#NothingSpecial: Why Inclusive Education Should Be the Norm ~ 1032

Tim Villegas
From MCIE: Inclusive education should be hashtag nothing special.
My name is Tim Villegas from the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education, and you are listening to Think Inclusive, a show where, with every conversation, we try to build bridges between families, educators, and disability justice advocates to create a shared understanding of inclusive education and what inclusion looks like in the real world. You can learn more about who we are and what we do at mcie.org.

Oaklee Thiele is a Disability Rights Activist, Writer, and protest artist whose work chronicles life from the disabled perspective and addresses systemic discrimination within academic and artistic institutions. She is the co-founder and director for the My Dearest Friends Project, an international art collaboration that archives, illustrates, and amplifies stories of disability culture and community. With her husband, she hosts Tethered Together, a podcast and blog that documents their inter-abled relationship and her life with tethered cord syndrome.

Lawrence Carter-Long’s lifetime of advocacy combines a unique blend of the arts, public policy, and popular culture. Formerly the communications lead for the National Council on Disability during the Obama administration, Lawrence joined DisArt as the Director of Discourse and Development in June 2022.

In this episode, Oaklee and Lawrence discuss the My Dearest Friends Project and its connection to the #NothingSpecial campaign. Oaklee shares her personal experience of facing ableism and accessibility barriers at her college, highlighting the need for change in educational institutions. Lawrence emphasizes the importance of listening to disabled people and involving them in decision-making to create truly inclusive environments.

Before we get into today’s interview, I want to tell you about our sponsor, Together Letters. Are you tired of social media? Together Letters is a tool that can help. It’s a group email newsletter that asks members for updates and combines them into a single newsletter for everyone. All you need is email. We are using Together Letters so Think Inclusive patrons can stay in touch. Groups of 10 or less are free, and you can sign up at togetherletters.com.

And now, my interview with Oaklee Thiele and Lawrence Carter-Long.

Tim Villegas
Oaklee Thiele and Lawrence Carter-Long, welcome to the Think Inclusive podcast.

Oaklee Thiele
Thank you for having us.

Lawrence Carter-Long
Thank you, Tim. It’s a pleasure to be here.

Tim Villegas
All right. So I originally reached out to Oaklee for a potential interview when I heard about the #NothingSpecial project. Oaklee or Lawrence, could you explain to our audience what that is and the connection between that and the My Dearest Friends Project? How does it all work together?

Oaklee Thiele
In March of 2020, DisArt and I co-founded the My Dearest Friends Project. We saw this common problem at the start of the pandemic where the media was talking about disabled people, but we didn’t feel like they were talking to disabled people. DisArt approached me to figure out a way to build a public platform where disabled people could share their stories and experiences.

We wanted to archive the COVID-19 pandemic from the disabled perspective. After brainstorming, I wrote the very first My Dearest Friends poem. It started with the words “My dearest friends” and talked about wanting to build a more accessible world—a world for everyone, a world for us. I signed it with my first name because it was a vow to my community.

We posted an open call on Instagram, urging disabled people to respond with their own dearest friends poems. Having this virtual space allowed disabled people to connect safely and accessibly. The stories were diverse—some about happiness and successes, others about fear and worry during the pandemic. Over time, My Dearest Friends tackled topics like mental health and accessibility in schools.

We archive, illustrate, and share every story we receive. Sometimes we expand beyond Instagram and create physical exhibitions using vinyl prints of the charcoal drawings, installed in institutions around Grand Rapids. One of the latest topics we tackled centered on #NothingSpecial, which is where you found us. Lawrence actually came up with the hashtag for this campaign.

Lawrence Carter-Long
Yeah, these days everything begins with a hashtag, right? Since DisArt began in 2014, one of the guiding principles has been to serve as an incubator for artists and ideas. Everything we do begins and ends with relationships.

When Oaklee brought her experience to us, we started thinking about what was happening in the educational system. We needed a way to unify these concepts into something easily understood—a leaping-off point. We wanted to reinforce ideas that inclusive educators have been talking about for decades: inclusive education should be the norm, not something “special.” Ideally, it would be a given.

