Lisa Aquila Master
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Lisa Aquila: When disability is missing from normal conversation, it is not looked upon as what it is a natural part of human diversity. The reason I got involved is because used to be a home care worker before I became disabled, and when I was with consumers, I went to the Center for Independent Living here in Philadelphia.

And I saw all these conference rooms named after people like Wade Blank, ed Roberts, Justin Dart, and I never heard of them. Mm-hmm. And I thought, this is something that needs to be taught in school and why aren't we doing it? Kids need that sense of belonging, you know? Um, they need to have books and, and lessons that look like them and the not disabled students.

Also need to learn about the contributions of disabled people. Everything that we do, Tim, is based on the social model of disability, which says that society creates the barriers for disabled people, and 

that's what we're looking to change. 

Tim Villegas: Hey y'all. It's Tim. This is Think Inclusive, who you just heard was Lisa Aquila.

Lisa, a resident of Philadelphia, has been a strong advocate for the Independent Living Movement since the early nineties, playing a key role in securing services for a friend following the Supreme Court ruling in Sullivan v Zebly. She previously ran a home-based business creating personalized books with moral messages for school students.

From 2006 to 2016, Lisa worked as a home care attendant until a disability limited her ability to continue. In 2017, she began volunteering for disability equality in education, where she now serves as vice chair of the board. Is an education outreach specialist. Lisa lobbied for the Passage of Disability Inclusive Curriculum Legislation in 2022 and co-founded the Coalition on Disability Inclusive Curriculum, aiming to build awareness and support for inclusive education policies.

Her work is driven by the social model of disability and the principle, nothing about us without us advocating for the inclusion of disabled individuals. In all diversity, equity, and inclusion discussions and initiatives. Thanks so very much for being here with us today. We appreciate each and every one of you that listens to or watches Think Inclusive's podcast that brings you conversations with people doing the work of inclusion in the real world.

And while you're here, make sure to hit the follow or subscribe button wherever you are listening or watching so you can keep getting think inclusive in your feed. In this episode of Think Inclusive, Lisa and I discussed the importance of including disability education in K 12 classrooms to combat stigma and promote understanding.

Dee founded in 2016 received a five year grant from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council to develop this curriculum. The curriculum has been successfully piloted in several Pennsylvania school districts. Is available for free to educators nationwide. Our conversation also covers DEE's efforts to support teachers, their collaboration with various organizations, and the goal to bring disability inclusive curriculum to every school in the us.

Before we get into my conversation with Lisa, I wanna tell you about our sponsor for this season. IXL. IXL is a fantastic all in one platform designed for K 12 education. It helps boost student achievement, empowers teachers and tracks progress seamlessly. Imagine having a tool that simplifies what usually requires dozens of different resources.

Well, that's IXL. As students, practice IXL adapts to their individual needs, ensuring they're both supported and challenged. Plus, each learner receives a personalized learning plan to effectively address any knowledge gaps. Interested in learning more, visit ixl.com/inclusive. That's ixl.com/inclusive.

All right, after a short break, we'll get into my conversation with Lisa Aquila, catch you on the other side.

Lisa Aquila, welcome to the Think Inclusive Podcast. 

Thank you, um, Tim, for allowing me to be here. And I'm a white woman wearing a black cardigan with a teal scarf, and behind me is a clock and the words passion fueled. 

Thank you for providing that. I don't, I don't always ask, um, our guest to give an image description.

Uh, and I'm really, I'm really bad at it, so I am, I'm a brown man wearing glasses. I have a blue. Um, zip up hoodie sweatshirt, and I have, um, like white lights in the background and, uh, my salt lamp in the back. Uh, and I'm actually in my, um, my daughter's room who moved, moved to college. And so I affectionately call it my studio, although she doesn't like it me to say that

it's still her room, which it is. It is. Mm-hmm. Uh, well, happy to have you here, Lisa. Uh, Lisa, you are part of an organization called, UH, disability, and I'm gonna get it wrong. Hold on a second. I only have the, uh, I only have the acronyms in front of me. Dis Disability 

Lisa Aquila: Quality and Education, and we're also known as DEE, D-E-E. D-E-E.

Disability and Equality in Education. 

