Think Inclusive

When Elana Meyers Taylor won gold in women’s monobob at the Milan Cortina Winter Games, the first thing she did was find her sons and sign “Mommy won.” Both of her boys are deaf, and her older son, Nico, has Down syndrome. Sign language is the main language in their house. Elana talks with Tim about why her family learned ASL when doctors said not to bother, what an IEP evaluator missed because sh...

We say “inclusion” all the time. Michael McSheehan, owner and lead consultant of Evolve & Effect, says it’s time to say what we mean. He and four co-authors set out to write guidance about paraprofessionals and ended up writing the Five Features of Student Experience in a Continuum of Supports for Inclusive Education. The five features are location, accessibility, participation, affirmation, a...

Magen Rooney-Kron started out co-teaching in Chicago Public Schools. When she asked where her students with intellectual disabilities went after high school, the answers were “I don’t know” and “they go home.” The class meant to prepare them for work had them putting spoons in bags. She has worked on transition ever since, and today she is an assistant professor of inclusive education at the Unive...

Andrew Goff threw a mug that said “Best teacher ever” at a wall. It was his twelfth year in the classroom, and the email that set it off came from someone he had counted as an ally. His second memoir, Shattered and Becoming: A Teacher’s Journey Between Policy and Purpose, is about the year that followed. A new principal told Andrew he could not speak Spanish with the three-quarters of his pre-K cl...

Emma Rufo went to a restaurant in her wheelchair and was handed a kid’s cup with a lid. Everyone else at the table got a regular one. She came back another day walking with crutches, and got a cup with no lid. Emma and her mom, Dr. Jenna Mancini Rufo, join Tim to talk about what happens when adults decide instead of asking. Emma describes the year her school assigned her an aide, why it felt like...

Meg Grigal is the director of Think College at the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston. With over 25 years of experience researching pathways to higher education for students with intellectual disabilities, she has been a pivotal force in transforming inclusive postsecondary education and leading the charge for innovative research and action. Clare Papay serves as the Senior Associat...

Join us for episode three of MCIE's "Think Inclusive" four-part series in collaboration with Think College, as Tim Villegas visits the IDEAL program at Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta. IDEAL — Inclusive Digital Expression and Literacy — is a college program for students with intellectual disabilities built around creative media: film, television, and digital arts. It is also a commute...

Join us for episode two of MCIE's "Think Inclusive" four-part series in collaboration with Think College, as Tim Villegas travels to the University of California, Davis, to visit the Redwood SEED Scholars Program — California's first four-year residential college program for students with intellectual disabilities, and the first at any UC campus. SEED stands for Supported Education to Elevate Dive...

Lachi is a distinguished figure in the music and media industries, known for her work as an award-winning recording artist, producer, and advocate. She has a dynamic career that includes a Grammy-nominated album, hosting the PBS series Renegades, and founding the organization RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities). Lachi is also a national trustee of the Recording Acad...

LeDerick Horne is a spoken word poet, advocate, and speaker known for his work in special education and disability advocacy. He serves as the board chair of All In for Inclusive Education and is co-author of “Empowering Students with Hidden Disabilities: A Path to Pride and Success.” LeDerick has performed his poetry at high-profile venues, including the White House, and is the co-host of the “Bla...

Angela Macklin is a dedicated special education teacher and inclusive systems leader who played a pivotal role in transforming Cottage Lake Elementary School into a hub of inclusivity. Angela’s expertise in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and inclusive practices has now extended to the district-wide level in the North Shore School District, Washington. Her innovative approach is centered on fo...

Melissa McCollough is the Principal and Director of Early Childhood for the East Moline School District in Illinois. A pioneer in inclusive early childhood education, she oversees a program where every preschool classroom is an inclusive one. Melissa is recognized for her innovative approaches to early childhood education and her dedication to creating inclusive learning environments for all child...

