Assembling Edu

In this episode, we interview Emily Thomas, a technology integration analyst from Northeast Metro Intermediate School District 916 about her work in her school district with making inclusive makerspaces. She emphasizes creating differentiated instructional materials that cater to various learning needs, from simple step-by-step instructions with images to advanced challenges. Each makerspace kit p...

In this episode, we talk to Katy Schmid, Senior Director of National Program Initiatives at The Arc. The Arc is one of the oldest and largest nonprofits for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This episode focuses on its partnership with Amazon to distribute 5,000 free devices to individuals with disabilities. These devices aimed to increase independence, communication, entert...

In this episode, we interview Peggy Stern, the founder and CEO of SuperDville, a social-emotional learning curriculum for students ages 7 to 13 with learning differences. The curriculum is aligned with the CASEL framework and the foundations of science of reading, including multi-sensory and explicit instruction. SuperDville features short video lessons, which include real kids with learning diffe...

In this episode, we interview Matt Pierri, founder of Sociability, an app that helps disabled people find accessible places to go and visit. Sociability provides information on various accessibility factors, including physical accessibility for wheelchair access, visual access, hearing access, and sensory accessibility. The app allows users to add their own information and reviews to help others....

In this episode, we talk to Ethan Pierce about Adaptive Reader, a platform that preserves student dignity and enhances comprehension through leveled novels. Adaptive Reader uses both the power of technology and humans to customize and adapt classic literature to make it accessible for all readers. The platform allows for a side-by-side comparison between the translated text and the original passag...

This episode will highlight different sessions at ISTE 2024, the International Society for Technology in Education, in Denver, Colorado. We sat down with several presenters who are sharing different sessions about adaptive and assistive technology, special education, adaptive learning, and disability inclusion. We spoke to Katie Fielding, Devon Caldwell, Doris Nhan, and Susan Aplin about each of t...

This episode is a two parter featuring Carrie Swails. In the first part of the episode, we talk about Carrie’s work with disability advocacy and activism. We discuss Carrie’s DEI work with companies and organizations, including an emphasis on the importance of company culture and clear accommodations processes for creating inclusive workspaces. In part two, we focus on Carrie’s role at Quizizz and...

In this episode, we sat down with Syren Nagakyire, the founder of Disabled Hikers, an organization that creates trail guides and resources for disabled hikers. Syren was inspired to create Disabled Hikers after realizing there was a lack of information about accessible trails. The organization’s trail guides are written by disabled hikers, for disabled hikers and uses a spoon rating system to offe...

In this episode, we interviewed Jerred Mace from OneCourt, a company that is developing technology to make live sports more accessible to fans with Blindness or Low Vision. The technology uses data from sporting events to create tactile representations and physical sensations via a handheld device, which allows people to experience the game by feeling the vibrations. OneCourt has conducted pilots...

In this episode, we talk to Jari Majewski Price, the founder and CEO of Feel the Beat. Feel the Beat is a nonprofit organization and dance studio in Colorado that is dedicated to creating inclusive and accessible environments in dance education. Founded by Jari and Julia Faliano, who were both Deaf educators at the time, Feel the Beat allows Deaf and Hard of Hearing dancers and dancers with and wi...

In this episode, we talk to Shell Mendelson, career counselor and author of the book A Course for ADHD Adults and Teens: Unlock Your Career Path. Shell discusses her educational journey, and the factors that led her work in career counseling, including her current work with adults and young adults with ADHD. Shell emphasizes that there are no specific jobs that people with ADHD should do, and they...

In this episode, we interviewed Allis Kensing, the Enabling Technology Coordinator at Penn-Mar Human Services. Penn-Mar has a new initiative to empower people with disabilities through the use of assistive technology. The initiative includes an assistive technology lending library, which allows people to try out different technologies to see how it can fit into their daily life. Penn-Mar is also w...

