so we can make the best use of everybody's time,   Amanda Selogie ** 48:54 and then to like, along the lines of trusting your gut, like, don't be afraid to ask for things. Don't be afraid to ask for information. So using our wh language, who, what, where, why, when we want to ask details, a lot of times we get information, and parents are afraid to ask more questions. But if you don't truly understand what's being told to you or the why behind it, you're not going to get the answers. And often by parents asking, Well, why do you think this is or why do you think this isn't working? Or why do you think this this does work by asking those questions, often it gets the team to have a better communication. And sometimes we just need to ask for more we need to get more data. We need more information. And it's from those questions that the team realizes we need more information. But then also, don't be afraid to ask for things they're never going to give you things you don't ask for. No,   Michael Hingson ** 49:51 I remember growing up very much pre IEP, don't, don't tell and I. Um, I remember, we moved from Chicago after I was in kindergarten, and here in California, they start kindergarten the year after Illinois. So I ended up with two years of kindergarten. The second year was pretty boring because they had no facilities. In the first year, when I was in kindergarten, Illinois, they actually, because there were so many preemie babies who became blind, they actually, with the encouragement, sometimes pretty strong, of the parents, they actually developed a kindergarten class for blind kids. And I learned braille and so on, and all that went away coming out to California, when, when we I was in school. I remember one afternoon, there was an incredible shouting match between my father and the principal of the school because they wanted to ship me off to the California School for the Blind. Oh, now the reality is, I think academically, CSB was still pretty decent at that time in terms of dealing with blind kids, certainly earlier it was, but still, they wanted to ship me off to the California School for the Blind, and my parents would have nothing to do with that, and they did eventually, just plane put their foot down and said, No, we're, we're not going to allow him to be sent away. But it, it does happen, and it's, it's unfortunate that there had to be such a battle over it, but that's the way it went. And ever since then, I've had a few times where in the past, the educational system tried to discriminate against me. In fact, when I was a freshman in high school, the superintendent of the district didn't want my guide dog on the school bus, which was an incredibly gross violation of state law, but his position was, it's local school rules superseded state law. Well, he lost that   Vickie Brett ** 52:07 rightly so. My goodness, he   Michael Hingson ** 52:09 lost that battle when my father kind of accidentally wrote a letter to the governor of the state of California. You know, so parents do have to be advocates and shouldn't be afraid to be advocates, but make sure you you're advocating for something that makes sense to advocate for learn, and that's something you know in discussing this whole thing, it is also something it seems to me that that parents Need to really understand what their children are capable of. I've seen so many times that Parents of Blind kids, for example, didn't think a blind kid could do anything, and they've been part of the problem and not part of the solution.   Vickie Brett ** 52:55 And that, and that's that's hard. And I think, you know, we we come across that. And I think one of the reasons why it's helpful if the parents come to us early on in their journey of getting an IEP is because having the thought of who your child was going to be before they were born, and it not match, and then having the child be born and it not match that ideal kid that you had is very hard for a lot of parents, and there's grief that's involved that sometimes even at 12, when, when we're seeing the parent, you know, they've been a parent for 12 years of this child, and they they're still grieving. And some people get there quicker than others, and that that is difficult, because if you have one sort of mentality, you're You're either part of the solution, right, or you are part of the problem. And so we've seen that as well. And you know, if you are searching for help, I think that's why Amanda had said, not just running to an attorney, but talking to other parents is completely beneficial,   Michael Hingson ** 54:07 yeah, and it's not all about running to an attorney by any means. I mean, a lot of reasons to bring an attorney into it for the expertise that they bring, but at some point, and you and we've talked about this a little bit in our original call, we've got to change how we view disabilities. And in this my position, disability does not mean a lack of ability, and that everyone has disabilities. And the problem is we've got to get over this feeling that someone is less than someone else just because they're different. And I'm so glad, earlier in our conversation today, that you talked about inclusion and you didn't use diversity, because diversity typically doesn't involve disabilities. Anyway, people exclude us, and that doesn't work with inclusion, and so I'm glad. Add that you use that term. But we've got to get beyond this idea that disability truly means a lack of ability   Vickie Brett ** 55:07 absolutely and like I said, it goes beyond just acceptance, right? And that's what we're pushing the limits of it. I forget. I think I had heard, oh my gosh, Trevor Noah, give this as an example. You know, it's wonderful when you build a house and then you think, oh, you know what, I need to have a wheelchair access ramp here. I That's wonderful. I think it's another thing. And this, this is the best part. When, before you even build that house? You think I want this to be accessible for all, and truly all. So let me go to all these people to see how I can create that house that will truly you know, having that person in mind before you even start is a wonderful thing.   Michael Hingson ** 56:02 Yeah, right. Where are some places people can go to learn that kind of thing?   