We celebrate inclusion and help bring awareness of how to be more inclusive in our daily lives by interviewing individuals worldwide who create, facilitate, or participate in inclusive work.
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077: Inclusive Makerspaces with Emily Thomas | Designing Differentiated Makerspace Kits: A Guide for Educators
40:53
In this episode, we interview Emily Thomas, a technology integration analyst from Northeast Metro Intermediate School District 916 about her work in her school district with making inclusive makerspaces. She emphasizes creating differentiated instructional materials that cater to various learning needs, from simple step-by-step instructions with im…
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076: The Arc and Amazon with Katy Schmid | The Partnership between The Arc and Amazon to Empower Individuals through Accessible Technologies
33:42
In this episode, we talk to Katy Schmid, Senior Director of National Program Initiatives at The Arc. The Arc is one of the oldest and largest nonprofits for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This episode focuses on its partnership with Amazon to distribute 5,000 free devices to individuals with disabilities. These devices aim…
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075: SuperDville with Peggy Stern | Supercharging Social-Emotional Learning for ALL Students
37:42
In this episode, we interview Peggy Stern, the founder and CEO of SuperDville, a social-emotional learning curriculum for students ages 7 to 13 with learning differences. The curriculum is aligned with the CASEL framework and the foundations of science of reading, including multi-sensory and explicit instruction. SuperDville features short video le…
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074: Sociability with Matt Pierri | Finding and Sharing Accessible Locations, Building Community, and the Impact of Sociability
24:14
In this episode, we interview Matt Pierri, founder of Sociability, an app that helps disabled people find accessible places to go and visit. Sociability provides information on various accessibility factors, including physical accessibility for wheelchair access, visual access, hearing access, and sensory accessibility. The app allows users to add …
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073: Adaptive Reader with Ethan Pierce | Unlocking Classics: How Adaptive Reader is Making Literature Accessible for All Learners
25:33
In this episode, we talk to Ethan Pierce about Adaptive Reader, a platform that preserves student dignity and enhances comprehension through leveled novels. Adaptive Reader uses both the power of technology and humans to customize and adapt classic literature to make it accessible for all readers. The platform allows for a side-by-side comparison b…
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072: ISTE24 Insider: Level Up Inclusion with Accessibility Champions and Special Education Game Changers
42:35
This episode will highlight different sessions at ISTE 2024, the International Society for Technology in Education, in Denver, Colorado. We sat down with several presenters who are sharing different sessions about adaptive and assistive technology, special education, adaptive learning, and disability inclusion. We spoke to Katie Fielding, Devon Cal…
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071: Carrie Swails on Disability Advocacy, Supporting All Learners, and Quizizz's New Accommodation Profiles
46:34
This episode is a two parter featuring Carrie Swails. In the first part of the episode, we talk about Carrie’s work with disability advocacy and activism. We discuss Carrie’s DEI work with companies and organizations, including an emphasis on the importance of company culture and clear accommodations processes for creating inclusive workspaces. In …
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070: Disabled Hikers with Syren Nagakyrie | Trailblazing Accessibility: Talking Guidebooks, Advocacy, and Empowerment in Outdoor Recreation
24:56
In this episode, we sat down with Syren Nagakyire, the founder of Disabled Hikers, an organization that creates trail guides and resources for disabled hikers. Syren was inspired to create Disabled Hikers after realizing there was a lack of information about accessible trails. The organization’s trail guides are written by disabled hikers, for disa…
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069: OneCourt with Jerred Mace | Feeling the Game: How OneCourt Combines Haptics for a Tactile Experience for Live Sports Fans
25:06
In this episode, we interviewed Jerred Mace from OneCourt, a company that is developing technology to make live sports more accessible to fans with Blindness or Low Vision. The technology uses data from sporting events to create tactile representations and physical sensations via a handheld device, which allows people to experience the game by feel…