The hashtag was created as a vehicle to help us get closer to that goal in a way that’s easy to grasp and act on.

Tim Villegas
Oaklee, why was this particular idea of #NothingSpecial important to you personally?

Oaklee Thiele
2020 was the year I got accepted into my dream college, the Cooper Union. It was also the year I began to have physical health issues. I dealt with so many challenges there. For example, I got stuck in a bathroom because my wheelchair couldn’t turn around—and that bathroom was labeled “accessible.”

I ended up trying not to use the bathroom at school because it wasn’t accessible, which was incredibly hard since I had a spinal condition and bladder issues. I missed classes because elevators constantly broke down. I even had to drop classes because classrooms couldn’t accommodate my wheelchair.

The scariest thing was the lack of an accessible evacuation plan. I begged the Cooper Union to figure out a fire escape plan for me. Their solution? “Sit and wait in the stairwell with your wheelchair and service dog, and someone will come get you.” That was humiliating and terrifying.

The whole school year showed me they didn’t care about disabled students. If they cared, they’d fix bathrooms, make classes accessible, and address ableist comments. Instead, I had to sit in stairwells during fire drills, watching able-bodied students rush to safety. I developed anxiety about dying in college—not because of my health, but because my school was inaccessible.

I’m currently on medical leave and honestly not sure if I’ll return. I didn’t realize how critical accessibility was until I needed it.

Tim Villegas
Yeah. And how disappointing to be so excited about joining a community, only to find complete disregard for your safety—from building design to safety protocols.

Oaklee Thiele
Exactly. And when I researched it, I realized this wasn’t just Cooper Union. This “sit and wait in the stairwell” plan is common across the country. When I told them it was dehumanizing, they said, “Well, everyone does it.” That’s when I realized whole systems need to change.

Tim Villegas
Right. And for our listeners interested in inclusive systems, that argument—“This is how we’ve always done it”—is the same one used to justify segregated classrooms and disability-specific programs.

Lawrence, why is the #NothingSpecial message important to you?

Lawrence Carter-Long
For a variety of reasons. Before joining DisArt in 2022, I worked for the federal government for seven years under the Obama administration as Director of Communications for the National Council on Disability. Our mandate was to recommend federal disability policy to the President, Congress, and federal agencies.

That experience taught me that the personal is political. Oaklee’s story isn’t isolated—it reflects systemic issues. For context, a report called The Condition of Education found that in the 2020–2021 school year, 7.2 million students with disabilities were served under IDEA—that’s about 15% of all public school students. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

I went through school with cerebral palsy and was never in special ed, so I wouldn’t have been counted in that data. Many students aren’t being served or counted.

Art isn’t separate from discrimination or legislation. This campaign is about justice—ensuring all students get their needs met seamlessly. You shouldn’t have to fight just to get into or out of your classroom.

When we started using the hashtag, the first phase was collecting stories to give students space to share their reality. Now, based on feedback, we’re thinking about building a My Dearest Friends curriculum tied to #NothingSpecial. We need more data and ideas from the community to shape that next phase. Everything we do is built on relationships and collaboration.

Tim Villegas
So you’re really looking for stories of disabled people—students or educators—whether positive or negative, related to the #NothingSpecial idea. Is that correct?

Oaklee Thiele
Yes. For the longest time, I was battling the Cooper Union by myself. I felt like these experiences were unique to me. But when we started collecting stories through #NothingSpecial, I realized these issues are happening everywhere. That was both shocking and validating.

Tim Villegas
Is there a story you can share with our listeners that gives an example of the types of stories you’ve received?

Lawrence Carter-Long
One that comes to mind is from actor Danny Woodburn—many know him as Mickey on Seinfeld. He shared an anecdote from college. He often had to get across campus quickly, which was hard for him. He noticed a classmate who used an electric wheelchair, and Danny would hop on the back so they could zoom across campus together.

I love that story because it’s positive. It shows how students can build community and solidarity in organic ways. Sharing stories like that gives others ideas about how to connect and adapt.