Tim Villegas: Uh, just disability Equality in education. Disability equality in education. Mm-hmm. There it is. It's, it was right there. It was right in front of me. I just, uh, I just missed it. Um, tell us about, uh, DEE and how it started. 

Lisa Aquila: Well, DEE is a wonderful nonprofit organization, a 501(c)3.

We are the innovators of disability inclusive curriculum, and our director, Alan Holdsworth, pioneered the idea that there was something missing in education and that being disability, and he wanted to bring those conversations to classrooms, K to 12. And, um, hopefully the next generation of citizens would be, uh, having a better perspective on disability and we could address and eradicate some of the stigma and stereotype that goes along with, uh, disability.

Uh, so very often. 

Tim Villegas: And, and how long ago, uh, was the organization formed? Did, did you already say that? 

Lisa Aquila: Uh, 2016. And in 2017 we got a five year grant from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council. Uh, in order to create this website of resources and lessons for teachers to use. And, uh, like I said, that was, uh, part of the stigma grant from Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council.

Tim Villegas: Ah, I see, I see. And, um, what about Pennsylvania? The, the makeup of the state? Um. What, what is unique about this program? This, uh, resource being in Pennsylvania? 

Lisa Aquila: Well, it's really innovative. It, it's never been done before. Yeah. Where disability was, uh, introduced in take K to 12, I. Subjects, all grade levels and all subjects.

And when, uh, we had success with our champion program, uh, that we introduced to, um, the school district of Philadelphia, after we had an impact assessment done and the results from students and teachers were so wonderful, we decided it was time to pursue legislation and, uh. To answer your question, what makes that unique for Pennsylvania is because at first it was a bill, but then, uh, after I went to my state representative Joe Hohenstein, he went across the aisle and he approached his colleague, Jason Ortitay.

So it became actually part of the omnibus budget, and it was placed into the education code. Which meant that the governor allocated grant funding for the pilot schools, and right now we're in our second year of a three year pilot. 

Tim Villegas: Right. Okay. So what I'm hearing though is that this was, uh, um, this, there was a, was it called the Champion?

Lisa Aquila: The Champions Initially, we introduced the Champion program and champion program. With that success, we decided to pursue the legislation. 

Tim Villegas: Right. Okay. Okay. Mm-hmm. So the Champion program was something that, uh, Dee created. 

Lisa Aquila: Mm-hmm. And we mentored the teachers in 15 schools, uh, to teach our lessons, and it was so successful and the impact was so great among the students.

That's when we decided to pursue the legislation. 

Tim Villegas: Right. Right. What, um, like why, why even have this program? I know it's important, I know it's important to you, uh, and, and it made a great impact, but like, what was the problem that, that y'all were trying to solve? 

Lisa Aquila: Well, when disability is missing from normal conversation.

It is not looked upon as what it is a natural part of human diversity. And, uh, you know, for me, the reason I got involved is because I, um, used to be a home care worker, uh, before I became disabled. And I, I couldn't help, uh, consumers anymore. But when I was with consumers, I went to the Center for Independent Living.

Here in Philadelphia and I saw all these conference rooms named after people like Wade Blank, ed Roberts, Justin Dart, and I never heard of them. Mm. And I thought, this is something that needs to be taught in school and why aren't we doing it? And I said, I wanna help Alan to, to pursue this. And kids need that sense of belonging, you know?

Um, they need to have books and, and lessons that look like them. And the not disabled students also need to learn about the contributions of disabled people, how they made an impact on this world, because so often, uh, disability is looked upon as something to be feared or whispered about, or they focus on.

Impairment and, uh, everything that we do, Tim, is based on the social model of disability, which says that society creates the barriers for disabled people. And that's what we're looking to change. All of our lessons on the website have been vetted by disabled people. They are, uh, approved by disabled people.

And at the heart of our work is the famous phrase, nothing about us without us. 

Tim Villegas: So you said the, the curriculum is vetted by disabled people. Are there, um, people that maybe our audience would know that that contributed to the curriculum? 

Lisa Aquila: Well, we have a, a. Pennsylvania wide coalition that is expanded into other states organizations like, uh, task, vision for Equality.

