About the Guest(s): Christina Kasprzak and Dr. Megan Vinh are the Co-Directors of the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA). Christina brings her expertise in leading initiatives to develop equitable and sustainable state systems for children with disabilities and their families. Her personal connection to the cause comes from a family that valued community and respect for all, emphasizing the importance of education in life. Dr. Megan Vinh's drive is equally personal, vaulting from family experiences into a professional passion for inclusion as a human right. She co-directs not just ECTA, but also the STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education (STEMIE) center, championing proactive and inclusive STEM learning for young children.

Episode Summary: In a candid conversation with Tim Villegas, Christina Kasprzak and Megan Vinh discuss their role in shaping inclusive educational systems for early childhood. The episode begins with an exploration into the work ECTA does in supporting state administrators and educators. With a heartwarming emphasis on equitable access, these leaders exemplify the importance of building an all-embracing infrastructure from policy to practice.

Transcript: coming soon

Christina and Megan delve into the tools and resources provided by ECTA that supports practitioners and families directly, such as the DEC recommended practices guides and family-friendly video materials. As they reveal challenges in creating inclusive systems, including the need for de-siloing state departments, they reaffirm the proven benefits of inclusion for children both with and without disabilities.

Key Takeaways:

• ECTA predominantly supports state administrators in improving early intervention and preschool special education programs, advocating for all-encompassing and effective practices.
• Both guests emphasize the profound personal and professional belief in the power and necessity of inclusive education for every child.
• Christina and Megan discuss the practical tools ECTA offers, which are popular with professionals and families.
• Inclusion benefits all children, and dismantling myths around it is essential to its advocacy and implementation.
• The guests point out that everyone has a role to play in advocating for inclusion, and change is possible when people at every level of the system lead from their positions.

Resources:

ECTA Center: https://ectacenter.org/

Practice Improvement Tools: https://ectacenter.org/decrp/

Indicators of High-Quality Inclusion: https://ectacenter.org/topics/inclusion/indicators.asp

State Examples for Inclusion: https://ectacenter.org/topics/inclusion/stateexamples.asp

MCIE: https://www.mcie.org/

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About the Guest(s): