Are Inclusive Schools Even Possible? Part 1

Imagine being treated as a guest in your own school. 

For many students, not only is that their reality - it's by design. 

In part 1 of this 2 part episode, Erin Croyle and special education teacher Trina Allen break down what needs to be done to create meaningful inclusion in academics, throughout our school communities, and beyond. 

The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. 

The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides informational and emotional support to people with disabilities and their families. All of our services are free. We just want to help. We know how hard this can be because we're in it with you. 

 

 

SHOW NOTES:

Talia A. Lewis' Working Definiciton of Ableism.

How much are students with disabilities actually included? This breakdown demonstrates there is much work to be done.

What is the Affordable Care Act?

National Center for Education Statistics releases various annual reports and as well as topical studies. 

More on the Ithaca City School District. 

Inclusion benefits EVERYone.

Learn more about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

 

 

TRANSCRIPT:

Welcome to The Odyssey. Parenting, Caregiving, Disability. I'm Erin Croyle, the creator and host. The Odyssey podcast explores how our lives change when a loved one has a disability. I started down this path more than a decade ago when my first child was born with Down's Syndrome. My journey weaved its way here, working with the Center for Family Involvement at VCU's partnership for People with Disabilities.

 

01:00:39:04 - 01:01:08:18

Erin Croyle

This podcast does a deep dive into the joys and hardships we face. We celebrate how amazing the odyssey of parenting, caregiving and disability can be. But we tackle the tough stuff too. Inclusion could be one of the most complex. As guest Trina Allen points out, students with disabilities are often treated as guests in their own schools. Trina should know.

 

01:01:08:20 - 01:01:28:22

Erin Croyle

She's a special education teacher who moved all the way across the country with her family to work at one of the few school districts she could find that is striving toward meaningful inclusion. Trina, thank you so much for joining me.

 

01:01:28:24 - 01:01:38:13

Erin Croyle

Champions for inclusion are real life superheroes, and superheroes typically have some great origin stories. So let's start with yours. How did you get to this place?

 

01:01:38:16 - 01:01:59:07

Trina Allen

We