Uh, many parents, allies and professional organizations have joined our coalition and we have a curriculum committee, uh, which consists of, uh, people with disabilities that review our lessons, um, and approve them. Uh, we have, um. Board members like Theo Braddy from the National Council of Independent Living, Anita Cameron, the famous activist and author.

Uh, we have college professors from Millersville University and we also have students, uh, on our board that are part of the curriculum review process. Their 

Tim Villegas: policies. So you have a, a, a broad coalition of people working on Yes. On, on this 

Lisa Aquila: and teachers as well. 

Tim Villegas: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Um, I wanted to make a connection to, to something that you said, um, about, you know, being, being in this space and looking at names and going, um, like, who are these people and why didn't I know about this?

Right. Um. And I'm reminded I, a lot of our audience is they're passionately interested in inclusion inclusive education. Mm-hmm. Passionately invested in students with disabilities being included in general education classrooms. And I'm reminded of, um. A theme that keeps coming up when I'm having conversations is that if students with and without disabilities are not in the same space together, that they.

They don't know what they don't know. Exactly. Right? 

Lisa Aquila: Mm-hmm. 

Tim Villegas: Right. So you have, um, children growing up and becoming business owners, becoming teachers and educators, becoming, um, you know, working in government, um, future employers of the world. Exactly. Their future employers. So if they don't have people who are different, right?

Mm-hmm. In their classrooms. They don't, they won't even know that it's a, that a, that they should be looking out for. Um, and, uh, you know, and, and know how to interact with people who are different Exactly. Who are disabled, right? 

Lisa Aquila: Yes. And, and I mean, really just makes. Complete sense to me that our lessons and resources are meant to be taught in general education classrooms.

This is for all students. It's not just for disabled students. Of course, disabled students will learn, you know, the empowering stories like the one, um. Of a little girl who was 8-year-old, uh, that climbed the capitol steps, uh, got out of her wheelchair, then crawled up the steps, uh, as part of the capitol crawled.

Every child should know this story and know that they can change a law at a young age. And, you know, that's where the disabled students, but the non-disabled students will also begin to frame disability as just another social identity. When it becomes talked about frequently and often, and in the right lens, you know, they will accept differences and, and embrace it.

And I just shared, um, a, a signing of the a DA. And on that photo you'll see President Bush seated in the Rose Garden on July 26th, 1990, and on either side of him. Two men in wheelchairs and nobody knows their name. And I think that that's really a disservice. Uh, these people helped to pass a law that's a threat of our nation, and it's missing from the books that we read in school.

And their names are Justin Dart and Evan Kemp. 

Tim Villegas: Um, are, are you sharing it right now? There you see it. There we go. I can see it. Okay. So that is really interesting and I am almost ashamed to say that I don't know the, the, the names of those, those gentlemen. 

Lisa Aquila: Yeah. Anytime you google a, a search of the signing, you will see this picture.

Tim Villegas: Mm-hmm. Wow. Um, and who, so do you like, I know you know, you just said the names, but who, who were these? Well, Justin 

Lisa Aquila: Dart, the gentleman with the cowboy hat, he was instrumental in the passage and he was often called the grandfather of the ADA and Evan Kemp. He was also instrumental in the Passage and he made other laws, uh, that opened doors for people with disabilities, including employment laws.

In fact, our director, Alan Holdsworth, he's an activist that, uh, was part of the Dan Network in the United Kingdom, and he got, uh, buses to become accessible, uh, and have, uh, folks ride the bus along with everyone else. 

Tim Villegas: Wow. Wow. Thank you for that. I'm surrounded by, for history 

Lisa Aquila: makers. It's really impressive.

Yeah, 

Tim Villegas: yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely. Um, I'm interested it, I'm interested to know, um,

you know, this is, uh, this is. This disability, you know, um, education curriculum mm-hmm. Um, is so unique and it's, um, like you said, it's, it's one of a kind in the country. Um, why, why is it that we don't already have this in like, in our standards? Like, you would think that, like you, you think about the core standards, the history standards, right?

Um, and I was a teacher. For, uh, 16 years. Right. And did you in the classroom, did ever teach a 

Lisa Aquila: lesson on the 

Tim Villegas: disability rights Movement? Um, well that's an, that's an interesting question. Um, I don't think, I don't think I ever did specifically. Um, I think we talked about disability in some of my classrooms and we talked about, uh, different people, like famous people, I guess, that had.

