Think Inclusive Podcast

For this episode, I speak with Katie Novak, an internationally renowned education consultant, author, graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, and a former Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Massachusetts. With 20 years of experience in teaching and administration, an earned doctorate in curriculum and teaching, and eleven published books, Katie designs and presents workshops both nationally and internationally focusing on the implementation of inclusive practices, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), multi-tiered systems of support, and universally designed leadership.  Katie and I discuss her book UDL Now. She untangles some of the misconceptions about Universal Design for Learning, explains how UDL applies to instructing learners with extensive support needs, and why equity isn’t really a scary word. Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Otter.ai Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/fqzT3A3HA7vD5bdxe_ePzC

For this episode, I speak with Michael Giangreco, a University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Special Education in the Department of Education at the University of Vermont and is affiliated with UVM's Center on Disability & Community Inclusion.  Michael and I discuss why many school systems rely too much on paraprofessionals when implementing inclusive education. We talk about why he cautions parents about advocating for that one-to-one for their child. And stick around till the end when Michael shares what inspired using cartoons as a communication tool.  I’ve seriously been so excited to share this interview with you. Dr. Giangreco has authored over 200 professional publications on various special education topics and presented extensively across the United States and internationally.  Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Otter.ai Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/1_1-aP9vFpdArMhSWv2LTAamvTI?utm_

For this episode, I speak with Melissa Defayette, who is a current third-year Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland. She achieved candidacy in the Fall of 2022. Her research is focused on creating and implementing mathematic interventions for students with moderate to severe disabilities to be used in general education settings while aligned to grade-level content. She has co-authored three articles with the research team led by her advisor, Dr. Yakubova. Melissa and I discuss what it is like being on the research side versus the classroom teacher side of education, why it's so hard for general education teachers to want to change their mindset regarding students with extensive support needs, and how her inclusion journey started in middle school. And just a quick note that our interview was recorded in early 2022. Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Otter.ai Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/As32Q0z501EZQKGzIYdWFN

About the Guest(s):Dr. Temple Grandin is a renowned professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University and a prominent advocate for the humane treatment of livestock for slaughter. She is an accomplished author with numerous New York Times bestsellers, including "Animals in Translation," "Animals Make Us Human," "The Autistic Brain," and "Thinking in Pictures," which was adapted into an HBO movie starring Claire Danes. Dr. Grandin is a trailblazer in autism advocacy, specifically emphasizing the unique strengths of visual thinkers.Episode Summary:In this enlightening episode of Think Inclusive, Tim Villegas, from the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education, converses with Dr. Temple Grandin about her new book, "Visual Thinking." The discussion centers around the education system's failure to cater to visual thinkers and the impact this oversight has on industries reliant on these skills. Grandin passionately conveys how hands-on educational experiences, reminiscent of shop and art classes, are vital

For this episode, I speak with Ashley Barlow, a special education attorney advocate and host of the podcast Special Education Advocacy with Ashley Barlow. In a former life, she was a German teacher in Jefferson County Public Schools and Cincinnati Public Schools, having taught nearly every grade from K to 12.  Ashley practices statewide in Kentucky and also operates a business to empower and inspire parents and advocates in special education, which can be found at www.ashleybarlowco.com. She is also the Director of Education at the National Down Syndrome Congress.  We did something a little different for this episode. Ashley and I interviewed each other and are posting the same interview on our respective podcasts. Cool right? We discuss several things related to inclusive education, including … what inclusive ed really means and using Dear Colleague Letters as a strategy in IEP meetings.  Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spoti

For this episode, Tim speaks with Jay Ruderman, the President of the Ruderman Family Foundation, focusing on inclusion, diversity, and social justice. He hosts All About Change, a podcast focused on activism, change, and courage. Jay is a social justice activist who has spent his life promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities. Through his foundation, he has been an integral part of holding the entertainment industry accountable for its lack of authentic representation of people with disabilities. Just a quick content warning, Jay and I discuss some sensitive topics, such as suicide, school shootings, and gun violence. Our conversation was recorded in May of 2022. Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Otter.ai Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/tgKg6ts9AFRiISJMPI6mu7RwXRMPDF Transcript: https://3bd6e695-b492-4878-afa9-f79d8b09e0c4.usrfiles.com/ugd/3bd6e6_be3c7c83dfe347f48c991e543229b6f4.pdfShow Notes: htt

