Think Inclusive

This week, we are bringing you a feed drop from School Disrupted with Toni Barton.

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In this episode, Toni challenges the education system's approach to inclusivity. Toni kicks off the episode with the controversial sentiment, "...if we fix general education, we wouldn't need special education," and emphasizes the need to fix general education classrooms as essential to improving special education. This episode reveals a troubling reality where students with disabilities often lack adequate support in inclusive settings, shedding light on the absence of accountability and the limited training provided to educators. These hard-hitting truths underscore the significance of disruption and the necessity of redesigning schools where #NoChildIsLeftBehind.

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Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/qP2vxjYjdLRMpo8WNh7JeZM7QLA

Follow/Subscribe to School Disrupted: https://pod.link/1700326016

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About The Guest(s): Jen Malia is a professor of English and a writer of children's books. She started out publishing literary criticism before transitioning to creative writing. Her interest in neurodivergence and autism led her to write personal essays and reported pieces on the topic. This eventually led to the opportunity to write children's books, including the "Infinity Rainbow Club" series.

Summary: Jen Malia, a professor of English and writer of children's books, discusses her transition from academic writing to creative writing. She shares how her autism diagnosis influenced her writing and inspired her to create stories about neurodivergent characters. Jen also talks about the inspiration behind her "Infinity Rainbow Club" series and the importance of portraying neurodivergent kids in everyday situations. She emphasizes the need for acceptance and understanding of neurodivergence and hopes that her books will reach a wide audience, including educators and parents.

Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/BTHkinTYPaxmxBV_6vl_f50Ng4E

Key Takeaways:

• Jen Malia wanted to write books about neurodivergent characters who go about their everyday lives rather than focusing solely on their neurodivergence.
• The characters in the "Infinity Rainbow Club" series are inspired by real-life experiences and composite characters.
• Jen's autism diagnosis later in life changed her view of herself and her parenting approach, emphasizing acceptance and pride in being neurodivergent.
• The educational experiences of the characters in the series are based on inclusive classrooms with collaboration between general education and special education teachers.
• Jen hopes her books will be a resource for neurodivergent kids and help promote acceptance and understanding among all students.

Jen Malia:

Website: https://jenmalia.com/

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/jenmaliabooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenmaliabooks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MomWithAutism/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenmaliabooks/

MCIE:

Website: https://www.mcie.org/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThinkInclusive/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/think_inclusive/

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/think_inclusive

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThinkinclusiveUs

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inclusive-education/

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

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

About The Guest(s): Tim Harris is a motivational speaker, author, and former restaurant owner. He gained national attention when he opened Tim's Place, a restaurant in Albuquerque, New Mexico, known for its friendly atmosphere and Tim's signature hugs. Tim has Down syndrome and has used his platform to advocate for inclusion and spread joy through his positive outlook on life.

Summary: Tim Harris, a motivational speaker and former restaurant owner, shares his experiences and insights on inclusion and living an awesome life. Tim talks about his favorite memories from his restaurant, Tim's Place, where he was known as the "king of hugs." He discusses the importance of giving hugs and how he kept track of the thousands of hugs he gave. Tim also opens up about the decision to close his restaurant and the impact it had on his life. He shares his love for public speaking and the joy he finds in bringing happiness to others. Tim emphasizes the importance of dreaming big and standing up for oneself, and he encourages people with disabilities to embrace their awesomeness and be a light in the world.

Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/EQqgDnFCvtRnzoHFc7eg8mOILs8

Key Takeaways:

1. Tim's favorite memory from Tim's Place was seeing people walk through the front door and feeling the world come in.
2. Tim kept track of the hugs he gave by using a hug clicker and adding them to a hug counter on the wall.
3. Tim's decision to close Tim's Place was sad, but his public speaking career has been fulfilling and exciting.
4. Tim encourages people with disabilities to dream big, be awesome, and have fun.
5. Inclusion means being accepted into the world and bringing light into people's hearts.

Tim Harris:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timsbigheart

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timsbigheart/

MCIE:

Website: https://www.mcie.org/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThinkInclusive/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/think_inclusive/

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/think_inclusive

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThinkinclusiveUs

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inclusive-education/

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

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Maya Chupkov (she/her) is the host of the podcast Proud Stutter and Media and Democracy Program Manager at California Common Cause. She advocates for people who stutter and works to raise awareness and build inclusive spaces through storytelling and policy.

Maya Chupkov shares her journey of embracing her stutter and using podcasting as a platform for advocacy. She talks about misconceptions around stuttering, her personal growth, and how inclusive environments can make a difference. This episode is a powerful reminder of the importance of visibility, education, and authentic storytelling.

Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/maya-chupkov-advocating-for-stuttering-awareness-through-podcasting/

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

About The Guest(s):

• Andy Arias: DEIA expert, national policy advisor, instructor at Georgetown University, actor, and producer.
• Diego Mariscal: Founder, CEO, and Chief Disabled Officer of 2Gether International, an accelerator that supports disabled entrepreneurs.
• Emily Ladau: Disability rights activist, author of "Demystifying Disability," and board member of Kids Included Together.