You know that mm-hmm. Were disabled. Mm-hmm. Um, but it wasn't from, I didn't draw upon like standards or curriculum. Um mm-hmm. And I'm just thinking of how nice it would've been to be able to really go, oh, okay. This is not just something that I think is interesting, but this is, this is a path part of what's laid out.

Mm-hmm. Right. Exactly. Well, we, um, 

Lisa Aquila: try to infuse disability. What teachers are already teaching. And we also have applied the national standards for the core curriculum to every one of our lessons. Oh, okay. So we make it easy and we found a way to include disability, like I said, in all subjects. Art history, even when it comes to figurative language.

We have a lesson that infuses disability while we teach about figurative language. 

Tim Villegas: Right, right. Uh, so I'm imagining people listening, going, okay, this sounds really great. I'm getting excited about it. Mm-hmm. Um, is this only for educators and schools in Philadelphia or Pennsylvania? 

Lisa Aquila: No. Any teacher anywhere can access our website and use the lessons and resources for free.

We also have a recommended book list that were vetted and approved by disabled people. We have a video list. We have a calendar of events that incorporate disability into every month of the year into things that they're already teaching. For example, black History Month, women's History Month, uh, Hispanic Heritage Month, even Dr.

Suess birthday.

Tim Villegas: Well, you've done, you've done all the, the, the work, the front end for us, I guess, right? We try. That's amazing. That's amazing. Okay, so if anyone is interested in that, uh, where can they go to find the information? 

Lisa Aquila: They can go to our Facebook page. Disability Equality and Education's website. Um, I have a slide, uh, to share.

Sure. Yeah. Our social media, um, here we go.

And you can visit us also on our coalition social media page at Support Disability inclusive curriculum. You can check us out on YouTube and on Instagram. 

Tim Villegas: Okay, we'll make sure to put all those, all, all of those links on into the show notes. Uh, for this episode, wait, what were you gonna say? I like 

Lisa Aquila: all your listeners to join our growing movement on the Coalition of Disability Inclusive curriculum and email me, or they can also call, uh, 7 2 4 7 2 6 1 1 5 5.

Tim Villegas: All right, great. Thank you. Thank you. Um. We, we talked about this before, uh, offline, about just inclusion in general, like, um, families who are pursuing full inclusion for their children. Um, and I know that, that this curriculum doesn't necessarily address that. Is that something that. Is on top of mind for the families that you're aware of in, in Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania?

Lisa Aquila: Well, we're trying to let them know that we exist and we want them to know that all of the, um, lessons are meant for, to be taught in general education classrooms. And, uh, something that I think everybody needs to keep in mind is that. UDL Universal Design for Learning is not just for students with disabilities because everybody learns differently.

Tim Villegas: Mm-hmm. 

Lisa Aquila: And it's for everybody. Um, so, um, you know, I think the missing part of inclusion is that missing piece in education.

Tim Villegas: Yes. And I don't think that when you change 

Lisa Aquila: mindsets, you know, you, you change a lot. 

Tim Villegas: Yeah. Yeah. Well, um. It's a interesting parallel because, um, as an organization, um, MCIE partners with school districts, um, and a lot of times we are, we are working with educators to change mindsets. I. Um, and a lot of what we do is, is kind of what you're talking about here.

Um, disability education, disability studies, disability rights, education, uh, 'cause a lot of educators just like everyone else, right? We don't know this information, we don't know the history of disability rights. We don't know who the, what happened, um, who the people are that, that had, um, made change. And so it's the same thing for our students.

If our educators don't know, our students don't know either. Like who is gonna tell them? Right? Which is why I think this, this curriculum exists, 

Lisa Aquila: and I think one of the key, uh, uh, areas of success is that. We don't just give this curriculum to the teachers and say, off you go. We offer them support so they can feel comfortable with it.

So they can understand the social model and why that's important. And in fact, part of the legislation requires teachers to introduce this in the pilot, and they must have a professional development training from a disabled led organization. 

Tim Villegas: Um, help me understand, um, like as far as it being part, as far as it being the law, right?

