Inclusive Education Project Podcast

Inclusion advocate and author, Nate Trainor, joins us on the podcast today to discuss his personal fight for inclusion. Nate shares his personal journal of exclusion along with what his personal mission is today.  Not only are we joined by Nate on today’s episode, but we are excited to also speak to Nate’s mother, Jean Trainor, and his 6th-grade teacher and family friend, Shelby. Nate is an advocate for the acceptance of people with disabilities. Nate is nonverbal due to having a rare disorder called Joubert Syndrome. He uses supported typing to communicate and believes everyone should have the right to communicate. Show Highlights: Nate shares why it was so important for him to write his book, https://amzn.to/3NaRtHw (Nate’s Triumph). Nate shares how easy inclusion can be with the proper support. Nate shares some of his favorite memories. Struggles plague Nate like everyone else. He shares some of his greatest. People judge Nate for having a disability. Keep working toward your goals is an important m

We are so excited to welcome Dr. Angela Jean Louis to the podcast today. Dr. Angela is a political scientist, educational advocate and has designed educational frameworks for academic success. Dr. Angela left academia to start her business, Leadership Concepts Institute, LLC,  a personal growth and professional development company. She works with businesses, educational institutions, and individuals. In today’s episode, we will be discussing homeschooling with a public school mindset. Dr. Angela shares her passion for education, diversity, and conclusion. She shares how her background, experience, and passion drives her to help a diverse community of parents, educators, and students.   Show Highlights: Dr. Angela shares how her systems have been personally tested and used by her Dr. Angela shares how she researched what made students successful School and family frameworks need to match for kids to become successful Dr. Angela speaks about why she wrote the curriculum, Leaning In

Here we are, moving right along in 2022! We just attended our virtual annual national conference, which is always very helpful for us. It’s always great to learn what is going on in our field with other attorneys across the country and hear about the current hot topics in special education. Today’s show gives a great perspective on supporting students and families through the IEP process.  Wendy Taylor is the executive director of Learning Essentials. She is an Educational Therapist, qualified Orton-Gillingham practitioner, trained Educational Diagnostician, and skilled IEP coach. She started The Special Ed Strategist podcast, which was formerly called the IEP Essentials podcast. Wendy is the mom of three boys who loves supporting kids with all kinds of special needs and learning differences with the goal of finding out how to support students and their families in school and life. With a son who is a brain cancer survivor, Wendy has learned how to approach special needs as a parent, in addition to her p

As the school year continues in full swing with in-person learning, inclusion has never been a more important topic. Today’s conversation takes a deep dive into inclusion through the eyes of a new documentary film. Join us! Hilda and Olivier are filmmakers and parents of their son, Emilio. Through their documentary, Forget Me Not, they share the personal impact of NYC’s segregated education system as they fight for Emilio’s right to be educated alongside his peers. The film gives a rare look at what inclusive education can look like and how it can lead to a more inclusive society where every child can reach their full potential. The film lives up to its powerful title as it shines the spotlight on the kids who are often forgotten and underrepresented in their education.   Show Highlights: How Hilda’s background in special education became more meaningful when their son was born with Down Syndrome, an event that changed the course of their family in every way How Olivier knew nothing about special educat

We are focusing today on one of our favorite topics: inclusion. Our guest shares how he is working with districts across the country to bring more inclusion, along with the most common misconception most educators have about inclusivity. Join us to learn more! Tim Villegas is the Director of Communications for the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE), the founder of Think Inclusive, and the host of the Think Inclusive podcast.  Show Highlights: How MCIE began 30 years ago and continues as a non-profit today, working with students, families, and education departments around the country Why restructuring and reimagining is the key to inclusion–not hiring more staff How inclusivity CAN meet the special needs of students Why it’s a false assumption that students can’t make progress on goals and objectives in a general education classroom What Tim has noticed about a renewed focus on educational equity Why districts are using grant money to hire organizations like MCIE for help with inclusi

We are always interested in how speech and language pathologists are providing their services and collaborating with school districts. Join us for a conversation with today’s guest about her experience working with students.  Suzanne Aldrich has been a speech therapist for over a decade. After starting her career working with adults, she moved into the public school system to work with young students. She travels to work with and evaluate children in preschools and elementary schools. Show Highlights: How Suzanne’s work with adults helped her develop a new perspective on working with children What Suzanne is seeing in school-based evaluations and in her meetings with parents Common questions parents have when their preschooler sees a speech and language pathologist How speech and language goals and academic goals require collaboration among teachers and therapists Why working with a student one-on-one may not always be preferable over a group setting How a language processing deficit can handicap a

It’s always interesting to see how things in special education law can be similar from state to state–and yet so different in many ways. Join us for an inside look with today’s guest. Lisa Hernandez is a special education attorney in New Jersey. She is a mom of three who came to this field because one of her children has disabilities. With a background in disability discrimination and employment discrimination, Lisa has been advocating for her child and for her friends’ children for over a decade. She handles special education litigation in NJ, a state which does not have a good reputation for inclusive education. Show Highlights: Why many parents shy away from inclusive education programs Lisa shares a 2007 case that highlights NJ’s poor reputation in special education How the attitude in court cases has become the drive to win litigation rather than to prevent it in the first place Why parents don’t know how to navigate the “legal arena” without the agency that the law intended How special education he

