On to today’s episode. I’m going to replay an interview I did with Julia Bascom, the executive director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. This interview is from 2017. Wow. That is almost six years ago.  

Here's what I cover with Julia Bascom in this episode: 

1. The importance of self-advocacy for autistic people and how it can help create a more inclusive society. 

2. The challenges of autistic people having to advocate for themselves, and how they are often left out of conversations that involve the disability community. 

3. The need for allies to step up and support autistic people, to create understanding and acceptance. 

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

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Credits

Think Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is produced by MCIE.

Original music by Miles Kredich.

Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron!

Thank you to our sponsor, TogetherLetters.

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For many years, “chingona” was a derogatory term used to describe Latina women who are seen as too aggressive, difficult, or out of control. It's a word that is meant to keep young Latinas in their place while the male version, chignon, is used as a compliment.  

On this episode of Think Inclusive, I speak with Mexican American activist, scholar, and podcast host Alma Zaragoza-Petty who is helping women everywhere claim their inner chingona – or “badass.” In her new book Chingona: Owning Your Inner Badass for Healing and Justice Zaragoza-Petty shares about the chingona spirit she began to claim within herself and leads us toward the courage required to speak up and speak out against oppressive systems. 

Here's what I cover with Alma Zaragoza-Petty in this episode: 

1. How the term "chingona" has been reclaimed to honor the Latina experience. 

2. Uncovering the root causes of intergenerational trauma and pursuing healing. 

3. The power of mentors and educators in inspiring under-performing students to pursue college. 

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

Email List: https://bit.ly/MCIE-Email-List

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Show Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-Chingona

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Credits

Think Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is produced by MCIE.

Original music by Miles Kredich.

Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron!

Thank you to our sponsor, TogetherLetters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, I speak with Hilda and Olivier Bernier. As 3-year-old Emilio prepares to start school, his family finds itself embroiled in a challenge all too common for children with disabilities—to secure the right to an inclusive education. Cornered in one of the most segregated education systems, New York City public schools, filmmaker Olivier and his wife Hilda turn the camera on themselves and their child with Down syndrome, as they navigate a byzantine system originally designed to silo children with disabilities. Hilda, Olivier, and I talk about the film Forget Me Not, which is currently streaming for free on Tubi. And they give us an update about how Emilio is doing now.  

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

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Show Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-Forget-Me-Not-Doc

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Credits

Think Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is produced by MCIE.

Original music by Miles Kredich.

Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron!

Thank you to our sponsor, TogetherLetters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, I speak with Ryan Wilson, the director of Team Trust Productions. Ryan created Team Trust to help mission-driven organizations reach and serve their communications. He wants to help connect people with the entities, organizations and resources they deserve to grow and flourish. Ryan’s heart is advocating for persons with disabilities, because he is one. Ryan has befriended persons with the same disability as his (Osteogenesis Imperfecta), and established life-long relationships with persons with visual impairments, hearing impairments, cognitive disabilities and mental illnesses. Each one of these relationships changed his life.   

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

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Show Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-Ryan-Wilson

Cover Art Image Description: black background; think inclusive logo in the top left; rainbow-colored waves overlayed with the headshot of Ryan Wilson; text reads: Ryan Wilson, Team Trust; MCIE logo in the bottom right

Credits

Think Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is produced by MCIE.

Original music by Miles Kredich.

Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron!

Thank you to our sponsor, TogetherLetters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, I speak with Mary Beth Moore, author of the book: Unwanted: Fighting to Belong. 

Mary Beth Moore is the founder and executive director of The Advocacy Underground, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the authentic inclusion of students with disabilities across all educational environments. She studied political science and criminal justice at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte before joining the U.S. Marine Corps. She served as an intelligence analyst for the Department of Defense for several years, and then transitioned to a marketing leader in the high-tech space. She uses the storytelling skills gained as an intelligence analyst and marketing leader to make the complexities in special education law and research more consumable by parents and educators alike.    

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

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Show Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-Unwanted

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Credits

Think Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is produced by MCIE.

Original music by Miles Kredich.

Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron!

Thank you to our sponsor, TogetherLetters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, I speak with Cheryl Green and Thomas Reid, both fantastic podcasters.  

Cheryl Green has worked as an Access Artist, making creative and immersive captions for 10 years and audio description for five years. She brings her lived experiences of chronic illness and invisible disabilities to her access work with independent content creators and awesome, disability-focused organizations, including Superfest International Disability Film Festival, Disability Visibility Project, and Kinetic Light. She has made several documentary films and produces and transcribes her podcast, Pigeonhole.  

Shortly after becoming blind in 2004, Thomas Reid decided to re-ignite a dormant interest in audio production. After years of combining his interest in audio with advocacy, he was selected as an Association of Independence in Radio New Voice Scholar in 2014. During that same year, he began his podcast Reid My Mind Radio - featuring compelling people impacted by all degrees of blindness and disability. Occasionally, he shares stories from his own experience as a man adjusting to becoming Blind as an adult.  

