About the Guest(s): Allie Tasche is an advocate and leader in the field of inclusive education. With over a decade of experience that includes six years as a classroom educator followed by various coaching and administrative leadership roles, Alli has specialized in systems-level practices for educational equity. Her background includes working in …

About the Guest(s): Dr. Jodi Asbell-Clarke is an esteemed figure in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) community, particularly in the realm of game-based learning. With a background enriched by working on the space shuttle program for its first 25 missions, she has been pivotal in linking computational thinking and neurodivers…

About the Guest(s): Savitha Sundar, an Occupational Therpaist and Ph.D. candidate, specializes in inclusive practices for students with Extensive Support Needs. With over 15 years in public schools, she’s a champion for inclusive education, leveraging her OT expertise to foster access and participation. At Texas Woman’s University, she mentors futu…

About the Guest(s): Dr. Leah M. Kelley is a storyteller, writer, activist, teacher educator, education consultant, and parent who identifies as neurodivergent and otherwise disabled. She was a K-12 public school teacher for over 25 years and has extensive experience supporting inclusion. Her newly published book, “The Person Who Arrives: Connecting…

About the Guest(s): Sharon M. Draper is an accomplished author and educator, widely recognized for her contribution to young adult literature. Her career as an English teacher spanned over 30 years, engaging with students from sixth to twelfth grade. Draper's literary portfolio includes books that address diverse and compelling topics, with "Out of…

About the Guest(s): Ken Posner is a passionate advocate for the therapeutic benefits of natural stimulation and mindfulness, particularly through the practice of going barefoot as part of the "Barefoot Autism Challenge." Although not a professional runner, Ken's fervor for barefoot running, stemming from the energy and joy it offers, has led him to…

About the Guest(s): Thomas R. Guskey, PhD, is Professor Emeritus in the College of Education, University of Kentucky. A University of Chicago graduate and former middle school teacher, he served as an administrator in Chicago Public Schools and was the first Director of the Center for the Improvement of Teaching and Learning, a national educational…

Hi Friends. Tim Villegas here from the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education. This week, we have a feed drop from a fantastic podcast, Learn with Dr. Emily. Dr. Emily King is a child psychologist and former school psychologist specializing in raising and teaching children and teens diagnosed with autism, ADHD, anxiety, learning disabilities, a…

About the Guest(s): Beth Leipholtz is a multifaceted professional and mother, known for her transparent sharing of personal life experiences on social media. She is the author of the children's book, "The ABCs of Inclusion," and previously penned "Hello, Holland," aimed at parents navigating their children's hearing loss. Beth's journey through mot…

About the Guest(s): Lauren Hough Williams is the Executive Director of the Program for Inclusion and Neurodiversity Education, better known as PINE, an online platform that offers training and support to schools committed to building more neuro-inclusive schools. Lauren is an autism and inclusion specialist and began her career as a special educato…

About the Guest(s): Lauren Rivera is an esteemed scholar with a focus on discrimination, specifically hiring discrimination, and the complex interplay between social class, gender, and race in social structures. Specializing in sociology, Rivera's professional expertise extends to studying how various forms of discrimination manifest within societa…

About the Guest(s): Dr. Andrew Goff was an educator of children with and without disabilities for twelve years before transferring the knowledge and skills he developed as a teacher to his work as a researcher, author, and college professor. He holds a Bachelor’s in child psychology and a Master’s in early childhood education/special education from…

About the Guest(s): Robyn Stack Reagan is the CEO of Circle of Friends, an organization with a mission to promote inclusion for students with disabilities and those living with adversity. With her extensive background in working with youth in residential treatment and fostering youth with mental illness, Reagan brings a wealth of experience to the …

About the Guest(s): Jeannie Gainsburg is an LGBTQ+ advocate and author. She has been actively involved in LGBTQ+ inclusion for over 15 years and has worked with various organizations to promote equality and acceptance. Jeannie is passionate about creating inclusive spaces and educating others on allyship. Episode Summary: In this episode, Tim Ville…

About the Guest(s): Elizabeth Biggs, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Vanderbilt University. She is also an affiliated faculty member of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Her research focuses on improving social, communication, language, and literacy outcomes for students with complex communication needs, particularly supportin…

About The Guest(s): Dr. Kristin Burnette is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at ECU. She has 17 years of experience working with students with extensive support needs and 11 years of classroom experience. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of NC Greensboro, focusing on inclusive education for students with extensive support needs.…

About The Guest(s): Jonathan Cormur is a talented voice actor and the host of the Dorktales Storytime podcast. He has a great passion for storytelling and presents classic fairytales in a unique and geekish way. Jonathan also contributes to the Hidden Heroes of History series, which is part of the Dorktales Storytime feed. Through this series, he h…