Mm-hmm. So is there a timeline, uh, of implementation? 

Lisa Aquila: We had to kickoff in November. Uh huh Uh, and we're now in year two. 

Tim Villegas: Okay. And 

Lisa Aquila: it, it's a three year pilot and then it'll roll out, you know, uh, throughout the state. We have right now, um, 10 school districts in Pennsylvania. Across the state. There's rural and suburban, public and private and charter schools participating in this pilot.

Tim Villegas: Okay. And then so what are your measures for success, like after the, after the pilot's done? What w what would be success for this? 

Lisa Aquila: Well, we're actually, uh, grabbing a lot of attention in pursuing something that was done in Minnesota. I. To compliment this pilot, to have a legislation requirement for teacher candidates before they enter the classroom to be certified in training.

How to talk about disability, how to recognize ableism. Minnesota has passed a bill such as that. And, and we would like to pursue that in Pennsylvania, and that would be a very nice companion to what we are already doing before the rollout. 

Tim Villegas: That is, that is very interesting. When did Minnesota pass that law?

Uh, just this year. Really? 

Lisa Aquila: I. I'll send you the information. 

Tim Villegas: Yeah, yeah. And that'd be great too. And we can include that into the mm-hmm. Into the show notes. Uh, because I'm, I'm thinking that while the disability, the, while the curriculum is fantastic, it's a great resource. I know that the, the people who listen are, are also interested in action, like what they can do to advocate for Absolutely.

You know, disability rights in their, in their state. Since they have, you know, we have a lot of, of different states rep saying, I mean, people 

Lisa Aquila: think that, oh, you got a bill passed, the work is done. It's actually just become, 

Tim Villegas: yeah. 

Lisa Aquila: Right? Mm-hmm. 

Tim Villegas: Yeah. 

Lisa Aquila: Uhhuh, that's, yeah. And, you know, we wanna, we wanna mandate this in, in every state.

Wouldn't that be great? Wouldn't 

Tim Villegas: that be wonderful? Well, I think, I mean, yes, yes, of course. Um, and I think the added. Part about, um, you know, our teacher education programs, because that is also part of our discussion, uh, in talking about inclusive education. You know, wouldn't it, wouldn't it be nice if we had educators who were qui not only equipped to, you know, to serve all learners, right?

No matter, no matter, you know, their ability, but also, uh, educators who. Knew about disability rights and like it was part of their teacher training. And so when they get to schools and they experience like, um, uh, a district moving towards inclusive practices, they're not. Like, wait a minute. I don't know anything about this.

I don't, not, I'm not qualified. I, you know, I 

Lisa Aquila: mean, after you teach a lesson, kids will have questions and you wanna answer them respectively and, and, and accurately. So that's why we offer them support in this. 

Tim Villegas: Yes, I. So how, so, uh, can you describe the support? Like what does that support look like? 

Lisa Aquila: Well, we have, uh, a membership area on our website where teachers can join Google Classroom and collaborate with their peers.

Talk about their work practice. We invite guest speakers to come and talk about their experience. Um, and, uh, that is a, a service, uh, that we provide. It's a very low, uh, cost to educators to join our membership. And that is one the services tab on our website. We provide professional development and workshops.

Um. You know, they can even call us if, if they have a question when teaching our lesson. We're open to, to supporting them along this journey. 

Tim Villegas: Fantastic. Um, and, um, is there anything else that you want to make sure educators know about d. 

Lisa Aquila: The resources and the lessons are free, so please use them. And when you do, give us, um, a couple seconds of your time, fill out the evaluation at the end of our lesson.

Let us know how it went, and if you have any suggestions. We are open to that. We had several of our champion teachers write lessons for us that are now in our new and noteworthy section on the website. Like for example, uh, a lesson on the Greek mythology teacher wrote the lesson after partaking in our champion program.

And, uh, we now have it on our. On our website, uh, we wanna double our lessons by the end of the year on our website. And we are looking to, uh, hire teachers, uh, for their lesson ideas. And, um, you know, uh, we, we are not done. We're just expanding every day across all subjects and grade levels. Right. So you, so perhaps we need funding too.