Summary: In this episode, Torrie Dunlop hosts a panel discussion with Andy Arias, Diego Mariscal, and Emily Liddell to honor the legacy of Judy Heumann, a pioneer and advocate in the disability rights movement. The panelists discuss how Judy's work has inspired their own activism, the most important issues facing the disability community today, and the impact of intersectionality in disability rights. They also share personal stories and reflections on Judy as a person, highlighting her generosity, humor, and commitment to connecting people. The panelists discuss how they plan to continue Judy's legacy in their own work, emphasizing the importance of authentic representation and collaboration in the disability community.

Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/_LOEalVNz27i_mdqvHaNnXHQVqQ

Key Takeaways:

• Judy Heumann's legacy is characterized by her commitment to collaboration, community building, and intersectionality in the disability rights movement.
• The most important issues facing the disability community today are interconnected and require a holistic approach to address barriers in healthcare, employment, education, transportation, and more.
• Judy's impact as a person extended beyond her advocacy work, as she was known for her humor, generosity, and genuine interest in connecting with others.
• To honor Judy's legacy, it is crucial to prioritize authentic representation and collaboration in all aspects of disability rights work, including storytelling, filmmaking, and entrepreneurship.

Kids Included Together: https://www.kit.org/

Andy Arias: https://www.instagram.com/andyswheelz/

Diego Mariscal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Diego-Mariscal/

Emily Ladau: https://emilyladau.com/

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Brooke Ellison — Disability rights advocate, author, and professor at Stony Brook University. Brooke became a ventilator-using quadriplegic at age 11 after being hit by a car, graduated from Harvard, and ran for the New York State Senate; her work matters because she pushes us to see disability as strength, redesign systems with universal design, and center disability across all policy areas.

Brooke Ellison joins Think Inclusive to talk about her book Look Both Ways, sharing how living with quadriplegia reshaped her understanding of disability—from shame and pity to resilience and empowerment. She calls for disability to be treated as a cross‑cutting policy issue, highlights the power of universal design, and reminds educators and communities that inclusion benefits everyone.

Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/look-both-ways-exploring-disability-with-brooke-ellison/

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Kayla Taylor — Writer, researcher, advocate, and parent; author of Canaries Among Us, she blends lived experience with research to help families understand learning differences, bullying, and anxiety and to push schools toward more caring, inclusive cultures.

In this conversation, Kayla Taylor shares what she learned while raising a child navigating learning differences, bullying, and anxiety—and why telling these stories in real time (not decades later) helps families feel less alone. She breaks down what bullying really is, why power dynamics matter, and how schools and bystanders can respond in ways that actually reduce harm and build belonging.

Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/understanding-bullying-a-personal-journey-and-call-for-change-with-kayla-taylor/

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Andratesha Fritzgerald — Founder and lead consultant of Building Blocks of Brilliance; international speaker and author of Antiracism and Universal Design for Learning: Building Expressways to Success. Her work pushes schools to move from a culture of power to a culture of honor, combining UDL with anti-racism so every learner is seen, heard, and supported.

Tim Villegas interviews Andratesha Fritzgerald about building a culture of honor in schools—shifting power by co‑designing learning with students and pairing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) with anti-racist practice. They dig into how fear-based control harms learning, what “expert learners” look like at any age, and the difference between equality and equity. The episode was recorded June 30, 2023, the day of major Supreme Court rulings, which shaped parts of the conversation; the show closes with a “mystery question” and a Free Time chat with Carolyn Teigland on navigating DEI language in restrictive contexts.

Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/creating-a-culture-of-honor-in-education-an-interview-with-andratesha-fritzgerald/

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Dr. Shelley Moore (she/her) — Educator, researcher, speaker, and storyteller based in Vancouver, BC. Shelley focuses on equity and inclusion for all learners; her work (including the bestselling One Without the Other) helps schools design learning that’s accessible from the start, not retrofitted later.

Season 11 kicks off with Dr. Shelley Moore breaking down the 5 Ps of Inclusive Education—Positive attitude, Placement, Peers, Purpose, and Plan for all—and how these pillars make secondary inclusion real, not just aspirational. She shares research, concrete school examples (including students with intellectual disabilities earning high‑school credit), and a PD approach that actually shifts practice.

We also hear about system barriers like LRE misinterpretations and overreliance on one‑to‑one adult support, along with why student voice and universally designed lessons matter for everyone.

Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/the-5-ps-of-inclusive-education-with-dr-shelley-moore/

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Michael Boll — technology coach and educator who helps teachers learn and use AI. He leads professional learning, focuses on practical classroom use (brainstorming, lesson ideas, tutoring support), and thinks a lot about how to guide—not block—AI in schools. Michael also shares how parenting a son with profound autism shapes his views on learning and support.

Tim and Michael unpack what AI can (and can’t) do in schools right now, cutting through hype and fear. They talk about everyday teacher uses (brainstorming, drafting, adapting lessons), the ethics of student use and citation, and the promise of AI tutors to personalize learning—especially for students with disabilities—if educators lead with clear structures and guardrails. The big message: learn the tools, expect some mess, and guide the narrative together.

Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/bonus-exploring-the-potential-and-ethical-implications-of-ai-in-education/