Tim Villegas reflects on the year 2023 and discusses what has gone well and what can be improved upon in the coming year. Tim shares his accomplishments, including finishing "Inclusion Stories" and being part of the Inclusion Today group. He expresses a desire to hear more from listeners and invites them to suggest topics for future episodes. Tim e…

About The Guest(s): Arthur Aston is a podcaster and the host of the Inclusion Think Tank podcast for the New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education (NJCIE). He was born with spina bifida, a condition that affects his mobility, and has dedicated his life to changing the way people see and interact with individuals with disabilities. Summary: Arthu…

About The Guest(s): Heather Avis is an author, speaker, and advocate for individuals with Down syndrome. She is the founder of The Lucky Few, a foundation that aims to shift the narrative around Down syndrome and create spaces of belonging for everyone. Heather shares her personal experiences as a mother of three adopted children, two of whom have …

“Physically putting your body in a place where history happened gives you a different sense of intimacy, a different sense of proximity to that history.” In the final episode of our podcast, author, poet, and scholar Clint Smith speaks about the importance of collectively reckoning with history, the legacy of slavery in U.S.-American identity, and …

This week, we are bringing you a feed drop from UDL in 15 Minutes by Loui Lord Nelson *** The ultimate UDL question is “what does UDL look like?” Loui shares how her new tool, The UDL Gears, helps UDL users in all fields and around the world shift that question to, “What are the consistencies of UDL application?” In this episode, guest host Dakota …

“Going through a crisis and having a positive vision of the future are not the same thing. You need to have a positive vision of the future to get through the crisis.” Our hosts, Aida Baghernejad and Tom Zoellner, interview politician and publicist Marina Weisband for this special episode, recorded live at the international literatur festival berli…

About The Guest(s): Brad Cohen is an educator, author, and motivational speaker. He has Tourette Syndrome and has dedicated his career to advocating for individuals with disabilities. Brad has written a book called "Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had," and his story has been made into a movie. He has also work…

About The Guest(s): Valerie Williams is the Director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the U.S. Department of Education. She is passionate about early childhood inclusion and ensuring that all children have access to quality education. Summary: Valerie Williams, Director of OSEP, discusses the importance of inclusion in early ch…

About The Guest(s): Lori Boll is an inclusive education leader with a personal connection to individuals with disabilities. Her son Braden was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and an intellectual developmental delay, inspiring her to advocate for all children’s education. Lori has taught in international schools for over 25 years and holds t…

This week, we are bringing you a feed drop from School Disrupted with Toni Barton. *** In this episode, Toni challenges the education system's approach to inclusivity. Toni kicks off the episode with the controversial sentiment, "...if we fix general education, we wouldn't need special education," and emphasizes the need to fix general education cl…

About The Guest(s): Jen Malia is a professor of English and a writer of children's books. She started out publishing literary criticism before transitioning to creative writing. Her interest in neurodivergence and autism led her to write personal essays and reported pieces on the topic. This eventually led to the opportunity to write children's boo…

About The Guest(s): Tim Harris is a motivational speaker, author, and former restaurant owner. He gained national attention when he opened Tim's Place, a restaurant in Albuquerque, New Mexico, known for its friendly atmosphere and Tim's signature hugs. Tim has Down syndrome and has used his platform to advocate for inclusion and spread joy through …

“There is an understanding that between humans we have this one thing called language and it brings us - or can bring us - together.” Writer and poet Lynne Thompson talks with hosts Aida Baghernejad and Tom Zoellner about her journey to becoming a poet, the role of “truth“ in poetry and its meaning for democracy. Lynne Thompson is the 2021-2022 Poe…

About The Guest(s): Maya Chupkov is the host of the podcast "Proud Stutter" and a passionate advocate for people who stutter. She is also the Media & Democracy Program Manager at California Common Cause, where part of her work focuses on supporting local journalism. Maya is dedicated to raising awareness about stuttering and creating a more inclusi…

About The Guest(s): Andy Arias: DEIA expert, national policy advisor, instructor at Georgetown University, actor, and producer. Diego Mariscal: Founder, CEO, and Chief Disabled Officer of 2Gether International, an accelerator that supports disabled entrepreneurs. Emily Ladau: Disability rights activist, author of "Demystifying Disability," and boar…

About The Guest(s): Brooke Ellison, Ph.D., is an associate professor of health policy and medical ethics at Stony Brook University. At age 11, a car accident left Brooke paralyzed from the neck down and ventilator-dependent. At 21, she graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a degree in cognitive neuroscience. She received a master’s…