I mean, right now we have, uh, been working with Department of Education and we made a video for their, uh, training platform in PA called Schoolology. Mm-hmm. Uh, but, um, you know, uh, if anyone is passionate about this and they wanna help us, every dollar counts. 

Tim Villegas: And you are a 5 0 1 3? 

Lisa Aquila: Yes. 

Tim Villegas: Okay, great. Great. So, yes, so if that sounds interesting to you, we have a lot of educators who listen and you, uh, would be interested in contributing, uh, lessons or contributing to the development of, of, uh, expanding this curriculum.

Then, uh, please get ahold of Lisa and we'll make sure to have all of the contact information and, um, how you can, um, sign up for updates. And access the website into our, in our show notes. Um, we have a newsletter. Yes. Yes. Newsletter, right? Everything like that. Mm-hmm. Um, okay. Great. Uh, before we get to, uh, the end, our mystery question, everything, I wanted to share a trailer to, um, your video on demand course, introduction to disability Inclusive Curriculum, and, um.

We will, uh, play it right now. So the, for those of you watching on YouTube, you can watch the vid video here. Um, and then if you're listening, you know, on Apple Podcast or Spotify, you can listen. But, uh, anytime, you can just follow links and, and find this trailer and the video course on demand.

Okay, here we go. 

Lisa Aquila: Presented by disability, equality and education. Introduction to disability Inclusive, a course for educators.

Are you ready for the next step towards inclusion? Are you ready to learn from the wisdom of disabled people? Are you ready to create a better society for all? Discourse will help you do all that and more will help you ensure that the next generation will have a future more inclusive and ever before.

Are you ready to embark on a groundbreaking journey to introduce disability inclusive curriculum into your general education classroom? And introduce the missing component to your Diversity Initiatives disability. Find out how you can be part of pending the stigma towards disability. This video course introduces the concepts, resources, and supports that you need to begin these conversations towards a better and more inclusive mindset for students in K to 12.

Hear from educators, disability advocates and activists, inclusion specialists, disability studies, professors, and more. Are you ready to go boldly? I. The conversation starts here. For more information and to rent the course, visit www.disabilitypolicyeducation.orgslashvideocourseoremailusatinfoatdisabilityequalityeducation.org.

Tim Villegas: Oh, that looks, that looks fantastic. Thank you. Every 

Lisa Aquila: time I see it, I get the chills. It was really something great. Yeah. 

Tim Villegas: Yeah. Well, and you know, so a couple things I love that you call out in the video of the, you know, in the trailer that this is for, you know, for your general education classroom. So, you know, I, I love that.

Um, and then I love seeing the people that will be in, in the video courses and I recognize a few of them. Um mm-hmm. And so, uh, I, and so Kate Small is one of the people, right? Oh, yeah. She's wonderful. Yeah. 

Lisa Aquila: Mm-hmm. She gave testimony at one of our hearings to get the bill passed. 

Tim Villegas: Oh, that's fantastic. Yes.

'cause she's from Pennsylvania, right? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yes. And so is Jenna Ruo? Mm-hmm. She works for Kate? Yeah. Yeah, she works with Kate, yes. Wonderful. Awesome, awesome, awesome. Well, um, that is fantastic. Uh, everyone make sure to sign up for, um, the newsletter and, um. Use the curriculum and then this'll be one of my takeaways, I'm sure.

Uh, but once you do, you know, I, I would love to know, um, you know, how you use that curriculum and I'm sure Lisa would love to know how you used it. Absolutely. Because it is a free resource and, um, right. I mean, we make, we make this podcast right. And I don't know. If you, if it has impacted you, unless you tell us.

Right. Same with our website. Right. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. So if you do happen to use the resource or as something is impactful that you've used from, um, uh, from Dee, uh, make sure to let Lisa know. Um. Uh, you know, uh, uh, how you use that in your classroom or, or in your community. Um, great. All right. So before I let you go, Lisa, uh, I like to end our conversations with the mystery question.

Are you, are you ready? Okay. I hope it's not too hard. Um, I can't make any promises, but All right. They're typically fine. Mm-hmm. Usually fine. All right. All right. Here we go. The, the mystery question is. Mm-hmm. Where do you go when you need to blow off some steam that there's the card? Where do you go when you need to blow off some steam?

