Think Inclusive

For this episode, I speak with Hilda and Olivier Bernier. As 3-year-old Emilio prepares to start school, his family finds itself embroiled in a challenge all too common for children with disabilities—to secure the right to an inclusive education. Cornered in one of the most segregated education systems, New York City public schools, filmmaker Olivier and his wife Hilda turn the camera on themselves and their child with Down syndrome, as they navigate a byzantine system originally designed to silo children with disabilities. Hilda, Olivier, and I talk about the film Forget Me Not, which is currently streaming for free on Tubi. And they give us an update about how Emilio is doing now.  Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.FREE WEBINAR: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4116765589426/WN_XcgoE_ozTlS6CQ37tIwN8wEmail List: https://bit.ly/MCIE-Email-ListOtter.ai Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/ce5cfwymonHmNlVHMVhV5XcF83YPDF Transcript: https://3bd6e695-b492-4878-afa9-f79d8b09e0c4.usrfiles.com/ugd/3bd6e6_5b36d945981b482b9a01c072cff9ace3.pdfShow Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-Forget-Me-Not-DocCover Art Image Description: black background; think inclusive logo in the top left; rainbow-colored waves overlayed with a cropped image of the Forget Me Not poster; text reads: Hilda & Olivier Bernier, Forget Me Not Documentary; MCIE logo in the bottom rightCreditsThink Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is produced by MCIE.Original music by Miles Kredich.Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron!Thank you to our sponsor, TogetherLetters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, I speak with Ryan Wilson, the director of Team Trust Productions. Ryan created Team Trust to help mission-driven organizations reach and serve their communications. He wants to help connect people with the entities, organizations and resources they deserve to grow and flourish. Ryan’s heart is advocating for persons with disabilities, because he is one. Ryan has befriended persons with the same disability as his (Osteogenesis Imperfecta), and established life-long relationships with persons with visual impairments, hearing impairments, cognitive disabilities and mental illnesses. Each one of these relationships changed his life.   Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Otter.ai Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/Upr-Nwv5MGzuBu_HNMWlmkaRMGoPDF Transcript: https://3bd6e695-b492-4878-afa9-f79d8b09e0c4.usrfiles.com/ugd/3bd6e6_1f3eabbdc10a41ef91270b7847d98415.pdfShow Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-Ryan-WilsonCover Art Image Description: black background; think inclusive logo in the top left; rainbow-colored waves overlayed with the headshot of Ryan Wilson; text reads: Ryan Wilson, Team Trust; MCIE logo in the bottom rightCreditsThink Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is produced by MCIE.Original music by Miles Kredich.Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron!Thank you to our sponsor, TogetherLetters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, I speak with Mary Beth Moore, author of the book: Unwanted: Fighting to Belong. Mary Beth Moore is the founder and executive director of The Advocacy Underground, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the authentic inclusion of students with disabilities across all educational environments. She studied political science and criminal justice at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte before joining the U.S. Marine Corps. She served as an intelligence analyst for the Department of Defense for several years, and then transitioned to a marketing leader in the high-tech space. She uses the storytelling skills gained as an intelligence analyst and marketing leader to make the complexities in special education law and research more consumable by parents and educators alike.    Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Otter.ai Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/xsVMU_PN0JPESDTJbqePGKK30YYPDF Transcript: https://3bd6e695-b492-4878-afa9-f79d8b09e0c4.usrfiles.com/ugd/3bd6e6_7838a942c65b4f428cef5e59ac357c3d.pdfShow Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-UnwantedCover Art Image Description: black background; think inclusive logo in the top left; rainbow-colored waves overlayed with the headshot of Mary Beth Moore; text reads: Mary Beth Moore; Unwanted; MCIE logo in the bottom rightCreditsThink Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is produced by MCIE.Original music by Miles Kredich.Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron!Thank you to our sponsor, TogetherLetters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, I speak with Cheryl Green and Thomas Reid, both fantastic podcasters.  Cheryl Green has worked as an Access Artist, making creative and immersive captions for 10 years and audio description for five years. She brings her lived experiences of chronic illness and invisible disabilities to her access work with independent content creators and awesome, disability-focused organizations, including Superfest International Disability Film Festival, Disability Visibility Project, and Kinetic Light. She has made several documentary films and produces and transcribes her podcast, Pigeonhole.  Shortly after becoming blind in 2004, Thomas Reid decided to re-ignite a dormant interest in audio production. After years of combining his interest in audio with advocacy, he was selected as an Association of Independence in Radio New Voice Scholar in 2014. During that same year, he began his podcast Reid My Mind Radio - featuring compelling people impacted by all degrees of blindness and disability. Occasionally, he shares stories from his own experience as a man adjusting to becoming Blind as an adult.  Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Pod Access Survey: https://bit.ly/PODAccessOtter.ai Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/PbL6YiMBIHnsG3ZioVzBfucoFKgPDF Transcript: https://3bd6e695-b492-4878-afa9-f79d8b09e0c4.usrfiles.com/ugd/3bd6e6_1f8953f530fb4035a0028b53af6c7f34.pdfShow Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-Pod-AccessCover Art Image Description: black background; think inclusive logo in the top left; rainbow-colored waves overlayed with headshots of Cheryl Green and Thomas Reid; text reads: Cheryl Green & Thomas Reid, Pod Access; MCIE logo in the bottom rightCreditsThink Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is produced by MCIE.Original music by Miles Kredich.Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katie Novak, renowned education consultant, talks about Universal Design for Learning (UDL), instructing learners with extensive support needs, and the importance of equity in education. She discusses the relationship between UDL, differentiated instruction, and specially designed instruction, and explores the role of scaffolding in UDL and differentiated instruction. Katie emphasizes the importance of implementing UDL in classrooms and challenging traditional beliefs about education.

