Think Inclusive

Today on the podcast, we talk with Anthony Ianni, the first autistic Division 1 college basketball player and author of the book, Centered: Autism, Basketball, and One Athlete's Dream.  We talk about what it was like growing up, not knowing about his autism diagnosis until high school, playing for the Michigan State basketball team, and what he would tell young people on the autism spectrum about following their dreams.  Also in the episode, Tim references the Autistic Self Advocacy Network's "about autism" page as well as their book, "Welcome to the Autism Community."  This episode's transcript can be found here.  Take our podcast listener survey: bit.ly/TIPodcastSurvey.  Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education.  Have a question or comment? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.us.  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Credits  This podcast is a production of MCIE.  Support the podcast and become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Teacher burnout is closing down schools. What is a “smile file?” And can it be used as a tool for rejuvenation? This edition of The Weeklyish talks about a strategy to help teachers remember why they wanted to become an educator, called a smile file.   Click here for a text version of The Weeklyish. Click here for a transcript. For more, visit Think Inclusive or MCIE.

Hi, Y’all! Look, I know there are a lot of organizations competing for your attention on #GivingTuesday. So I’m going to make this message short and give you three reasons why I think you should support the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education and help us reach our goal of raising $5,000 today! Number One. MCIE is partnering with school systems (right now) around the country to implement inclusive education that lasts. Students with significant disabilities are being included in general education classrooms (sometimes for the first time) and finally feel like they belong like the student in Calvert County, Maryland, who spent the vast majority of his schooling in “life skills classes” and is now in his home high school taking regular classes with his peers. Even teachers see the benefits of inclusive education with their very eyes. Like the teachers in Delaware who implemented the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction and saw students make and achieve meaningful goals for their lives. Please help us keep the momentum going by donating today! Number Two. We believe that amplifying disabled people’s voices is vital to changing people’s mindsets. This year we committed to pay disabled writers to tell us their stories, and we are just getting started. Ben, a nonspeaking autistic activist, writes, “It is a common misconception that if you can’t talk, then you can’t learn and you don’t know anything.” Rasheera, a disability justice activist, writes that it is time to “reframe what special education looks like and continue to build a framework that addresses disability in the educational setting from a model that fully submerges the disability experience into the mainstream educational space.” Donate to MCIE today so we can continue to pay and amplify disabled voices! Number Three. Inclusive education has a public relations problem. And frankly, I’m tired of it. We have the research that says it works. We have the models around the country that are being implemented. We have the stories of families and educators whose lives have been impacted. But what we need is a communication campaign. And all of that costs money. It is pricey to produce media. But fortunately, we have you. We have big plans to produce more podcasts, videos, articles, newsletters, and even things we haven’t thought of yet to spread the word that inclusive education benefits all students. Please donate to MCIE today so we can keep the communication channels open. We can’t do this without it. You are a vital part of the work we do every day. Thanks for your time and attention. DONATE: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/bvp2tw Tim Villegas Director of Communications for MCIE Found of Think Inclusive