I've, I'm holding it up to the camera. I see. Mm-hmm. Okay, 

Lisa Aquila: really, uh, Tim, I go to music. Uh, I think music is, uh, relaxing and empowering and, uh, you know, uh, I'm doing a presentation, um, this Saturday and tomorrow and, uh, I'm using one of the, uh, songs to motivate people and that's called Man in the Mirror. Oh yeah.

'cause I want everybody to be able to understand that they can be a change maker, because all I did was go to my state representative and ask him to pass this bill, and I feel like I was a pebble in the water and I started a ripple. But it's collectively that we made a wave. 

Tim Villegas: I, I love that. Thank you for sharing that.

That's Man, man in the Mirror, uh, by Michael Jackson, right? Yeah. 

Lisa Aquila: Did I answer the 

Tim Villegas: question right? Yeah, you No, you did. There's no right answer. There's no right answer. Um, I love music. Music is my escape. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. So do you have, um, do you have like. How do you listen to me? I will answer this question, but I'm curious, like, how do you listen to music?

Like what's your go to? Do you stream music? Do you have CDs? All different ways. Yeah. All 

Lisa Aquila: different ways. Mm-hmm. 

Tim Villegas: Okay. Okay. Um, I'm so used to streaming music these days. Um, I do have, I do have records. I still have vinyl records. Yeah. My husband does as well. Yeah. Uh, I don't listen to that as often because it's like, you know, it's like a whole thing.

A hassle. A hassle to set it up. It's not, I mean, yes it is. You have to have, you have to have time, right? Mm-hmm. You have to have the time to actually go and like, pick out the music and all that stuff. So I have Spotify playlists, um, but, um, how I like to blow off steam actually is, um, I, I like to run so. I, I am a, a little, kind of, a little bit struggling right now because I'm getting over.

Some, uh, knee, uh, like a knee injury. Mm-hmm. So I haven't been able to run as much as I like to. Like I used to run, um, fairly long distances like, you know, six miles mile. Well, that's something I can't do. Um, and just in the last year it's been more and more difficult to do that. So I think. Even though running is still part of my life, it, it's, it might, it may be more diminished.

So, but I think, like, I'm rethinking that answer. I think how I blow off, blow off steam is exercise. Okay. So any sort of exercise, like I, I've been playing pickleball. Mm-hmm. I need this like VR headset, um, exercise program called Supernatural. Mm-hmm. I walk a lot, a hike, you know, so those are all things, getting outside doing something like that.

Oh yeah. Nature's 

Lisa Aquila: a wonderful escape. Yeah. 

Tim Villegas: Yes, yes. Exactly. Exactly. 

Lisa Aquila: Mm-hmm. 

Tim Villegas: Um, well thank you for sharing and um, I would love to know how everyone else. Uh, likes to blow off steam. So if you, uh, if you just want to, uh, let us know on, uh, social media when we post this or, uh, you can always e email me, um, at tvillegas@mcie.org and you can also email Lisa at, uh, I think it's info@disabilityequalityeducation.org.

So there you go. That's correct. Lisa Aquila, thank you so much for being on the Think Inclusive Podcast. We really appreciate it. 

Lisa Aquila: Thanks for having me.

Tim Villegas: That's the bell for this episode of Think Inclusive. Now, let's head to homeroom for the credits. Think Inclusive is brought to you by me, Tim Viegas. I handle the writing, editing, design, mixing, and mastering. This podcast is a proud production of the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education. Our original music is by Miles Reich, with additional tunes.

From Melody, a big shout out to our sponsor, IXL. Check them out at ixl.com/inclusive. We truly appreciate each and every one of you who tunes in. We'd love to hear how you're using these episodes. Are they part of your teaching toolkit? Are you sharing them with school administrators? Drop me a line at tvillegas@mcie.org and let me know.

And hey, if you are still around with us this far into the episode, it probably means that you love, think inclusive and the work MCIE is doing. So can I ask a small favor? Help us to keep the momentum going by donating at our website mcie.org. Just click the button at the top of the site and chip in $5, $10, $20.

It would mean the world to us. And the children and the schools and districts we partner with. Thanks for your time and attention. And remember, inclusion always works

From MCIE.