For this episode, I speak with Michael Giangreco, a University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Special Education in the Department of Education at the University of Vermont and is affiliated with UVM's Center on Disability & Community Inclusion.  Michael and I discuss why many school systems rely too much on paraprofessionals when implementing inclusive education. We talk about why he cautions parents about advocating for that one-to-one for their child. And stick around till the end when Michael shares what inspired using cartoons as a communication tool.  I’ve seriously been so excited to share this interview with you. Dr. Giangreco has authored over 200 professional publications on various special education topics and presented extensively across the United States and internationally.  Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Otter.ai Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/1_1-aP9vFpdArMhSWv2LTAamvTI?utm_source=copy_urlPDF Transcript: https://3bd6e695-b492-4878-afa9-f79d8b09e0c4.usrfiles.com/ugd/3bd6e6_e627d16576994abeb7fb45d59564c22e.pdfShow Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-Michael-GiangrecoCover Art Image Description: black background; think inclusive logo in the top left; rainbow-colored waves overlayed with a headshot of Michael Giangreco; text reads: Michael Giangreco, On the Overreliance of Paraprofessionals to Implement Inclusive Education; MCIE logo in the bottom rightCreditsThink Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is produced by MCIE.Original music by Miles Kredich.Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, I speak with Melissa Defayette, who is a current third-year Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland. She achieved candidacy in the Fall of 2022. Her research is focused on creating and implementing mathematic interventions for students with moderate to severe disabilities to be used in general education settings while aligned to grade-level content. She has co-authored three articles with the research team led by her advisor, Dr. Yakubova. Melissa and I discuss what it is like being on the research side versus the classroom teacher side of education, why it's so hard for general education teachers to want to change their mindset regarding students with extensive support needs, and how her inclusion journey started in middle school. And just a quick note that our interview was recorded in early 2022. Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Otter.ai Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/As32Q0z501EZQKGzIYdWFN9gzZgPDF Transcript: https://3bd6e695-b492-4878-afa9-f79d8b09e0c4.usrfiles.com/ugd/3bd6e6_ea33695b08a54a4a88352ec4aeed1746.pdfShow Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-Melissa-DefayetteCover Art Image Description: black background; think inclusive logo in the top left; rainbow-colored waves overlayed with a headshot of Melissa Defayette; text reads: Melissa Defayette, Transitioning from Teacher to Researcher; MCIE logo in the bottom rightCreditsThink Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is produced by MCIE.Original music by Miles Kredich.Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About the Guest(s):Dr. Temple Grandin is a renowned professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University and a prominent advocate for the humane treatment of livestock for slaughter. She is an accomplished author with numerous New York Times bestsellers, including "Animals in Translation," "Animals Make Us Human," "The Autistic Brain," and "Thinking in Pictures," which was adapted into an HBO movie starring Claire Danes. Dr. Grandin is a trailblazer in autism advocacy, specifically emphasizing the unique strengths of visual thinkers.Episode Summary:In this enlightening episode of Think Inclusive, Tim Villegas, from the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education, converses with Dr. Temple Grandin about her new book, "Visual Thinking." The discussion centers around the education system's failure to cater to visual thinkers and the impact this oversight has on industries reliant on these skills. Grandin passionately conveys how hands-on educational experiences, reminiscent of shop and art classes, are vital for nurturing the talents of students who think in pictures and thrive in tactile environments.The conversation delves into Grandin's expertise in both autism advocacy and animal welfare, highlighting the intersections of her work. She shares her insights on how visual thinkers, often marginalized by traditional schooling systems, possess unique abilities crucial to fields like engineering and animal science. Grandin emphasizes the necessity of reinstating technical and creative classes to better accommodate visual learners, ultimately preparing them for fulfilling careers. This episode is a profound exploration of educational reform through the lens of diverse intellects, making a compelling case for rethinking our approach to inclusive education.Key Takeaways:-The Importance of Visual Thinking: Dr. Temple Grandin highlights the lack of recognition and support for visual thinkers in the current educational framework, stressing their essential role in industries like machinery and animal welfare.