Think Inclusive Podcast

Today on the podcast, we talk with Maryland’s 2020 Teacher of the year, Wyatt Oroke about what it means to have an inclusive classroom. We discuss his perspective on how having high expectations for all of his scholars is essential and what his dream for the future of education is.This episode's transcript can be found here. Download our new resource, The Best Inclusive Education Links: 100 links to the best inclusion-related articles, videos, and media on the web. Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education.Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.usFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.CreditsThis podcast is a production of MCIE. Become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the podcast, we talk with Melissa McCullough, Director of Early Childhood for the East Moline School District in Illinois.We discuss what a truly inclusive preschool program looks like and what they are doing to move past the outdated model of providing specialized services in separate places. This episode's transcript can be found here.Download our new resource, The Best Inclusive Education Links: 100 links to the best inclusion-related articles, videos, and media on the web.Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education.Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.usFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.CreditsThis podcast is a production of MCIE. Become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the podcast, we talk with Dr. Eddie Fergus of Temple University.We discuss the disproportionate number of students of color being identified in special education and what we can do about it. We review how restorative practices might be used in inclusive schools and how the biggest barrier to inclusion might be who we think can teach students with disabilities. Be prepared to unpack the shopping carts of our minds.Eddie Fergus is the author of the book Solving Disproportionality and Achieving Equity: A Leader′s Guide to Using Data to Change Hearts and Minds.Follow Dr. Fergus on Twitter.This episode's transcript can be found here.Download our new resource, The Best Inclusive Education Links: 100 links to the best inclusion-related articles, videos, and media on the web.Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education.Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.usFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.CreditsThis podcast is a production of MCIE. Become a pat

Today on the podcast, we talk with Megan Gross and Nancy Brundrett of the Poway Unified School District in Southern California. They tell us how their district has changed how they educate students with significant disabilities and their role in supporting Poway schools with inclusive education.Megan Gross is the author of the books The Inclusion Toolbox: Strategies and Techniques for All Teachers and ParaEducate.This episode's transcript can be found here.Download our new resource, The Best Inclusive Education Links: 100 links to the best inclusion-related articles, videos, and media on the web.Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education.Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.usFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.CreditsThis podcast is a production of MCIE. Become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the podcast, we talk with Dr. Jenny Kurth, professor of special education at the University of Kansas. We discuss preparing for and implementing participation plans for students with complex support needs to be included in general education. And why we should all carry around pocket-sized versions of IDEA.Jenny Kurth is the author of the book The Inclusion Toolbox: Strategies and Techniques for All Teachers and the article Preparing for and Implementing Effective Inclusive Education With Participation Plans.This episode's transcript can be found here.Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education.Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.usFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.CreditsThis podcast is a production of MCIE. Become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the podcast, we have a very special SUPERSIZED conversation with Alfie Kohn, prolific speaker and author, on human behavior, education, and parenting. We discuss whether bribes or positive reinforcement are really the same things and answer the question…should educators abandon behaviorist ideas altogether?Mr. Kohn is the author of several books, including:Punished by Rewards: Twenty-fifth Anniversary Edition: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other BribesThe Schools Our Children Deserve: Moving Beyond Traditional Classrooms and "Tougher Standards"We also reference Autism and Behaviorism: New Research Adds to an Already Compelling Case Against ABA.This episode's transcript can be found here.Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education.Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.usFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.CreditsThis podcast is a production of MCIE. Become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! Hosted o

Today on the podcast, a conversation with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) expert, Katie Novak. We talk about some common misconceptions of UDL, how UDL works with students with more significant disabilities, and what it is was like to lead her school district to implement inclusive education.Katie is the author of several books, including:Equity by Design: Delivering on the Power and Promise of UDLUnlearning: Changing Your Beliefs and Your Classroom with UDLThis episode's transcript can be found here.Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education.Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.usFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.Click here for audio transcripts.CreditsThis podcast is a production of MCIE. Become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the podcast, a rare solo episode about why I call myself an inclusionist.For some, the word "inclusionist" has a negative association. I make the case that there is more to the word than just believing that we should get rid of special education or that inclusion only counts if it is "100%."I tell the story of my inclusion journey and how it led me to what I am doing now, advocating for the full and authentic inclusion for students with disabilities.Thanks for your time and attention!TVThis episode's transcript can be found here.Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education.Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.usFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.ResourcesWhy Would a Special Education Teacher Advocate for Inclusive Education? (Noodle)Fully Included: Damian (Think Inclusive)Special education teacher explains why she wants to be called 'accessibility specialist' (GMA)CreditsThis podcast is a production of MCIE. Become a patron of the Think Inc