Today’s show covers the topic of critical disability studies as they relate to creating inclusive early childhood environments. We will take a hard look at what inclusion really means and why it’s not happening in many classrooms. Join us for a closer look! Nicole Eilers lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children. She studied child development and family studies and went on to work as a special education teacher in a PreK classroom. Her next position was as a special ed teacher at a hospital school for students with long-term hospitalizations and those who were homebound with an identified disability. Her role was to support the students as they transitioned back into classrooms, which she did while working on her master’s degree in early intervention and family studies. Reading more about disability studies in education coupled with the work she was doing made her question how we are approaching inclusion and special ed. Nicole is now pursuing her Ph. D. full-time at UNC-Chapel Hill. S

Today’s conversation gives an interesting perspective on speech therapy. Join us to learn why sensory integration is a crucial component for autistic students with learning challenges.    Jessie Ginsburg is a sensory integration-trained speech and language pathologist. From southern California, Jessie ended up working in Washington, DC, where she connected with Jake Greenspan, the co-founder of Floortime Therapy; this encounter set the course for Jessie’s work. When she returned to southern California, she opened her own practice and now trains other therapists in how to better support their autistic students.    Show Highlights:   Jessie explains the basics of sensory integration and how it affects our behaviors and reactions Why therapists and teachers need to have more training in sensory integration to help kids learn to regulate themselves How kids are classified in IEP meetings as lazy, defiant, etc. when no one understands what they are trying to communicate

With more school closures and changes in quarantine guidelines, there is not much consistency across school districts right now. This timely episode covers more ways to have access to technology and appropriate apps for students of all ages with special needs. Join us to learn more! Zafer Elcik is the co-founder of Otsimo, a platform that provides inclusive apps for students across the world for early and intensive education, communication, and speech. Show Highlights: Zafer’s story of growing up (in Turkey) with a younger brother with autism How Zafer realized how technology could enhance his brother’s education, skills development, communication, and speech How Otsimo uses video modeling and peer mimicking to help with speech development How the apps are being widely used by teachers, parents, and school districts to help students learn Why Zafer’s apps are unique in the field: No ads to lure kids into making purchases Positive reinforcement used in the games Customizable, personalized games stru

Today’s show focuses on different ways to deliver educational services and a school district doing it the right way. The key is changing mindset from the established educational culture that has made people believe that “separate is better.” Join us to learn more! Kurt Schneider has served as superintendent of the TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 for more than six years. Suzanne Sands is the president of TrueNorth’s Leadership Council, and she’s been in this school board-like role for six years. TrueNorth finds ways to deliver services to all students in new and different ways based on what the research says: that there are better outcomes when kids are together in schools. Kurt and Suzanne will share why their approach is working and how the transformational work of TrueNorth has impacted the broader educational community. Show Highlights: How educational cooperatives work to be leaders with resources and support for all students of all diverse backgrounds as they partner with school districts How t

Welcome to 2022 and a brand-new episode of the Inclusive Education Project podcast!  As we enter the spring semester (and year THREE of the pandemic!), we’re hearing a lot more noise about the teacher and support staff shortage, so we’ll be exploring that, as well as sharing strategies on how to make it all as painless as possible. Show Highlights: Reasons for the staffing shortage But children are resilient…right? The potential issues with long-term subs Why parents and kids should be prepped for staffing changes What has made this last school year more difficult  When regression happens Tips for getting the most benefit from aides Hindsight and looking-forward thoughts Links/Resources: Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday. If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, then please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show in https://itune

NOTE: Hi, everyone! We've stepped away from the podcast for a short break, but we'll be back soon with great new content. Meantime, please enjoy listening to some of our most popular episodes from the archive! Our guest today describes herself as a “veteran educator, survivor of burnout, and a self-care advocate.” Kayland Lamar coaches educators on self-care practices and boundary-setting in the classroom. If a healthy work-life balance and proactive personal wellness habits seem out of reach for you, then you will definitely want to listen to the tips that Kayland has to share with us, for the classroom and beyond. Kayland Lamar is a high school science teacher who loves her job, loves her students, and teaches at the same high school from which she graduated. Show Highlights: Kayland relates her personal story of burnout that she experienced during her first official teaching job. How setting boundaries can help us find the proper work-life balance. Kayland describes the relationship she has with he

NOTE: Hi, everyone! We've stepped away from the podcast for a short break, but we'll be back soon with great new content. Meantime, please enjoy listening to some of our most popular episodes from the archive! Today’s guest is Diana Pastora Carson, a self-described sibling advocate and a big fan of her brother, Joaquin, who spent 15 years of his life in an institution. Joaquin’s family fought for three years to bring him home, and he fully supports and endorses the way Diana shares their family story.  Diana has been an elementary educator for over 30 years in both general and special education. A lecturer for a Disability and Society course through San Diego State University, Diana also teaches other disability and inclusion courses through SDSU and a local community college. She’s a public speaker, inclusion visionary, and community activist who has also done a TEDtalk. With two terms on the board of Disability Rights California, she currently serves on the board of directors for Disability Voices Un