-Reimagining Education: Grandin advocates for the reintroduction of hands-on classes—such as shop, art, and home economics—to nurture diverse learning styles and uncover latent talents in students.-Workforce Implications: She draws attention to the industry's need for skilled visual thinkers, as many technical and manufacturing roles remain unfilled due to an overemphasis on abstract learning.-Inclusive Education: The episode underscores the benefits of Universal Design for Learning, making educational experiences accessible and effective for learners with diverse needs, including those on the autism spectrum.-Practical Solutions and Advocacy: Dr. Grandin champions simple, cost-effective solutions for accessibility challenges, focusing on pragmatic changes that can have significant impacts on inclusion efforts.Resources:New York Times op-ed by Dr. Temple Grandin: "Society is Failing Visual Thinkers": https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/09/opinion/temple-grandin-visual-thinking-autism.html?unlocked_article_code=1.j04.8ggu.ZR4GlS4JyIlx&smid=url-shareTemple Grandin: https://www.templegrandin.com/MCIE: https://mcie.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, I speak with Ashley Barlow, a special education attorney advocate and host of the podcast Special Education Advocacy with Ashley Barlow. In a former life, she was a German teacher in Jefferson County Public Schools and Cincinnati Public Schools, having taught nearly every grade from K to 12.  Ashley practices statewide in Kentucky and also operates a business to empower and inspire parents and advocates in special education, which can be found at www.ashleybarlowco.com. She is also the Director of Education at the National Down Syndrome Congress.  We did something a little different for this episode. Ashley and I interviewed each other and are posting the same interview on our respective podcasts. Cool right? We discuss several things related to inclusive education, including … what inclusive ed really means and using Dear Colleague Letters as a strategy in IEP meetings.  Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Otter.ai Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/JiXRvYh8mFPHeFaGzeV6mM7Z5pkPDF Transcript: https://3bd6e695-b492-4878-afa9-f79d8b09e0c4.usrfiles.com/ugd/3bd6e6_5b131ba558eb4a168d1623daddbfaa29.pdfShow Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-Ashley-BarlowCover Art Image Description: black background; think inclusive logo in the top left; rainbow-colored waves overlayed with a headshot of Ashley Barlow; text reads: Ashley Barlow, Perfectly Imperfect Advocacy; S10E12; MCIE logo in the bottom rightCreditsThink Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is produced by MCIE.Original music by Miles Kredich.Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, Tim speaks with Jay Ruderman, the President of the Ruderman Family Foundation, focusing on inclusion, diversity, and social justice. He hosts All About Change, a podcast focused on activism, change, and courage. Jay is a social justice activist who has spent his life promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities. Through his foundation, he has been an integral part of holding the entertainment industry accountable for its lack of authentic representation of people with disabilities. Just a quick content warning, Jay and I discuss some sensitive topics, such as suicide, school shootings, and gun violence. Our conversation was recorded in May of 2022. Thanks for listening, and if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Otter.ai Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/tgKg6ts9AFRiISJMPI6mu7RwXRMPDF Transcript: https://3bd6e695-b492-4878-afa9-f79d8b09e0c4.usrfiles.com/ugd/3bd6e6_be3c7c83dfe347f48c991e543229b6f4.pdfShow Notes: https://bit.ly/all-about-changeCover Art Image Description: black background; think inclusive logo in the top left; rainbow-colored waves overlayed with a headshot of Jay Ruderman; text reads: Jay Ruderman, All About Change; S10E11; MCIE logo in the bottom rightCreditsThink Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is produced by MCIE.Original music by Miles Kredich.Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.