About the Guest(s): Dr. Julie Causton is an associate professor in the Department of Teaching and Leadership at Syracuse University. She is the creator of the website Inspire Inclusion, which provides resources and support for parents of children with disabilities. Dr. Causton has conducted research on inclusive practices, including the landmark project Schools of Promise. She is a leading expert in the field of inclusive education and has worked with schools across the country to promote inclusive practices.

Episode Summary: In this episode, Dr. Julie Causton discusses the necessary steps for schools to become more inclusive. She shares insights from her research project, Schools of Promise, which focused on transforming schools to be more inclusive. Dr. Causton emphasizes the importance of professional development for teachers and the need to reimagine the service delivery model in school districts. She also highlights the role of the law in promoting inclusive education and shares examples of successful inclusive schools. The conversation explores strategies for addressing challenging behavior and the misconception that inclusion is not academically appropriate for all students. Dr. Causton provides practical ideas and resources for creating inclusive classrooms and offers guidance for parents advocating for inclusive education.

Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/lJdqtt452S0yZx_zGJzxtlceGAM

Key Takeaways:

• Schools can become more inclusive by providing professional development for teachers and reimagining the service delivery model.
• Inclusive education leads to better academic outcomes for students with disabilities and their peers without disabilities.
• Challenging behavior can be addressed by creating a sense of belonging and understanding the underlying needs of students.
• The law supports inclusive education and requires schools to exhaust all supplemental aids, supports, and services before considering removal from general education.
• Inclusion is not dependent on a student's academic level, but rather on providing appropriate accommodations, modifications, and adaptations to support their learning.

Resources:

Website: Inspire Inclusion

Book: The Paraprofessional's Handbook for Effective Support in Inclusive Classrooms

Book: The Principal's Handbook for Effective Support in Inclusive Education

App: I Advocate (available for download)

Thank you for listening to the Think Inclusive Podcast. For more episodes and insightful discussions, be sure to subscribe and visit the website for additional resources. Stay tuned for more inspiring content on inclusive education.

Think Inclusive: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/

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