In this episode, we talk to Matt Tilford from Active Project and the Kelly Brush Foundation. Active Project offers a way for athletes to learn about adaptive sports by creating a community of adaptive sports organizations and athletes. Within the platform, athletes can discover new adaptive sports, find local adaptive sports organizations and programs, and talk to people with spinal cord injuries...

In this episode, we talked to Krista Weltner, author of Everyday Adventures with Molly and Dyslexia , a three book children’s book series about dyslexia. During our conversation, we discuss Krista’s decision to represent dyslexia through the personified character of Lexi. The series overall aims to empower children with dyslexia by showcasing their strengths and positive aspects of having dyslexia...

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Coral Hoh, a linguistic expert and the co-founder of Dysolve. Dysolve is an artificial intelligence powered solution for evaluating and addressing dyslexia. During our conversation, Dr. Hoh addresses the problems with the traditional approach to dyslexia evaluations, including scattered assessments and data points that often don’t give a clear roadmap for interventi...

In this episode, we interviewed Joe Jamison, founder and CEO of VisitAble. VisitAble is dedicated to accessibility awareness and inclusion training for businesses, addressing the gap these organizations often have in the disability space. The self-paced eLearning courses emphasize the importance of storytelling, focusing on industry best practices, and sharing strategies and ideas actually provide...

In this episode, we talked to Gregory Liakos, the Director of Gateway Arts, an organization dedicated to providing individualized arts-based services for adults with disabilities, which allow them to find meaningful careers within the art world. Founded in 1973, Gateway Arts is one of the longest-running programs of its kind in the United States, offering a variety of studio art classes, gallery e...

In this episode, Brendan Aylward, founder of AdaptX and owner of the inclusive fitness center, Unified Health and Performance, discusses his passion for creating inclusive fitness environments. Within AdaptX, the mission is to provide resources and education to fitness professionals so they can better support their clients with disabilities. During this conversation, we also dove into the common b...

In this episode, we focus on accessibility and disability inclusion within music festivals. Live music can bring people together but, unfortunately, most venues and events are not inclusive for all music fans. In this episode, we talked to Shawn Satterfield, founder of Shine Music and the Shine Music Festival, an accessible music festival in Colorado. After noticing the barriers and separation peo...

In this episode, Lorraine Woodward, founder of Becoming rentABLE, discusses the challenges and importance of making short-term rentals accessible. She highlights that only 0.01% of short-term rentals in the U.S. are considered accessible and that there is a need for a wider range of accessibility features. Becoming rentABLE provides a platform for listing and certifying accessible short-term renta...

In this episode, we are joined by Kelly Steinke, the president of READ Learning and Silver Moon Spelling. Kelly is a passionate advocate for literacy education, and she has dedicated her career to helping children with dyslexia succeed. In this episode, we discuss the inspiration behind Kelly’s work, her curriculum for research-based literacy instruction, and how to support dyslexic students in th...

In this episode, we spoke to Carol Sudhalter and Mimi Block about the Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jams held at Flushing Town Hall each month. Carol is the jazz house band leader for the jam sessions and Mimi is a frequent performer and an accomplished violinist. In our conversations, both guests share their experiences with music and the impact their participation in the jazz jam sessions...

In this episode, we interview Dr. Sally Izquierdo and Kartika Kumari about their work creating the Neurodiversity Hub at Queens College. The hub provides access to quality resources about neurodiversity and how to support students in the classroom, specifically within higher education. These artifacts can help professors and staff create more welcoming and accessible learning environments. During...

In this episode, we interviewed Dr. Kate Siekman about Islands of Brilliance, an organization dedicated to creating learning experiences that support and empower neurodivergent learners. By pairing arts, design, and STEAM content with individual SpIns, different levels of program options, and mentorship, Islands of Brilliance has created a space where children and young adults on the autism spectr...

Billions of people around the world use assistive technology, but the wide variety of different AT devices, equipment, and products can be overwhelming both for people recommending and adopting technology. Eazilee is a platform and community centered on finding the right assistive technology. We talked to Rebecca Scott about how overwhelming AT decisions can be and how their website acts as a data...