About The Guest(s): Kayla Taylor is the author of the book "Canaries Among Us," which provides a personal view into the challenges of raising a child with learning differences, bullying, and anxiety. She is passionate about raising awareness and understanding of these issues to create a more inclusive and supportive society for all children. Summar…

About The Guest(s): Andratesha Fritzgerald is the founder and lead consultant of Building Blocks of Brilliance Educational Consulting Firm. As an international speaker, Fritzgerald exhibits an audacious perseverance that calls organizations to evolve into inclusive antiracist safe zones for all learners. With over twenty years in education, she has…

About The Guest(s): Originally from Edmonton, and now based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Dr. Shelley Moore is a highly sought-after teacher, researcher, speaker, and storyteller and has worked with school districts and community organizations around the world, in supporting and promoting equity for all learners. Her first book, “One Without the …

About The Guest(s): Michael Boll is a technology coach and educator who specializes in AI and its applications in education. He has a background in technology and has been providing professional learning experiences for educators on AI. Summary: Michael Boll discusses the misconceptions about AI in education and how it can be used to benefit studen…

About The Guest(s): Tany Holzworth is a content designer for inclusive classroom tools at Microsoft. With a background in education and a passion for inclusion, Tany has worked to create tools and programs that support diverse learners and promote accessibility. Summary: Tany Holzworth, a content designer for inclusive classroom tools at Microsoft,…

About The Guest(s) Carolyn is the CEO of the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE). She previously served as the Associate Superintendent for Cecil County Public Schools and has extensive experience in promoting inclusive education. Carol is one of the founders and former CEO of MCIE, having transitioned to Director of Special Projects …

About The Guest DJ Nicholson is an experienced educator and advocate for inclusive education. She has a background in special education and has worked with students with disabilities for many years. DJ is passionate about finding innovative ways to support learners with disabilities and believes that technology, including AI, can play a crucial rol…

Education Manager Discusses Importance of Inclusion in Schools About The Guest(s) Luvy Jenkins is the Education Manager and Medical Outreach Manager at the Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas (DSACT). With a background in special education, Louie is passionate about promoting inclusion and providing resources and support to educators and fam…

Disabled artists advocate for inclusive education through art and storytelling. About The Guest(s) Oaklee Thiele is a young artist and disability advocate. She co-founded The My Dearest Friends Project with DisArt in March 2020 to create a public platform where disabled people could share their stories and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. …

Looking for conversations about inclusive education and what it looks like in the real world? We've got you covered. Stay tuned to your feeds for new weekly episodes. Season 11 is coming soon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi Friends. Tim here with another feed drop for you. This time it’s Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, hosted by Diana Pastora Carson. Some of you may remember we had Diana on Think Inclusive in February of 2022 to talk about her journey as an educator advocating for inclusive education and bringing her brother Joaquin home from l…

Beth Liesenfeld is an occupational therapist passionate about providing “insider” information of the school’s process and culture to parents in order to increase collaboration between parents and school staff! Her company, The IEP Lab, provides online workshops and courses as well as produces The Parent IEP Lab Podcast. Here is what we cover in tod…

Raúl Krauthausen has been working in the internet and media world for more than 15 years as a disability-rights activist, founder of the nonprofit organization “Sozialhelden” (Social Heroes), communicator and Design Thinker. The internet is his second home. There he twitters, blogs and posts about things that are important to him. Often humorous, s…

As full-time moms and attorneys, Susan Stone and Kristina Supler bring a unique perspective to their practice, leading the Student & Athlete Defense group at Cleveland-based law firm KJK. Susan and Kristina have developed robust special education and reputation management practices. They also represent students of all ages facing academic misconduc…

Colleen Tomko is a parent and advocate for inclusion, a Penn State graduate, a graduate of Partners in Policymaking and president of Kids Together, Inc. an all-volunteer unfunded non-profit. Colleen Tomko believes that all students should have the opportunity to learn and grow in an inclusive environment. She has seen firsthand the benefits of incl…

In this bonus episode of Think Inclusive, we're talking about our sponsor, Together Letters, a tool that helps people stay in touch with their friends, family, and communities. Together Letters is a simple, email-based newsletter that lets you share updates with your group members on a regular basis. You can use it to stay up-to-date on what's goin…

Mirko Chardin is Novak Education's Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer. Before joining Novak, he was the Founding Head of School of the Putnam Avenue Upper School in Cambridge, MA. Mirko’s work has involved all areas of school management and student support. His greatest experience and passion revolve around culturally connected teaching and learnin…