Vickie Brett ** 56:08 Oh, goodness. You know, we have come across a couple great institutions that actually reach out to districts and provide this type of training. What our current fight is, is to try to get this to the teachers right to be part of their curriculum, and so that they have those tools to but a lot of teachers also already are doing you know, as long as you know and connect with your student and you can think outside the Box and be afraid, you know, not be afraid of not knowing what you don't know. Then, as long as you are paying attention, you're you're fine. But there are a lot of pro or the curriculums. Like, I can't think of any names off the top of my head, but let me there are people doing it. Let   Michael Hingson ** 56:58 me help. Um, oh yes, kind of, one of the things I was thinking of when you were talking about building houses and so on is things like Centers for Independent Living. Oftentimes, they've got a lot of expertise. There's certainly a lot of resources that one can Google like you talked about the big problem with building houses for people is that architects are mostly very clueless about dealing with anything regarding accessibility. In fact, when we built this home in 2016 and my wife was a paraplegic her entire life, we were the main experts that guided the construction of the house from an accessibility standpoint. But even then, when the house was all built and we thought everything was going to be fine, the R the builder, would not put a ramp at the front door, nor the back patio. And he said, Well, you're in a flood zone. And so we can't two points about that, because we contacted and unfortunately, the builder still wouldn't address it, so we had to do it. But we contacted the county, and went to the people down in San Bernardino who are involved with this, and they said, it's ridiculous to say, even if you were, you know, we, first of all, we're not in a flood zone. But even if we were, it doesn't matter, water's still going to travel the same whether it's up a step or up a ramp. Reality is there is only one specific way that there would be a problem in putting in a ramp and at a front door or whatever, and that is if there isn't what's called a weep screen or whatever to to deal with the water going under the house, that could be an issue. But that wasn't the issue with with our situation, and the builder wouldn't do it, so we had to spend the money to do it, and it shouldn't have had to be that way and grossly expensive. But it's it's now done, of course, and yeah, that was the only thing that they didn't do. But the reality is, there are a lot of resources. The architectural industry and the building industry is oftentimes just not overly good about dealing with excess themselves. You're right. The fact is that when people are constructing something new, it would be so wise if right from the outset, they would look at all the possible options. And, you know, we we thought about it when we built this house as well. This is now a home that's available for anyone who who might need a home when we build our home in New Jersey in 1996 the. The same thing there. We had a great builder. His biggest frustration was that the count of the city of Westfield gave them great grief at putting in the elevator that we needed to have, because the only kind of home we could build back there was a two story home. That's what the the associate, not Association, but that street was all about was two story homes, and there was a ranch style, and the county and the city just gave our builder great grief, which he finally worked through. But again, it was a completely accessible house, as it should be,   Vickie Brett ** 1:00:39 absolutely, absolutely. And you know, this is kind of our small area of the world that we are trying to make better. But you know, we, we're just so grateful for the opportunity to be able to have these conversations and to be able to put it out there and and we're just so grateful for this opportunity. Michael, thank you for having us well,   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:04 and I know that we are scheduled now to come on your podcast a little Yes. So tell me what's the name of the podcast?   Amanda Selogie ** 1:01:12 It's the Inclusive Education Project podcast. We just took our name. We weren't super creative. Make it easy for people to find us.   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:19 So there you go. And if people want to reach out to you and well, engage you, or talk to you, learn more and so on. How do they do that?   Vickie Brett ** 1:01:29 Yeah,   Amanda Selogie ** 1:01:29 the best way is through social media or emailing. Going to our website, inclusive educationproject.org, and our handle on all social media is inclusive education project. We're pretty easy. If you Google us to find us,   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:43 and if people want to email you, how do they do that? It'll be   Amanda Selogie ** 1:01:48 admin at IEP california.org   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:52 admin at IEP california.org Do you just do work in California, or do you ever consult outside the state.   Amanda Selogie ** 1:02:02 So our legal work, we're licensed to practice only in the state of California, but of course, we do trainings and presentations and consulting work for high schools and whatnot across the country, because the law is the federal law. Yes,   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:18 we are dealing with federal on it. So it does make sense to be able to do that? Well, I want to thank you both Amanda and Vickie, for being here. This has been fun, but here's the term educational as well. I really want to thank you both for being here with us, and I think telling us a lot and teaching us a lot, and for parents listening, reach out to Amanda and Vickie, and they will be very happy to speak with you, and can probably help in so many ways. But remember, ultimately, parents, you have the power don't give it up. Yep, don't, don't underestimate your child, and because of that, make sure that what you do really creates an IEP that works for the child. That's ultimately what we're all about.   Vickie Brett ** 1:03:09 Absolutely. Thank you so much. Michael. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 1:03:11 thank you all, and I want to thank you all for listening. I hope you enjoyed it. I'd love to hear from you. Please feel free to email me if you would. At Michael, H, I M, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I, at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, I, B, E.com, which reminds me, we met you two through Sheldon Lewis, how did that come about? How do you guys know Sheldon? Yeah, you   Vickie Brett ** 1:03:31 know what? We were looking to cut. We were making these small changes to our website. And I got connected to him because we are a nonprofit, and it's just, it's, it's been just such a wonderful breath of fresh air to find a community. So he's always asking us to put our input on on blogs and always promoting us and we the same. It's just, it's nice to be part of the little AccessiBe community. It's   Michael Hingson ** 1:04:01 great. And you guys have access to be on your site now. Yes, you do, you do? There you go. Well, thank you very much for doing that. And if you want everyone, I gave you my email address, Michael h i@accessibe.com or go to our podcast page, www dot Michael hingson.com/podcast and Michael Hingson is M I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I N, G, S O, N, wherever you're listening, please give us a five star rating, and also, as many of you know, ever since September 11, 2001 after escaping from the World Trade Center, I have been a public speaker. If you ever need a speaker, would love to chat with you about speaking at events and for engagements that you might need. So please feel free to email me at speaker@michaelhingson.com that's the quickest way to get immediately noticed. But please, again, give us a five star rating wherever you're listening. We value it, and for all of you, including Vicky and Amanda. If you know anyone else who ought to be a guest on unstoppable blind set, please let us know. Love any any suggestions for guests that you can possibly give us, and with that, I want to just thank you both Vicky and Amanda one last time for being here. This has been great.   Amanda Selogie ** 1:05:16 Thank you.   Vickie Brett ** 1:05:18 Thank you. You better.   Michael Hingson ** 1:05:24 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommen

Welcome to today's episode, where we're exploring the timely topic of inclusive education. As the new school year begins, many parents and educators are thinking about how to create learning environments that truly support all children, regardless of their abilities. Whether you've already made decisions for your child's education or are still weighing your options, this episode will provide valuable insights.  Our guest, Sharon Lowery, is a pioneer in inclusive special education. She has developed a program that welcomes students of all abilities, with a focus on those who learn and think differently. Sharon's approach emphasizes the importance of meeting social-emotional needs and fostering an environment where every child can thrive.  In this conversation, Sharon shares what an inclusive academic setting looks like, how typically developing students and neurodiverse students can benefit from learning together, and why developing emotional intelligence is crucial in a child's education. We'll also address some common concerns parents have about balancing the needs of all students in an inclusive classroom. Join us as we discuss how inclusive education can create a more supportive and enriching experience for every student.   Show Notes: [2:30] - Sharon describes what a fully inclusive academic environment looks like. All children with all academic abilities are welcome. [3:23] - The program Sharon has developed does put a focus on children who learn and think differently, but all students are included. [4:46] - The program is a therapeutic program that meets the needs of all the children who participate. [6:03] - Initially, Sharon was trained in ABA practices and saw benefits, but then began working with Dr. Stanley Greenspan and the DIR/Floortime Model. [7:20] - By understanding the developmental milestones and social emotional development, we can be inclusive of students of all abilities and meet their needs. [8:14] - Sharon shares the differences between a traditional setting and an inclusive environment. [10:07] - Through this model, developing emotional intelligence is important. [12:38] - Children learn from each other. Typically developing students can model for neurodivergent students. [14:53] - We want to build an understanding of differences. As parents, we want our children to be kind and loving. [16:23] - The gifted population also really benefits from an inclusive environment. [19:01] - Sharon describes a scenario that proved the benefits of meeting social-emotional needs in an inclusive environment. [22:48] - A concern some parents have is that the attention needed for neurodiverse students will take away from the needs of the typically developing students. [26:31] - Being inclusive also means being intentional. [29:06] - Sharon describes the start of a school year and what a day might look like in the Smart Start program. [33:21] - Family tours really help ease the minds of parents of neurodiverse children. [35:24] - The small environment gives students an opportunity for a rich and focused learning experience.   About Our Guest: Sharon Lowery holds a BA in Psychology from LAUSD and an MA in Psychology from CSULA. She has advanced post-graduate certification as an Expert Trainer in DIR/Floortime and is a member of the ICDL Faculty, having been trained by Dr. Stanley Greenspan, the creator of the DIR/Floortime Model. In 1992, she founded the SmartStart Developmental Learning Center, where she has served as Executive Director ever since. Sharon is a recognized expert in Special Education, specializing in a Developmental Model, Inclusive Special Education, and Relationship-Based and Sensory-Based Education, all through 5th grade. Additionally, she is a Senior Level ABA Therapist, having been trained by Dr. Ivar Lovaas, the founder of Behavior Modification/ABA for use with ASD.   Connect with Our Guest: Email: sharon@smartstartschool.com Smart Start School Website   Links and Related Resources: Episode 192: Reimagining Education for All Students with Sylvia Barreto Benites Episode 189: The Private School Option for Kids with Learning Differences with Collette Bowers Zinn Episode 164: 5 Keys to Productive IEPs with April Rehrig   Connect with Us: Get on our Email List Book a Consultation Get Support and Connect with a ChildNEXUS Provider Register for Our Self-Paced Mini Courses with LIVE AMA Sessions   The Diverse Thinking Different Learning podcast is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Additionally, the views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are not considered treatment and do not necessarily reflect those of ChildNEXUS, Inc or the host, Dr. Karen Wilson.  

Tim Villegas is the Director of Communications for the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education. He is also the founder of Think Inclusive, which is the blog, podcast, and social media handle of MCIE. He has 16 years of experience in public education as a teacher and district support specialist. His focus now is on how […] The post PMP406: Thinking Inclusive with Tim Villegas appeared first on Principal Matters.