For me, it’s personal too. I’ve identified as disabled my whole life, but I didn’t get involved in the disability community until I was 35. What if I’d had those connections earlier? How would my understanding of disability culture and history have been different?

Part of what we’re trying to do is push back against ableism—both external and internal—and help people make those connections sooner so they can live differently.

Oaklee Thiele
Here’s a submission from Instagram:

“My dearest friends, you have no idea how glad I am that you were patient, that you repeated yourself over and over so I could understand you through the mask, that you texted me what the teacher said so I’d know the assignment and when it was due, that you helped me lobby for my accommodations, and that you tried to help me find the word when I was reaching and failed to catch it. Thank you. You were so much more help than the administration might know.”

What I love about this is that it focuses on the positive. When we talk about accessibility, it’s easy to dwell on the negative. But there are also small, powerful acts of kindness. For example, one of my professors would arrive early to rearrange desks so I could easily slide my wheelchair in. That small action made her class a safe space for me.

Tim Villegas
I love that. It shows that yes, systems need to change, but individuals can make a difference right now. Those small choices—like your professor’s—matter.

Lawrence Carter-Long
Exactly. If we can pause, slow down, and consider someone’s needs—not as something “special,” but as basic human interaction—it benefits everyone. Those one-on-one connections can eventually influence decision-makers and lead to systemic change.

Tim Villegas
So there are resources on the My Dearest Friends Project website that educators can use. How do you envision educators using those resources?

Lawrence Carter-Long
We’ve learned a lot from what we’ve done with My Dearest Friends. Oaklee, maybe you can talk about some of the partnerships, like with the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, and how that evolved.

Oaklee Thiele
One of the biggest things for educators is simply reading the stories, talking to disabled students, and asking what their access needs are. The best way to make your classroom more accessible is to ask us directly.

Institutions must account for the disability community—not just accommodate us as an afterthought. Accessibility should be woven into the foundation from the start. The best way to do that is to listen to disabled people.

When we partner with institutions like the Grand Rapids Art Museum or the Children’s Museum, it starts conversations and creates safe spaces for questions that people might otherwise be afraid to ask.

Tim Villegas
There are so many ways to deliver a message—blogs, podcasts, art. What drew me to this project was the artistic expression. There’s a gap between art and disability rights advocacy, especially around inclusive education. That’s why this feels unique.

Oaklee Thiele
For me, art was a natural choice. I’m an artist, and I have a short attention span—long blogs or podcasts can be hard for me. The sketches for My Dearest Friends are quick gesture drawings.

This project was created during the pandemic, so I used what I had at home: computer paper and a charcoal stick. That black-and-white contrast also makes the work more accessible visually.

Tim Villegas
Random thought—are you available for hire?

Oaklee Thiele
Yes, I take commissions.

Tim Villegas
Good to know! We’ll make sure to share your work on social media.

As we wrap up, what’s your dream for this project? Where would you like to see it go?

Oaklee Thiele
I’m a young artist at the start of my career. I never expected My Dearest Friends to grow this much. So I take feedback from the disability community and let the project unfold naturally. The next steps come from partners and community voices.

Lawrence Carter-Long
I’d add this: if something in this conversation sparks an idea for you, follow it. That’s how I became a modern dancer—because someone saw the way I moved and said, “Let’s collaborate.”

Disabled folks should have those opportunities from the start. We’re not there yet, but that’s why DisArt exists—to incubate ideas and support artists. If this conversation excites you, reach out. Geographic boundaries aren’t limitations for us.

Tim Villegas
Oaklee Thiele and Lawrence Carter-Long, thank you so much for being on the Think Inclusive podcast.

Oaklee Thiele
Thank you so much.

Tim Villegas
Think Inclusive is written, edited, and sound-designed by Tim Villegas and is a production of MCIE. Original music by Miles Kredich .

Attention school leaders: Did you know you can team up with the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education to promote inclusive practices in your school or district, regardless of location? Visit mcie.org/contact to start the conversation.

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