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

Pod Access Survey: https://bit.ly/PODAccess

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Show Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-Pod-Access

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Credits

Think Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is produced by MCIE.

Original music by Miles Kredich.

Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, I speak with Katie Novak, an internationally renowned education consultant, author, graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, and a former Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Massachusetts. With 20 years of experience in teaching and administration, an earned doctorate in curriculum and teaching, and eleven published books, Katie designs and presents workshops both nationally and internationally focusing on the implementation of inclusive practices, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), multi-tiered systems of support, and universally designed leadership.  

Katie and I discuss her book UDL Now. She untangles some of the misconceptions about Universal Design for Learning, explains how UDL applies to instructing learners with extensive support needs, and why equity isn’t really a scary word. 

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

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Show Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-Katie-Novak2

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Credits

Think Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is produced by MCIE.

Original music by Miles Kredich.

Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, I speak with Michael Giangreco, a University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Special Education in the Department of Education at the University of Vermont and is affiliated with UVM's Center on Disability & Community Inclusion.  

Michael and I discuss why many school systems rely too much on paraprofessionals when implementing inclusive education. We talk about why he cautions parents about advocating for that one-to-one for their child. And stick around till the end when Michael shares what inspired using cartoons as a communication tool.  

I’ve seriously been so excited to share this interview with you. Dr. Giangreco has authored over 200 professional publications on various special education topics and presented extensively across the United States and internationally.  

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

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Show Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-Michael-Giangreco

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Credits

Think Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is produced by MCIE.

Original music by Miles Kredich.

Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron!

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For this episode, I speak with Melissa Defayette, who is a current third-year Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland. She achieved candidacy in the Fall of 2022. Her research is focused on creating and implementing mathematic interventions for students with moderate to severe disabilities to be used in general education settings while aligned to grade-level content. She has co-authored three articles with the research team led by her advisor, Dr. Yakubova. 

Melissa and I discuss what it is like being on the research side versus the classroom teacher side of education, why it's so hard for general education teachers to want to change their mindset regarding students with extensive support needs, and how her inclusion journey started in middle school. 

And just a quick note that our interview was recorded in early 2022. 

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

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Show Notes: https://bit.ly/TI-Melissa-Defayette

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Credits

Think Inclusive is written, edited, and sound designed by Tim Villegas and is produced by MCIE.

Original music by Miles Kredich.

Support Think Inclusive by becoming a patron!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About the Guest(s):

Dr. Temple Grandin is a renowned professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University and a prominent advocate for the humane treatment of livestock for slaughter. She is an accomplished author with numerous New York Times bestsellers, including "Animals in Translation," "Animals Make Us Human," "The Autistic Brain," and "Thinking in Pictures," which was adapted into an HBO movie starring Claire Danes. Dr. Grandin is a trailblazer in autism advocacy, specifically emphasizing the unique strengths of visual thinkers.

Episode Summary:

In this enlightening episode of Think Inclusive, Tim Villegas, from the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education, converses with Dr. Temple Grandin about her new book, "Visual Thinking." The discussion centers around the education system's failure to cater to visual thinkers and the impact this oversight has on industries reliant on these skills. Grandin passionately conveys how hands-on educational experiences, reminiscent of shop and art classes, are vital for nurturing the talents of students who think in pictures and thrive in tactile environments.

The conversation delves into Grandin's expertise in both autism advocacy and animal welfare, highlighting the intersections of her work. She shares her insights on how visual thinkers, often marginalized by traditional schooling systems, possess unique abilities crucial to fields like engineering and animal science. Grandin emphasizes the necessity of reinstating technical and creative classes to better accommodate visual learners, ultimately preparing them for fulfilling careers. This episode is a profound exploration of educational reform through the lens of diverse intellects, making a compelling case for rethinking our approach to inclusive education.

Key Takeaways:

-The Importance of Visual Thinking: Dr. Temple Grandin highlights the lack of recognition and support for visual thinkers in the current educational framework, stressing their essential role in industries like machinery and animal welfare.

-Reimagining Education: Grandin advocates for the reintroduction of hands-on classes—such as shop, art, and home economics—to nurture diverse learning styles and uncover latent talents in students.

-Workforce Implications: She draws attention to the industry's need for skilled visual thinkers, as many technical and manufacturing roles remain unfilled due to an overemphasis on abstract learning.

-Inclusive Education: The episode underscores the benefits of Universal Design for Learning, making educational experiences accessible and effective for learners with diverse needs, including those on the autism spectrum.

-Practical Solutions and Advocacy: Dr. Grandin champions simple, cost-effective solutions for accessibility challenges, focusing on pragmatic changes that can have significant impacts on inclusion efforts.

Resources:

New York Times op-ed by Dr. Temple Grandin: "Society is Failing Visual Thinkers": https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/09/opinion/temple-grandin-visual-thinking-autism.html?unlocked_article_code=1.j04.8ggu.ZR4GlS4JyIlx&smid=url-share

Temple Grandin: https://www.templegrandin.com/

MCIE: https://mcie.org/

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