For this episode, Tim speaks with members of the Inclusive Education Community of Practice from TASH, Debbie Taub, Diane Ryndak, and Mary Fisher, about TASH’s position statement on the characteristics of fully inclusive schools.So just a point of clarification. We recorded this interview earlier this year before the annual conference in Phoenix, the first weekend of December. Tim will give his full recap and reflection of that TASH conference in his audio newsletter, The Weeklyish. Go to weeklyish.substack.com to subscribe and get it in your inbox when it drops next week.Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Otter.ai Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/6b10zs5hfS7EK_djD90tCo0wEvMPDF Transcript: https://3bd6e695-b492-4878-afa9-f79d8b09e0c4.usrfiles.com/ugd/3bd6e6_1a9b8cc81a47491fbddea27cbd671e30.pdfShow Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-TASHCover Art Image Description: black background; think inclusive logo in the top left; rainbow-colored waves overlaye

In this episode, Tim Villegas speaks with Charmaine Thaner, an inclusion advocate and founder of Collaborative Special Education Advocacy. They discuss her journey from being a self-contained special education teacher to an inclusion advocate and including her son with Down syndrome in school from preschool to college. Charmaine describes her early work as a special education teacher in the 1970s when few students with disabilities were in public schools. She also talks about her work today, equipping families and educators to advocate for inclusive education.Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Otter.ai Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/AEbSJSrQ2NjM0uEGofmJzdrXu7MPDF Transcript: https://3bd6e695-b492-4878-afa9-f79d8b09e0c4.usrfiles.com/ugd/3bd6e6_4f15200d1bdd496e987f3ab67c2e8bd6.pdfShow Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-Charmaine-ThanerCover Art Image Description: black background; think inclusive logo in the top left; rainbow-co

For this episode, Tim speaks with Kanwal Singh, former director of the Vishwas school and author of Hanging On: A Special Educator’s Journey into Inclusive Education.  Kanwal and Tim reflect on her career working with students with disabilities in special schools and why her attitude changed toward inclusive practices. They discuss her experience as the director at Vishwas school and what she’s learned about sustaining inclusive education over the years. And what teachers need to know if they want to keep inclusive education going in their school or district. Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Otter.ai Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/STNVD0IVekrI0SlYnwOkCEqXuosPDF Transcript: https://3bd6e695-b492-4878-afa9-f79d8b09e0c4.usrfiles.com/ugd/3bd6e6_5620cb4971b14fdb82cbb8830fadbd85.pdfShow Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-Kanwal-SinghCover Art Image Description: black background; think inclusive logo in the top left; rainbow-c

For this episode, Tim Villegas speaks with Russ Ewell, Founder of E-Soccer and Digital Scribbler, CEO of Hope Technology Group, host of the Lead Different Podcast, and father of children with disabilities. We discuss the characteristics of being an inclusive leader. And later in the interview he turns the tables on Tim and asks him some questions about why inclusion is important to him.Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Otter.ai Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/J_6dkIWVIt5ePGi6q1nJYzMzucsPDF Transcript: https://3bd6e695-b492-4878-afa9-f79d8b09e0c4.usrfiles.com/ugd/3bd6e6_84396f23e05e49c89ac53966dd749315.pdfShow Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-Russ-EwellCover Art Image Description: black background; think inclusive logo in the top left; rainbow-colored waves overlayed with a headshot of Russ Ewell; text reads: Russ Ewell | Inclusive Leadership; S10E7; MCIE logo in the bottom rightCreditsThink Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Ti

For this episode, I speak with Meg Grigal and Cate Weir from Think College about why it is important for individuals with intellectual disabilities to have the option to go to college. We discuss what inclusive post-secondary education programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities really look like. And how the data shows that these programs are successful, with learners getting jobs after graduation at three times the rate of the national average. Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.***Click here for the transcript of this episode.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.Sign up for updates from MCIE.CreditsThink Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas, and is produced by MCIE.Original music by Miles Kredich.Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, I talk with Jani Kozlowski, author of the book, Every Child Can Fly: An Early Childhood Educator’s Guide to Inclusion. We discuss why inclusion matters in early childhood education programs. And how we can prepare educators to create inclusive learning environments for all learners. Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.***Click here for the transcript of this episode.ResourcesMelissa McCullough | What Inclusive Preschool Services Look LikeEvery Child Can Fly: An Early Childhood Educator's Guide to InclusionECTA Indicators of High-Quality InclusionEarly Childhood Inclusion Videos ECTA video links Early Childhood Recommended Practices Modules STEM Innovations for Inclusion in Early Education (STEMIE) Video Library CONNECT Modules Videos CA Inclusion Video Library  IL Understanding Inclusion ModulesFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.Sign up for updates from MCIE.CreditsThink Inclusive is written, ed