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In this episode, we talk to Jari Majewski Price, the founder and CEO of Feel the Beat. Feel the Beat is a nonprofit organization and dance studio in Colorado that is dedicated to creating inclusive and accessible environments in dance education. Founded by Jari and Julia Faliano, who were both Deaf educators at the time, Feel the Beat allows Deaf a…
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067: ADHD & Successful, Fulfilling Careers: Shell Mendelson on Unlocking Your Career Path: A Course for ADHD Adults and Teens
35:38
In this episode, we talk to Shell Mendelson, career counselor and author of the book A Course for ADHD Adults and Teens: Unlock Your Career Path. Shell discusses her educational journey, and the factors that led her work in career counseling, including her current work with adults and young adults with ADHD. Shell emphasizes that there are no speci…
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066: Penn-Mar's Assistive Technology Initiative with Allis Kensing | Breaking Down Barriers and Encouraging Access through AT Education and a Lending Library
22:42
In this episode, we interviewed Allis Kensing, the Enabling Technology Coordinator at Penn-Mar Human Services. Penn-Mar has a new initiative to empower people with disabilities through the use of assistive technology. The initiative includes an assistive technology lending library, which allows people to try out different technologies to see how it…
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065: Active Project with Matt Tilford | Finding Your Fit: How Active Project Connects Athletes with Adaptive Sports Opportunities
29:31
In this episode, we talk to Matt Tilford from Active Project and the Kelly Brush Foundation. Active Project offers a way for athletes to learn about adaptive sports by creating a community of adaptive sports organizations and athletes. Within the platform, athletes can discover new adaptive sports, find local adaptive sports organizations and progr…
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064: Everyday Adventures with Molly and Dyslexia with Krista Weltner | Empowerment, Authentic Representation, and Self-Reflection through a New Picture Book Series
21:19
In this episode, we talked to Krista Weltner, author of Everyday Adventures with Molly and Dyslexia, a three book children’s book series about dyslexia. During our conversation, we discuss Krista’s decision to represent dyslexia through the personified character of Lexi. The series overall aims to empower children with dyslexia by showcasing their …
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063: Dysolve with Dr. Coral Hoh | Dyslexia Breakthrough: AI-Powered, Personalized Evaluation Methods to Pinpoint and Correct Root Causes of Dyslexia
45:19
In this episode, we talk to Dr. Coral Hoh, a linguistic expert and the co-founder of Dysolve. Dysolve is an artificial intelligence powered solution for evaluating and addressing dyslexia. During our conversation, Dr. Hoh addresses the problems with the traditional approach to dyslexia evaluations, including scattered assessments and data points th…
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062: VisitAble with Joe Jamison | Beyond Compliance: Building a Culture of Accessibility and Disability Inclusion with VisitAble Training and Certifications
23:42
In this episode, we interviewed Joe Jamison, founder and CEO of VisitAble. VisitAble is dedicated to accessibility awareness and inclusion training for businesses, addressing the gap these organizations often have in the disability space. The self-paced eLearning courses emphasize the importance of storytelling, focusing on industry best practices,…
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061: Gateway Arts with Gregory Liakos | Fostering Careers and Creativity for the Disability Community- Inside the 50 Year Legacy of Gateway Arts
26:54
In this episode, we talked to Gregory Liakos, the Director of Gateway Arts, an organization dedicated to providing individualized arts-based services for adults with disabilities, which allow them to find meaningful careers within the art world. Founded in 1973, Gateway Arts is one of the longest-running programs of its kind in the United States, o…
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060: AdaptX with Brendan Aylward | Designing Fitness for Everyone with Universal Design and Inclusive Training
30:43
In this episode, Brendan Aylward, founder of AdaptX and owner of the inclusive fitness center, Unified Health and Performance, discusses his passion for creating inclusive fitness environments. Within AdaptX, the mission is to provide resources and education to fitness professionals so they can better support their clients with disabilities. During…
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059: Shine Music Festival with Shawn Satterfield | Beyond the Stage: Revolutionizing Accessibility and Inclusion in Live Music
43:09
In this episode, we focus on accessibility and disability inclusion within music festivals. Live music can bring people together but, unfortunately, most venues and events are not inclusive for all music fans. In this episode, we talked to Shawn Satterfield, founder of Shine Music and the Shine Music Festival, an accessible music festival in Colora…