NOTE: Hi, everyone! We've stepped away from the podcast for a short break, but we'll be back soon with great new content. Meantime, please enjoy listening to some of our most popular episodes from the archive! We’re excited to bring you this great conversation with Mallory, Katie, and Lori from The Childhood Collective. Mallory, Katie, and Lori all have experience working with neurodiverse kids: kids with ADHD, learning and language differences, anxiety, and autism spectrum disorders. Once families receive a diagnosis, they often feel underprepared to know how to parent their kids. This is where The Childhood Collective comes in, helping parents on their journey after diagnosis by providing resources and follow-up. Stay tuned for some wonderful insights! Show Highlights: The Childhood Collective educates parents about how to help their kids at home through online courses. Learning about their child’s diagnoses and how their brains work helps parents to understand why certain behaviors are happening.

NOTE: Hi, everyone! We've stepped away from the podcast for a short break, but we'll be back soon with great new content. Meantime, please enjoy listening to some of our most popular episodes from the archive! We’re so thrilled to have Caroline Hines as our guest today. Caroline is a Social-Emotional School Counselor at a public charter school here in California, and she shares with us the advantages that having a dedicated counselor onsite provides, how kindness is taught through each grade level, plus she offers tips on how you can foster more kindness right in your own home. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did! Show Highlights: Caroline explains her role as a Social-Emotional School Counselor. Having a dedicated Social Emotional Counselor at a school site gives the school an advantage as far as being able to build social-emotional learning. Kindness is the platform used to establish the school’s culture. Caroline shares the philosophy of her “Kind Kids Club”. Caroline breaks down the

NOTE: Hi, everyone! We've stepped away from the podcast for a short break, but we'll be back soon with great new content. Meantime, please enjoy listening to some of our most popular episodes from the archive! When kids experience challenges meeting certain expectations, that can result in their frustration, which can often lead to concerning behaviors if they’re not equipped with the necessary skills to adapt. Our guest today trains parents, educators, and clinicians in an evidence-based treatment called the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model.  Be sure to tune in to this intriguing and insightful conversation and learn about all the benefits that CPS has to offer! Ross W. Greene, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist who lives in Freeport, Maine. He is the New York Times bestselling author of the influential books https://amzn.to/3vhK6Ex (The Explosive Child), https://amzn.to/3finbDA (Lost at School), https://amzn.to/2TfGYuV (Lost and Found), and https://amzn.to/3hUFIaL (Raising Human B

We always feel that we are “on the same page” when our guest is a passionate advocate for students. Today’s guest explains the work she does with pediatric assessments to help the parents and teachers of struggling learners. Join us to learn more! Dr. Karen Wilson is a clinical neuropsychologist who specializes in pediatric assessments. She evaluates kids from age 4 through early adulthood where a struggle to learn indicates a suspected neurodevelopmental disorder. She figures out whether the problem is an executive functioning issue, attention deficit, or inappropriate instruction. By evaluating various areas, she can pinpoint the reason for the struggle and formulate a plan for success for the child at home and at school. Show Highlights: How parents are referred to a neuropsychologist, and why Karen can offer meaningful help Why parents and teachers might rationalize the decision to put off a professional assessment, which delays lifechanging interventions for the student How students can enjoy the lea

We continue to see compounded challenges in this school year. Today’s show focuses on the vital role school counselors can play in advocating for students and supporting student success, even in the uncertainty of a pandemic. Join us to learn more! Caroline Hines is an elementary school counselor in Sacramento, CA. Unlike many school counselors, Caroline is a social-emotional counselor who supports students and families, making sure her school is a kind and caring place where students feel safe, included, accepted, and cared for. Her last appearance on the podcast was about how schools and parents can promote kindness, and today’s conversation focuses on the unique challenges in our current school year. Show Highlights: How school counselors wear many hats that differ greatly from school to school What Caroline notices about this school year and its challenges How our brains are wired to handle short bursts of stress rather than long, sustained periods of stress How COVID adds extra stress because of the un

Today’s conversation is with a guest recommended to us, and we are excited to hear her perspective. We are highlighting the immense challenges within the legal system for attorneys, parents, and students, especially how situations can vary from one state to another. Join us to learn more! Stacey Gahagan practices statewide in North Carolina. Her firm, with five attorneys, is the largest in NC that focuses on special education law. Stacey was in education for 19 years before she went to law school. From teacher to administrator, Stacey has “worn every hat at the IEP table,” except that of a speech therapist. After becoming an attorney, she realized her desire for fairness and her passion for education was leading her into this area. After leaving a salaried job, she started her own firm and has been able to make a difference in the area of inclusion in NC. Show Highlights: How Stacey’s unique background, experience, and expertise allow her to assist parents Why families are up against a wall in their fight