Inclusion in Early Childhood Education with OSEP Director Valerie Williams
Valerie Williams, Director at OSEP, discusses the importance of inclusion in early childhood education. She shares a personal story about finding the right preschool for her son with Down syndrome and emphasizes the need for a mindset shift among educators. Valerie highlights the lack of knowledge and resources available to support inclusive practices and calls for better dissemination of information. She also mentions the promising initiatives happening in different states and encourages educators to be bold, brave, and urgent in their efforts to improve inclusive opportunities for all students.
SENIA: Advocating for Inclusion in International Schools with Lori Boll
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 two Masters degrees […]
*FEED DROP* School Disrupted with Toni Barton
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 classrooms […]
The Infinity Rainbow Club Series: Jen Malia discusses the importance of inclusion
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 books, […]
King of Hugs: Tim Harris on Inclusion and Spreading Joy
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 […]
Maya Chupkov: Advocating for Stuttering Awareness Through Podcasting
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 […]
BONUS: Judy Heumann’s Legacy and the Future of Disability Activism
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 board member of Kids Included Together. Summary: In this episode, Torrie […]
Look Both Ways: Exploring Disability with Brooke Ellison
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 […]
Understanding Bullying: A Personal Journey and Call for Change with Kayla Taylor
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. Summary: […]
Creating a Culture of Honor in Education: An Interview with Andratesha Fritzgerald
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 served as a teacher, curriculum specialist, […]