Content Warning: In today’s episode, we will discuss depictions of the living conditions of institutions for people with disabilities in the 1960s and certain attitudes about people with disabilities that worked there. Today on the podcast, we talk to Howard Shane, author of the book Unsilenced, associate professional at the Harvard Medical School, and the Director of the Autism Language Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. We talk about what it was like to work at Belchertown State School, an institution for people with disabilities, in the 1960s. We also highlight some of the stories from his book, including how some of his students used an early form of augmentative and alternative communication.  Also, special guest, Carol Quirk (CEO of MCIE) drops by at the beginning of the episode to reflect on her experiences working in institutions after she read Howard Shane's book Unsilenced. This episode's transcript can be found here. Take our podcast listener survey: bit.ly/TIPodcastSurvey. Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education. Have a question or comment? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.us. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Credits This podcast is a production of MCIE. Support the podcast and become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Today on the podcast, we discuss the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (otherwise known as the SDLMI).  Our guests, Karrie Shogren and Sheida Raley are both from the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities.  We talk about what self-determination really means, what is the SDLMI and how it is implemented in inclusive classrooms, and why the SDLMI is really for everyone. This episode's transcript can be found here. To learn more about the SDLMI visit selfdetermination.ku.edu. Take our podcast listener survey: bit.ly/TIPodcastSurvey. Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education. Have a question or comment? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.us. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Credits This podcast is a production of MCIE. Support the podcast and become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Today on the podcast, we interview author, educator, and consultant, Jenna Rufo about her book Reimagining Special Education, and how we can use inclusion as a framework to build equity and support all students.  We also discuss what it looks like for students who are not included 80% or more of their day in general education and if there is a bare minimum to what we call inclusive education. This episode's transcript can be found here. Take our podcast listener survey: bit.ly/TIPodcastSurvey. Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education. What do you think about our new podcast logo design? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.us. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Credits This podcast is a production of MCIE. Support the podcast and become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Today on the Think Inclusive Podcast, we interview systems change expert and inclusive education advocate, Michael McSheehan.  We talk about what started him on his journey of advocating for inclusive education, his work with SWIFT Schools, the connections between Mult-Tiered Systems of Support and Universal Design for Learning, and if he agrees with the statement, "inclusion done badly is still better than segregation." His answers might surprise you.  This episode's transcript can be found here.  SWIFT Schools Videos  "Together": a SWIFT film on Integrated Educational Framework  "Whatever it Takes": SWIFT Inclusive Academic Instruction Film  SWIFT Domains and Features at Henderson School  Take our podcast listener survey: bit.ly/TIPodcastSurvey.  Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education.  Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.us  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Credits  This podcast is a production of MCIE. Support the podcast and become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Today on the Think Inclusive Podcast, we interview Janice Fialka and Sara Jo Soldovieri, two passionate advocates for inclusive education. We talk about what we really mean by inclusive education, what might make the biggest impact to bring inclusive education to school districts, and how to talk to families who think segregated special education classrooms are really best for their child. This episode's transcript can be found here. Take our podcast listener survey: bit.ly/TIPodcast. Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education. Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.us Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Credits This podcast is a production of MCIE. Support the podcast and become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Today on the podcast, we interview Emily Ladau, disability rights activist and author, about her new book Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally.  We discuss why this book needed to be written, if there is only one model of disability that is valid, and we even play a little game called, “is it ableist?” This episode's transcript can be found here. Take our podcast listener survey: bit.ly/TIPodcast Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education. Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.us Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Credits This podcast is a production of MCIE. Support the podcast and become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Today on the podcast, we interview Genia Stephen, host of the Good Things in Life podcast.  We talk about why she started the podcast, what some of the differences and similarities are with the educational systems in the United States and Canada, and if there is such a thing as perfect inclusion. This episode's transcript can be found here. Download our new resource, The Best Inclusive Education Links: 100 links to the best inclusion-related articles, videos, and media on the web. Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education. Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.us Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Credits This podcast is a production of MCIE. Support the podcast and become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Today on the podcast, we talk with Eric Garcia, author of "We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation." We discuss the biggest misconceptions of autism, why simply existing is not inspirational, and what his dream for the future of a more inclusive world looks like.  This episode's transcript can be found here. Download our new resource, The Best Inclusive Education Links: 100 links to the best inclusion-related articles, videos, and media on the web. Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education. Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.us Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Credits This podcast is a production of MCIE. Support the podcast and become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Today on the podcast, we talk with Marilyn Friend, expert and author of numerous books and articles on co-teaching.  We discuss what co-teaching is and what does it look like? Do schools have to provide a co-teaching service model? And how does co-teaching further the practice of inclusive education? This episode's transcript can be found here.  Download our new resource, The Best Inclusive Education Links: 100 links to the best inclusion-related articles, videos, and media on the web. Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education. Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.us Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Credits This podcast is a production of MCIE. Support the podcast and become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Today on the podcast, we talk with Sarah Wishart, filmmaker of Excluded, a documentary that features the stories and voices of students who have been excluded from school in the United Kingdom.  We discuss why she was inspired to make the film by something she saw on Twitter and why she thinks exclusion isn’t good for anyone. This episode's transcript can be found here. Download our new resource, The Best Inclusive Education Links: 100 links to the best inclusion-related articles, videos, and media on the web. Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education. Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.us Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Credits This podcast is a production of MCIE. Support the podcast and become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Today on the podcast, we talk with Maryland’s 2020 Teacher of the year, Wyatt Oroke about what it means to have an inclusive classroom. We discuss his perspective on how having high expectations for all of his scholars is essential and what his dream for the future of education is. This episode's transcript can be found here.  Download our new resource, The Best Inclusive Education Links: 100 links to the best inclusion-related articles, videos, and media on the web.  Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education. Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.us Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Credits This podcast is a production of MCIE. Become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Today on the podcast, we talk with Melissa McCullough, Director of Early Childhood for the East Moline School District in Illinois. We discuss what a truly inclusive preschool program looks like and what they are doing to move past the outdated model of providing specialized services in separate places.  This episode's transcript can be found here. Download our new resource, The Best Inclusive Education Links: 100 links to the best inclusion-related articles, videos, and media on the web. Visit Think Inclusive for more information about inclusive education. Have questions or comments? Reach us at podcast@thinkinclusive.us Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Credits This podcast is a production of MCIE. Become a patron of the Think Inclusive Podcast! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app