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058: Becoming rentABLE with Lorraine Woodward | Inclusive Stays: Redefining Access in the World of Short-Term Rentals
46:57
In this episode, Lorraine Woodward, founder of Becoming rentABLE, discusses the challenges and importance of making short-term rentals accessible. She highlights that only 0.01% of short-term rentals in the U.S. are considered accessible and that there is a need for a wider range of accessibility features. Becoming rentABLE provides a platform for …
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057: READ Learning and Silver Moon Spelling with Kelly Steinke | Building Bridges and Empowering Children with Dyslexia through Targeted Reading Interventions and Support
36:38
In this episode, we are joined by Kelly Steinke, the president of READ Learning and Silver Moon Spelling. Kelly is a passionate advocate for literacy education, and she has dedicated her career to helping children with dyslexia succeed. In this episode, we discuss the inspiration behind Kelly’s work, her curriculum for research-based literacy instr…
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056: Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jams with Mimi Block & Carol Sudhalter | The Power of Jazz and Inclusion
30:05
In this episode, we spoke to Carol Sudhalter and Mimi Block about the Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jams held at Flushing Town Hall each month. Carol is the jazz house band leader for the jam sessions and Mimi is a frequent performer and an accomplished violinist. In our conversations, both guests share their experiences with music and the im…
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055: Queens College Neurodiversity Hub with Dr. Sally Izquierdo & Kartika Kumari | Navigating Neurodiversity in Higher Education to Empower Staff and Students
37:21
In this episode, we interview Dr. Sally Izquierdo and Kartika Kumari about their work creating the Neurodiversity Hub at Queens College. The hub provides access to quality resources about neurodiversity and how to support students in the classroom, specifically within higher education. These artifacts can help professors and staff create more welco…
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054: Islands of Brilliance with Dr. Kate Siekman | A Model of Inclusive Learning Experiences where Neurodivergent Learners Can Thrive
33:32
In this episode, we interviewed Dr. Kate Siekman about Islands of Brilliance, an organization dedicated to creating learning experiences that support and empower neurodivergent learners. By pairing arts, design, and STEAM content with individual SpIns, different levels of program options, and mentorship, Islands of Brilliance has created a space wh…
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053: Eazilee with Rebecca Scott | Improving the Approach to Assistive Technology Recommendations and Selections
34:43
Billions of people around the world use assistive technology, but the wide variety of different AT devices, equipment, and products can be overwhelming both for people recommending and adopting technology. Eazilee is a platform and community centered on finding the right assistive technology. We talked to Rebecca Scott about how overwhelming AT dec…
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In this episode, we interview Rich Padulo, founder of Treat Accessibly, an organization dedicated to making Halloween more inclusive. We talk about the story of how Rich and his family were inspired to start Treat Accessibly, We also discuss strategies people can follow to ensure they are creating an inclusive trick-or-treating experience for every…
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051: SignUp with Mariella Satow | Breaking Down Barriers to Media with a Free Sign Language Interpretation Extension
22:35
In this episode, we interviewed Mariella Satow about SignUp, a free Chrome extension that provides an overlay with sign language interpretation for popular Netflix and Disney + movie content. We discuss the inspiration behind starting this extension, how interpreters are hired, the process of selecting and interpreting a movie, and future plans for…
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050: Access Birding with Freya McGregor | Exploring How to Make Birding Accessible for Everyone
35:51
Birding is a popular outdoor activity that millions of Americans enjoy, but did you also know that it is an extremely adaptable hobby? In this episode, we talk to Freya McGregor, who founded Access Birding, an organization that provides consulting and training services related to birding, accessibility, inclusion, and disability. We discuss the wor…
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049: New York State Academic Dental Centers with Jonathan Teyan & Dr. Tung Nguyen | Breaking Down Barriers to Dental Care for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
35:53
