As we return to another school year, we’re taking a look at some of the voices that have shaped Think Inclusive. Since 2012, the podcast has featured hundreds of conversations, many with disabled authors and self-advocates. Here are just a few:
Disabled authors on the podcast
Eric Garcia, We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation
Eric Garcia is a journalist and an autistic adult. His book pushes past “high-functioning” and “low-functioning” labels toward a conversation about support needs, and argues for fully funding the services autistic people are entitled to under law.
Listen: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/eric-garcia-were-not-broken-changing-the-autism-conversation/
Rachel Zemach, The Butterfly Cage
Rachel Zemach is Deaf educator. Her memoir, The Butterfly Cage: Joy, Heartache, and Corruption: Teaching While Deaf in a California Public School, draws on that experience to argue for Deaf-led, ASL-centered education. In her episode, she and Tim talk about why mainstream placement isn’t always the least restrictive environment for Deaf students, and what schools get wrong about Deaf identity and culture.
Listen: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/unveiling-the-deaf-experience-rachel-zemachs-identity-transformation-journey/
Temple Grandin, Visual Thinking
Temple Grandin is autistic, a professor of animal science at Colorado State, and the author of several New York Times bestsellers, including Visual Thinking, Thinking in Pictures, and The Autistic Brain. In her episode, she and Tim talk about why schools sideline visual thinkers and what educators can learn from how she approaches problem-solving.
Listen: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/dr-temple-grandin-visual-thinking-2/
Emily Ladau, Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally
Emily Ladau has been a disability rights activist since childhood. Her book is a practical guide to disability language, etiquette, and allyship. In her episode, she and Tim talk about why the book needed to be written and play a quick round of “is it ableist?”
Listen: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/navigating-disability-advocacy-amidst-political-challenges-and-misunderstandings/
Advocates Sharing their stories
Samuel Habib, The Ride Ahead
Samuel Habib is a college student, filmmaker, and disability rights advocate. He co-directed the Emmy-winning documentary The Ride Ahead with his father, Dan Habib. Together they talk with Tim about inclusive schooling, mentorship, and why disabled people should tell their own stories.
Listen: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/the-ride-ahead-samuel-and-dan-habib/
Jordyn Zimmerman, Designing Schools for Belonging
Jordyn Zimmerman is an autistic educator and accessibility innovator who was denied access to AAC until age 18. She talks with Tim about presuming competence, communication as a basic human right, and what school districts get wrong about inclusion.
Listen: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/designing-schools-for-belonging-jordyn-zimmerman-on-inclusion-and-aac-tools-1310/
Dustin Giannelli, Be On Offense: Navigating Inclusion and Accessibility
Dustin Giannelli has been profoundly deaf since childhood. He talks with Tim about self-advocacy, communication access, and why inclusion is a practice, not a destination.
Listen: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/be-on-offense-navigating-inclusion-and-accessibility-with-dustin-giannelli-1325/
Lachi, “I Identify as Blind”: Disability Language, Identity, and Why Words Matter in Schools
A Grammy-nominated musician, author, and founder of Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities (RAMPD). Lachi identifies as blind and has spent the last several years building disability culture into the music industry, from accessible Grammy red carpets to her book, I Identify as Blind. Watch your feed for that episode later in July.
Listen: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/i-identify-as-blind-lachi-on-disability-language-identity-and-why-words-matter-in-schools-1340/
Listen to any of these episodes at mcie.org/think-inclusive, and if one speaks to you, share it with a colleague or your school team.