Assembling Edu

In this episode, we interview Christian Kane about creating the Field of Dreams complex in Toms River, New Jersey. Field of Dreams is an all-inclusive complex with a playground, fields, interactive areas, and events with the goal of being physically and socially inclusive for everyone, regardless of age or abilities. (Episode Transcript) 

In this episode, we interview Gil Dori from EyeHarp, an organization that created the first musical instrument that can be played with eye gaze or head movements. We discuss how EyeHarp helps bring music to individuals with physical disabilities, including how it can make music creation and education more inclusive. (Episode Transcript) 

In this episode, we interview Sarah Sandelius, the Chief Executive Officer of The Ability Challenge. The Ability Challenge works with schools to make sure that students with diverse learning needs are supported. We talk about the role of data within special education programming decisions, the importance of and team staff collaboration in inclusion work, the resources that The Ability Challenge has available for schools, teachers, and leaders, and the impact the organization has had on making schools more inclusive for all learners. (Episode Transcript)

In this episode, we interview Dr. Becca Monteleone, an Assistant Professor of Disability Studies at the University of Toledo. We talked about the power of storytelling within self-advocacy and allowing participants to own their own voices, identities, and experiences. (Episode Transcript)

In this episode, we interview Deetra Mitchell, the Self-Advocate Community Inclusion Specialist for the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities. We are specifically talking about SALUTE, Self-Advocates LUcas TolEdo. SALUTE has done amazing work with self-advocacy for individuals with disabilities. Members of the organization have owned their voices to influence businesses, gain employment, change policy and legislation, and make a positive difference in their communities. (Episode Transcript)

In this episode, we interview Kevin Delecki, the programming manager at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. We talk about the sensory inclusion initiative within the library and how they have worked to ensure that they are inclusive of individual needs in every part of their library to make community patrons feel accepted and comfortable (Episode Transcript)

In this episode, we interview Susie Blackstein-Adler and Christy McDonald who were part of the team who created the debug'd Coding Curriculum. debug'd Coding is a Universal Design for Learning (UDL), inclusive coding curricula that supports all students. We talk about the logistics of the curricular materials and coding kits, as well as how the program's design has been successful in bringing coding to every single student. (Episode Transcript)

In this episode, we interview Mark Barlet and Andy Wu from AbleGamers, an organization dedicated to inclusive gaming with the mission of "combating social isolation through play." We discuss their work with supporting gamers to find accessibility solutions for gaming with peer counseling, creating prototypes for inclusive gaming through engineering research, and training game designers to make games more accessible with professional development. (Episode Transcript)

In this episode, we interview Simmi Goomer and Symon Hayes, who both work at Eye to Eye National, a nonprofit organization with the mission of improving educational experiences and outcomes for every student who learns differently. Simmi is the Chief Learning and Impact Officer, and Symon is the Director of Professional Learning. We discuss Eye to Eye's near-peer mentorship program, pairing students who learn differently in high school and college and pairing them with middle schoolers. The professional development program provides training to general and special educators. (Episode Transcript)

In this episode, we interview Jacob Corey, one of the co-founders of Happy Valley FitLink, an inclusive wellness program for individuals with disabilities and their caregivers and families. This program brings together adaptive fitness and wellness seminars while supporting the building of friendships and community. Learn more about how to run this type of inclusive health and fitness program and the benefits of this type of programming (Episode Transcript)