In this episode, we talk about the barriers facing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Because of financial barriers, transportation barriers, and other issues facing these patients, the New York State Academic Dental Centers created a fellowship to support the pathway of dentists into specialized care for patients with disabil…
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048: Kaboose | A Safe Space for Building Connections in the Autistic & Neurodiverse Communities
28:03
In this episode, we talked to Michelle Ridsdale from Kaboose, an app that provides a safe space for the autistic and neurodiverse community to make friends with common interests. We also talked about future developments of the app, including job matching, mentorship, and tips. (Episode Transcript) Website Contact Information Kaboose Google Play Kab…
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In this episode, we recap our first year of episodes (001 to 046) by sharing different themes that have been revealed including clips and updates from our first season of guests (Episode Transcript) Season One Episodes by Theme (including links to updates)
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In this episode, we interview Emma Clegg and Molly Rogers, creators of JAM the Label. JAM is an adaptive clothing label based in Australia, which creates accessible, functional, and fashionable clothing with people with disability in mind. We talk about the inspiration behind starting JAM, how they collaborate and work with people in the disability…
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In this episode, we interviewed Sharron Rush from Knowbility and discussed all things digital accessibility. Knowbility has a variety of programs, including Be a Digital Ally, which focus on breaking down digital content guidelines and bringing awareness to the barriers that can be experienced when dealing with digital content. (Episode Transcript)…
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In this episode, we talk about accessible and inclusive travel with Alvaro Silberstein, creator of Wheel the World. We discuss how Wheel the World uses data points to provide insight into the accessibility of travel locations, accommodations, attractions, and activities around the world. Wheel the World also has pre-built inclusive itineraries and …
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In this episode, we talk to Lauren Heil, the creator of Stickity, a free and accessible add-on for Google Docs and Google Slides. We discuss how Lauren came to design Stickity, the different graphics and animations that exist within the stickers, and how these digital stickers can increase accessibility, decrease teacher workload, develop classroom…
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042: United Sound with Dorean White | Harmonizing Inclusion through Peer Mentorship and Innovative Music Education
33:28
In this episode, we interview Dorean White from United Sound, an organization dedicated to removing barriers and fostering social inclusion through music. We talk about their peer mentorship program, the structure of their middle school, high school, and college chapters, the benefits of participating in this program for all musicians, and their in…
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041: EPIC Players with Aubrie Therrien & Sandy Gladstone-Karpe | Spotlight on Inclusive Stages and Performing Arts Empowerment
31:29
In this episode, we interview Aubrie Therrien and Sandy Gladstone-Karpe about EPIC Players, an inclusive theater company in New York. We talk about their program structure, the types of shows they produce, the work they've done on making theater inclusive both on and off the stage, and the company's commitment to empowering and supporting their art…
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040: Snoezelen with Chris Hastings | Exploring the Transformative Power of Multisensory Environments
26:49
In this episode, we interview Chris Hastings from Snoezelen, a company that creates multisensory rooms and spaces. We talk about how these rooms are designed and their various equipment and features, as well as how these spaces are beneficial to a variety of different people with different needs. (Episode Transcript) Timelapse video of room creatio…
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In this episode, we talk to Jodi Asbell-Clarke from TERC about the INFACT project, which stands for Including Neurodiversity in Foundational and Applied Computational Thinking. INFACT has developed an inclusive program to teach computational thinking skills in grade 3-8 by embedding supports and multiple modalities, so all students can find success…
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038: VoiceItt with Dr. Rachel Levy | Revolutionizing Communication and Independence by Giving a Voice to All
33:29
In this episode, we interview Dr. Rachel Levy from VoiceItt. Voiceitt is an iOS and web-based speech recognition app for people with speech disabilities, disorders, or impairments. We talk about the difference between the apps and how people can use them for training to understand their unique speech patterns for communication with smart home devic…