For this episode, I talk with Dr. Ross Greene, author of the books Lost at School and Raising Human Beings. We discuss what schools are getting right and wrong about supporting learners with challenging behavior and an alternative lens for educators to view behavior in all learners. Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.***Click here for the transcript of this episode.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.Sign up for updates from MCIE.CreditsThink Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas, and is produced by MCIE.Original music by Miles Kredich.Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, I talk with Dr. Mona Delahooke, author of the books, Brain-Body Parenting and Beyond Behaviors. We discuss the neuroscience of behavior, how parents and educators can move beyond behavior charts and positive reinforcement, and a new way to look at using the check-in procedure with learners.Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.***Click here for a transcript of this episode.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.Sign up for updates from MCIE.CreditsThink Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas, and is produced by MCIE.Original music by Miles Kredich.Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, we talk with Mazey Eddings, the neurodiverse author of A Brush with Love, a romance novel set in dental school. We talk about why she wanted to write neurodiverse characters in her books, how she sees herself in the characters of A Brush with Love, and what she hopes her readers take away from the book on how to support people living with anxiety.Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.***Click here for a transcript of this episode.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.Sign up for updates from MCIE.CreditsThink Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas, and is produced by MCIE.Original music by Miles Kredich.Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi, Y'all!My friends, Cheryl and Thomas (who are superb podcasters BTW), are taking over the Think Inclusive feed for a few minutes today to tell you about a special survey project they are doing.With support from the Disability Visibility Project, Cheryl Green and Thomas Reid are gathering information about disabled podcasters and podcasts focused on disability and accessibility (or “disability podcasts” for short). They will use this information to develop an online listing of podcasts and resource for disabled podcasters to find each other and find audiences.Awesome right?Here is the link if you are interested in taking the survey.Here is a transcript of the promo from Cheryl and Thomas.Thanks for listening, and we will catch you next week in the feed with another episode of Think Inclusive.- Tim Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to a new season of Think Inclusive!For the first episode of our tenth season, we speak with Liz Weintraub and Kenneth Kelty, both fantastic content creators and disability advocates.Liz is the host of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, a YouTube show where she breaks down policy so everyone can understand it.Kenneth is the host of Exceeding Expectations with Kenneth Kelty, a podcast where he shares the stories of trailblazers and leaders surrounding disability advocacy.We talk about the motivation behind creating their shows, some of their favorite moments while recording interviews, and what they hope their audience learns.Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.***Click here for a transcript of this episode.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.Sign up for updates from MCIE.CreditsThink Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas, and is produced by MCIE.Original music by Miles Kredich.S

Today on the pod, we are replaying some clips from our 2020 episode about including students with intellectual disabilities in general education (our second most listened to episode of all time). But this time around, I'm adding an additional interview with my friends from the TIES Center, Jennifer Sommerness and Jessica Bowman. Now if you don't know, the TIES center is the National Technical Assistance Center on inclusive practices and policies. It works with states, districts, and schools to support the movement of students with disabilities from less inclusive to more inclusive environments. TIES is funded through a federal grant from the Office of Special Education Programs or OSEP. I invited Jennifer and Jessica to share some stories of students with extensive support needs that were included in general education and reflect on their journey to becoming supporters and promoters of inclusive education. In the original episode from 2020, I had my friend and former colleague, Juanita Prichard come on the po

Today on the pod, we bring you a special remixed episode from 2019, my interview with Julie Causton, founder of Inclusive Schooling. We discuss six strategies for families advocating for their children to be included in general education classrooms. To start the episode, the story of Sam, a young man with Down syndrome, who went from spending all of this time in a segregated special education classroom to being included in general education.ReferencesWashington students with disabilities are often denied the right to learn in general classes (King 5 News)Achieving Inclusion: What Every Parent Should Know when Advocating for Their Child***Click here for a transcript of this episode.Take our podcast listener survey: bit.ly/TIPodcastSurvey.Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education.Have a question or comment? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.us.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.CreditsThis podcast is a production of MCIE. Support the podcast and become a patron! Hosted on

I don't know about where you live, but today is the last day of school for the kids in our neighborhood. Summer is here. So let the late nights begin.Today on the pod, we have Rasheera Dopson, the host of the WomanHood and Disability podcast. This episode's transcript can be found here.Take our podcast listener survey: bit.ly/TIPodcastSurvey.Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education.Have a question or comment? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.us.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.CreditsThis podcast is a production of MCIE. Support the podcast and become a patron! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.