Glenna Wright-Gallo is the Vice President of the Office of Strategic Research and Policy at Everway, a global neurotechnology software company. She has previously served as the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the U.S. Department of Education. Glenna is also a person with a disability, a parent, and a former state Director of Special Education. Her extensive...

Leah Kuypers is a distinguished occupational therapist, internationally acclaimed trainer, and speaker renowned for creating the Zones of Regulation framework. With a strong background in occupational therapy and experience as an autism resource specialist, Leah has contributed significantly to international educational practices with her innovative approach to emotional and energy regulation with...

Jonathan Hooper is a distinguished educator and a certified teacher of students with visual impairments (TVI) and an assistive technology professional (ATP). With 13 years of experience as an itinerant vision teacher in New York City, Jonathan currently contributes his expertise at Pediatric View at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. There, he specializes in Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) an...

Ryan Honick is an award-winning disability advocate, professional persuader, and prominent speaker. Over the years, he has forged significant pathways in advocacy on Capitol Hill, within federal government parameters, nonprofit organizations, and expansive PR firms. Honick is recognized for his influential work in publicizing the challenges faced by individuals using rideshare apps with service do...

Patrick Mulick is a board-certified behavior analyst, a certified speaker, trainer, and coach with the John Maxwell team. Serving as the Director of Student Engagement at the Auburn School District in Washington State, Patrick holds degrees in Special Education and Behavior Analysis from Gonzaga University. He has years of experience teaching students with disabilities, particularly those with aut...

Join us on this insightful episode of MCIE's "Think Inclusive" podcast, as Tim Villegas delves into the Terps Exceed program at the University of Maryland. Explore the innovative two-year initiative that integrates students with intellectual disabilities into university life, providing them with education, employment, and social opportunities typically seen in post-secondary education settings. Wi...

About the Guest(s): Michelle Garcia Winner is a renowned speech-language pathologist and the founder of Social Thinking. With over 30 years of experience, she has developed a methodology that seeks to aid teachers, therapists, and families in supporting social and organizational learning. Her work focuses on helping individuals, especially those on the autism spectrum, understand and enhance their...

Sandra McElwee is a prominent advocate for inclusive education and disabilities rights, known for her role as Sean's mom from the Emmy-winning reality TV series, "Born This Way." With over three decades of experience advocating for individuals with disabilities, Sandra has been a pillar of support and change within the inclusive education community. She is an author, public speaker, and independen...

Michele Gardner is the interim CEO at All In for Inclusive Education, an organization dedicated to fostering inclusive practices in educational institutions. With over 25 years of experience in the New Jersey public school system, Michelle has held various roles such as special education teacher, paraprofessional, assistant principal, and director of special services. Additionally, she has been an...

Dom Kelly is the co-founder, president, and CEO of New Disabled South and New Disabled South Rising. A lifelong disability advocate, Dom has made his mark in nonprofit leadership and as a systems thinker who combines lived experience with movement building. Apart from his advocacy work, Dom is an accomplished musician, having toured extensively and shared the stage with renowned artists such as th...

Megan Ohlssen is a visionary leader advocating for identity, equity, and belonging within educational spaces. She works dynamically with schools, organizations, and system leaders across the United States to spotlight disability justice and foster meaningful, sustainable change. Her extensive background includes coaching, systems evaluation, and program design, helping teams navigate difficult dia...

Dustin Giannelli is the CEO and founder of Hears Dustin, a consultancy dedicated to helping organizations create more inclusive and accessible workplaces. Profoundly deaf since childhood, Dustin navigates the world through lip reading, captions, and a strong sense of self-advocacy. His professional journey is marked by a commitment to enhancing communication, inclusion, accessibility, and workplac...

Andratesha Fritzgerald is an accomplished author, international speaker, and experienced educator who concentrates her work on dignity, humanity, and inclusive learning design. She is known for her leadership in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and her focus on anti-racism in educational settings. Andratesha is the author of “Anti-Racism and Universal Design for Learning: Building Expressways t...