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037: From TEDx to Transformation: Championing Social Inclusion in Education with Travis Davis
21:13
In 2015, Travis Davis presented his TEDx Talk, "Incluse Me: Social Inclusion in Education." Today, we catch up with Travis about his background and the impact of that speech. We also talk about the work he's been doing, including his work with schools and his podcast, as well as discuss the importance of inclusion within education overall. (Episode…
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036: Diverse Learners Cooperative with Brooke Allen | Nurturing Inclusivity in Education and Empowering Teachers
32:55
In this episode, we talk to Brooke Allen of the Diverse Learners Cooperative, an organization dedicated to providing support for teachers and school teams to better support all students and their needs. We talk about the organization's dedication to authentic and meaningful professional development and training, how schools can work with the Divers…
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035: Disability Lab with Nate Tilton | Crafting Possibilities: Exploring UC Berkeley’s Inclusive Makerspace
30:34
In this episode, we interview Nate Tilton about the Disability Lab at UC Berkeley, a fully accessible and disability-inclusive makerspace. We talk about the creation of the space, its role as an identity makerspace, the design of the lab space and accessibility of the equipment, and the different projects that have been done and are currently being…
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034: Social Cipher with Vanessa Castañeda Gill | Unlocking Social Emotional Learning through Gaming
25:17
In this episode, we interviewed Vanessa Castañeda Gill, the CEO of Social Cipher, all about her company and its flagship game, Ava. Social Cipher is an SEL game focused on neurodivergent youth ages 10-15. We discuss the game, its impact on students, the way they utilize student feedback, and the overall representation for the neurodivergent communi…
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In this episode, we talk to Sheryl Burgstahler about DO-IT, a program that has operated out of the University of Washington for the past thirty years. We discuss the various programs DO-IT has for helping support students with disabilities attending college and going into various fields of employment. We also talk about how the program trains highe…
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In this episode, we interview Ed Dernulc and Cindy Day all about NBT's Inclusion Manufacturing Camps. We discuss the past two inclusion camps they have run, which focus on providing four weeks of training for individuals with disabilities to help them gain meaningful employment within the manufacturing industry. We also discuss the program's future…
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In this episode, we talk to Kent Streeb from Enchroma, a company that uses patented lens technology to design glasses for people with color vision deficiencies. We talk about colorblindness, the importance of ensuring school and work environments are accessible, and their program that brings their lenses to museums, schools, universities, and natio…
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030: Parrots with David Hojah | Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning to Empower Independent Living
20:07
In this episode, we interview David Hojah from Parrots, a company that designs technology to empower individuals with neurological challenges. Discover the different software options from Parrots and the considerations they gave to the design process to ensure that individuals can live more independent lives. (Episode Transcript) Parrots Website…
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029: Learner Variability Project (Learner Variability Navigator and IEP Project) at Digital Promise with Barbara Pape & Jessica Jackson
30:04
In this episode, we interviewed Barbara Pape and Jessica Jackson from Digital Promise and discussed the Learner Variability Project. Specifically, we talk about the Learner Variability Navigator and the IEP Project and how both of these initiatives can help educators, students, and edtech companies work toward being more inclusive of the diverse ne…
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028: PlayVS and Special Olympics with Aaron Kelley & Brian Quinn | Leveling Up Together: Unifying Students through eSports
28:46
In this episode, we interview Aaron Kelley from PlayVS and Brian Quinn from Special Olympics International about unified eSports. This program allows students to play on one inclusive, unified video game competition team. We talk about the structure of this program, how the program can make schools more inclusive, and the benefits for everyone invo…
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