Since I started the podcast in 2012, I've always wanted to do a "best of" podcast!Today, we are highlighting five conversations that I had from the early years of the podcast.Paula Kluth talks about why some schools aren't as inclusive as they think they are. Dan Habib discusses how Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) looked for one high school. Julie Causton explains why her research project, called Schools of Promise, shows why inclusion works for all students. Nicole Eredics gives one important strategy for inclusive classrooms. And Scott F shares what it is like to have students with significant disabilities included in his classroom.Thanks for your time and attention!TVThis episode's transcript can be found here.Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education.Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.usFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.CreditsIntro Music - Clap Your Hands by Jahzzar / Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-S

Today on the podcast we talk to Shelley Moore, inclusive education consultant and presenter extraordinaire! We talk about what her path looked like to become a special education teacher and why she cares about inclusive education so much. Also, we discuss the major differences between Canada's educational systems and the United States are regarding special education. And what is all this fuss about baked potatoes? And how do they relate to strategic planning for students in the classroom? Check out her book: One Without the Other: Stories of Unity Through Diversity and Inclusion to learn even more.This episode's transcript can be found here.Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education.Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.usFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.CreditsThis podcast is a production of MCIE. Become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the podcast, Jennifer Spencer-Iiams, Assistant Superintendent for the West Linn-Wilsonville School District, talks to us about the transformation in her district toward inclusive practices. Her book, Leading for All: How to Create Truly Inclusive and Excellent Schools, shares lessons learned from years building district schools where all students are served in their neighborhood school and classrooms with their general education peers.This episode's transcript can be found here.Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education.Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.usFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.CreditsThis podcast is a production of MCIE. Become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discussions around the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for students with disabilities are almost always tricky. For this episode, we attempt to make LRE a little more understandable. We interview Amy Langerman, special education advocate and attorney in California and Arizona. We discuss the difficulty of some parents seeking the Least Restrictive Environment for their child and how services are delivered in both states. Next, we have Amanda Selogie and Vickie Brett from the Inclusive Education Project (which is a fantastic podcast if you don’t already know about them). We also discuss LRE and strategies that you can take to help advocate for inclusive education wherever you are on your inclusion journey.This episode's transcript can be found here.Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education.Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.usFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.CreditsThis podcast is a production of MCIE. Become a patron of the Think Inclusiv

About the Guest(s):Carol Quirk is the CEO of the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE), which she has been involved with since the 1990s. With extensive experience in disability rights and inclusive education, Carol has worked with prominent organizations like TASH and the National Council on Disability. Her career spans efforts to integrate students with significant disabilities into general education settings and She has contributed significantly to national projects funded by the US Department of Education focused on disability inclusion.Episode Summary:In this episode of the Think Inclusive Podcast, host Tim Villegas speaks with Carol Quirk, an advocate for inclusive education and CEO of the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education. This meaningful discussion reveals the intricacies involved in promoting inclusive education for children with disabilities across the country. Tim and Carol delve deeply into the practices that bring educators, parents, and disability rights advocates together t

About the Guest(s):Denise Marshall serves as the executive director of the Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys (COPPA), a national nonprofit dedicated to protecting the civil and legal rights of students with disabilities. With extensive experience in disability advocacy, Denise leads COPPA to help parents and legal representatives navigate disputes with educational systems.Jennifer Lesh is the 2020 President of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), an association devoted to advancing the success of children with exceptionalities. Her leadership at CEC encompasses a wide range of educational advocacy, standards-setting, and professional development initiatives, reflecting over 98 years of organizational history and impact.Episode Summary:In this bonus episode of the Think Inclusive Podcast, host Tim Villegas dives into the challenges and opportunities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic for inclusive education, specifically concerning students with disabilities. Tim interviews two prominent figures

