Funding Doesn’t Have to Be a Barrier to Inclusive Education
One of the most common reasons people give as a barrier to inclusive education is funding. And it makes sense, right? If we want a genuinely inclusive education for our students, we have to pay for it. Except funding doesn’t have to be a barrier. Inclusive education is about changing an educational system to be […]
Jennifer Spencer-Iiams | Leading for All: How to Create Truly Inclusive and Excellent Schools
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 […]
Amy Langerman, Amanda Selogie & Vickie Brett | LRE
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 […]
Building Authentic Inclusive Education with Carol Quirk
Show Notes 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 […]
BONUS: Navigating COVID-19’s Impact on Special Education and IDEA Rights
Show Notes About the Guest(s): Denise MarshallDenise 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 […]
Powerful Strategies for Including Students with Intellectual Disabilities in General Education
Show Notes 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. […]
Addressing Teacher Preparedness for Inclusive Education
Show Notes 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 […]
Exploring Inclusion in Faith, Disability, and Sexual Identity
Show Notes 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 […]
Advocating for Inclusive Education: Strategies and Successes with Julie Causton
Show Notes 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 […]
The Intersection of Culturally Responsive Teaching and Inclusive Education
Melissa Winchell's guest post advocates for the integration of culturally responsive teaching and inclusive education in classrooms to better represent and understand disabled identities, teach about disabilities as socially constructed, and work with students to dismantle ableism, thereby transforming classrooms into genuinely inclusive spaces.