Every student, parent, and educator carries an invisible backpack filled with experiences, challenges, and untold stories.

In this episode, we explore the concept of the “invisible backpack,” introduced by David Edward Garcia, and how these unseen burdens shape communication, behavior, and connection in educational spaces.

By learning to recognize what isn’t immediately visible, we can build deeper empathy, improve relationships, and create more supportive, responsive learning environments.

Whether you're in the classroom or supporting someone who is, this conversation will challenge you to listen more closely and lead with understanding.

Thanks for listening and, if you haven't already, please give us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Here is the transcript for ⁠Episode 88: Seeing the Unseen: Building Empathy in Education

Join us as we reflect on three years of All Means ALL, where we started, how our vision has evolved, and what continues to ground us in inclusive education. We share what it’s looked like to revisit and refine our mission over time, and how radical collaboration has shaped our work in meaningful ways.

We also get practical, highlighting simple tools like visual planning frameworks to help prioritize big ideas, and we keep it real about balancing work, family, and passion projects.

At the heart of it all is community. The network we’ve built over the past three years has been a source of energy, learning, and support, reminding us again and again that this work is better, and stronger when we do it together.

We wrap up with a look ahead, including website updates, expanded resource sharing, and an upcoming book study on coaching in schools.

Whether you’ve been here from the start or are just joining us, we’re glad you’re here.

Thanks for listening and, if you haven't already, please give us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Here is the transcript for ⁠Episode 87: Three Years Later - What We’ve Learned and What’s Next⁠.

You've heard it time and time again: you can only control the controllables. But when you're in the thick of the work and things feel heavy, it can be hard to pull yourself out and see the end goal. Sometimes showing up is half the work - but then imposter syndrome kicks in! We've got an affirmation for you and your team to use to keep going when it gets rough.

Say it with us:

We can and we will; we've done this and we'll do it again.

Thanks for listening and, if you haven't already, please give us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠.

Here is the transcript for Episode 86: We Can and We Will.

We're together in Orlando at ATIA 2026! In this recap episode, we reflect on coming full circle, returning to the conference where All Means ALL first began four years ago. Listen in as we share what makes ATIA such a powerful space for learning and connection.

We talk about the magic of hallway conversations, networking across states, and why conferences aren’t just about sessions, but about people. Carolyn shares key takeaways from a session on AAC and belonging, sparking a deeper conversation about the difference between access and true inclusion. Together, we unpack why access is just the starting line, how belonging must be intentionally designed, and what the “next step” looks like for educators, SLPs, families, and systems supporting AAC users.

Thanks for listening and, if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and now ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Here is the transcript for ⁠Episode 85: ATIA 2026 - Day 1

Join us as we wrap up our myth busting conversation with Maureen Donnelly, Director of Curriculum at Building Wings, Inc. If you haven't (yet) listened to Episode 83, we'd encourage you to do so before listening in. We are grateful for Marueen's willingness to share her knowledge, wisdom, and passion about comprehensive literacy for ALL with us!

Thanks for listening and, if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Follow us on⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and now ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Here is the transcript for ⁠Episode 84: Busting Myths & Spreading Literacy Love with Maureen Donnelly (Part 2)

Grab your favorite beverage and settle in because this episode is a good one!

We’re joined by Maureen Donnelly, Director of Curriculum at Building Wings, Inc., for an eye-opening (and myth-busting) conversation about teaching students with complex needs how to read, write, and communicate. Together, we tackle some of the most common misconceptions educators run into and gently (okay, sometimes not so gently) set the record straight.

Maureen also shares one of her favorite resources, and one of ours, Comprehensive Literacy for All by Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver. Whether you’re brand new to their work or have been following the research for years, this episode is packed with practical insights, affirmations, and plenty of “Yes, that!” moments.

Thanks for listening and, if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Follow us on⁠ Facebook, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and now ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Here is the transcript for Episode 83: Busting Myths & Spreading Literacy Love with Maureen Donnelly (Part 1)

During this episode, Carolyn and Sara connect with THE Kelly Fonner - notable AT maker, presenter, mentor... knower and doer of ALL the things. They chat about Kelly's introduction into the world of education, how learning about AT is best by doing, and the power of networking at conferences. Kelly speaks about QIAT (Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology) - check them out and start the conversation with your team about your current reality (i.e., where are you now) and potential next steps (i.e., where can you go).

Thanks for listening and, if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Follow us on⁠ Facebook, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and now ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

In this continuation of our conversation with Don Johnston, founder of Building Wings, we dive even deeper into what it means to believe in every learner’s potential. Don shares how one teacher’s high expectations changed the course of his life and how that belief continues to shape his mission today: creating tools that help every student experience success through reading, writing, and learning.

Don reminds us that it’s never too late to learn and that belief is the first step toward meaningful opportunity for every student.

Thanks for listening and, if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Follow us on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and now ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Here is the transcript for Episode 82: Belief, Success, and Opportunity - Part 2 with Don Johnston

In this first of a two-part conversation, we sit down with Don Johnston, founder of Don Johnston Inc. and now the creative force behind Building Wings. Don shares his journey from developing assistive technology to creating literacy-focused tools that honor the learning potential of every student.

From his early collaborations to his ongoing work Don’s story reminds us what’s possible when we believe all students can learn to read, write, and communicate.

Thanks for listening and, if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Follow us on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and now ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Here is the transcript for Episode 81: Building Wings with Don Johnston (Part 1)

Join us for our recap of Day two of the Closing the Gap conference where we share our main takeaways including more about Comprehensive Literacy for All and the CITES Framework. We are wrapping up our time inspired to continue this work.

- - - - - - - -

Thanks for listening and, if you haven't already, please give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Follow us on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and now ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!