About the Guest(s):Juanita Pritchard is an esteemed former intellectual disability specialist with a rich career spanning teaching, community instruction, and assistive technology. Starting her special education journey in 1977, Juanita has been at the forefront of educational trends and innovations, especially in supporting teachers within classrooms designed for students with intellectual disabilities. Although now retired, she provides consulting services and curates educational materials tailored to older students with intellectual disabilities. Her impactful work can be explored further through Wise Dragon Education Support, where she continues to shape inclusive education practices.Episode Summary:In this episode of the Think Inclusive podcast, Tim Villegas dives into the vital topic of inclusive education, underscoring its importance for all students, regardless of disability. Through a comprehensive discussion with Juanita Pritchard, an expert in intellectual disabilities, this episode unravels the in

About the Guest(s):Jackie Mader is a seasoned journalist with The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit education news outlet. With rich experience in special education, Jackie draws from her background as a teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina, combined with years of in-depth research into the challenges and advancements within teacher preparation for inclusive education settings.Christina Samuels serves as an Associate Editor at Education Week, having covered special education since 2004. With a background in education reporting from her work with the Washington Post, Christina blends her extensive experience and insights into special education and early childhood education, seeking solutions to systemic challenges within educational systems.Episode Summary: The Think Inclusive Podcast, hosted by Tim Villegas, dives into the pressing challenges faced by educators when teaching in inclusive classrooms. In this episode, education journalists Jackie Mader and Christina Samuels offer their unique perspectives on the pr

About the Guest(s): Erin Green is the leader of Brave Commons, an LGBTQ advocacy organization focused on creating equitable spaces in Christian universities. She is an outspoken activist for LGBTQ rights within faith communities. Through Brave Commons, Green organizes efforts to support and defend LGBTQ students from discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.Mike McHargue (Science Mike) Mike McHargue, also known as Science Mike, is an author, speaker, and host known for his thought-provoking insights into the intersections of science, faith, and humanity. Diagnosed with autism as an adult, Mike brings a unique perspective to discussions about disability and inclusion. He is the author of "Finding God in the Waves" and hosts the podcast "Ask Science Mike," contributing valuable discourse on contemporary spiritual and scientific topics.Episode Summary: In this thought-provoking episode of the Think Inclusive Podcast, host Tim Villegas delves deep into the complexities of inclusion, es

About the Guest(s): Dr. Julie Causton is a former professor at Syracuse University where she spent 14 years empowering future educators with dual licensure in special and general education. As an inclusion facilitator and expert, she co-founded Inclusive Schooling alongside Kate McLeod. Together, they work tirelessly across the U.S. and worldwide, helping schools to adopt inclusive education practices. Julie is also a prolific author, with numerous books and articles aimed at advancing inclusive education.Episode Summary: In this eye-opening episode of the Think Inclusive Podcast, host Tim Villegas discusses the transformative power of inclusive education for students with disabilities. Through an in-depth look at a King 5 News investigation titled Back of the Class, the episode emphasizes the positive impact of integrating students like Sam, who has Down syndrome, into general education classrooms. The story illustrates how inclusion fosters social interaction, boosts confidence, and enhances academic skills

About the Guest(s): Dr. Erin Studer is the principal of Chime Charter School, an inclusive education TK-8 institution in Woodland Hills, California, known for its innovative approaches in integrating students of all abilities. With an extensive background in educational leadership, Dr. Studer has been instrumental in advancing inclusion practices in schools since the 1990s. He plays an active role in the special education community, contributing to the Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPA) in California.Amy Hanreddy is a professor at California State University Northridge, specializing in inclusive education and special needs pedagogy. Her academic and professional efforts focus on implementing inclusive practices to support diverse learners.Episode Summary: Join Tim Villegas as he takes you on an immersive tour of Chime Charter School in Woodland Hills, California, where inclusive education isn’t just a goal—it's a reality. With insightful commentary from Dr. Erin Studer, the principal of Chime, and Amy

About the Guest(s): Lou Brown is the co-founder of TASH (The Association for People with Severe Handicaps), an advocacy organization focusing on the rights and inclusion for individuals with significant disabilities and support needs. He is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin, where he made significant contributions to the disability rights movement and inclusive education practices. Lou has been an influential figure in advocating for the deinstitutionalization and comprehensive inclusivity of individuals with severe disabilities in regular societal functions.Episode Summary: In this eye-opening episode of The Think Inclusive Podcast, Tim Villegas discusses the ongoing challenges and progress in inclusive education with Lou Brown, a formidable advocate for disability rights and inclusion. Tim highlights a personal experience that encapsulates society's resistance to inclusive education, emphasizing the urgent need for a paradigm shift in how educational systems treat students with disabilitie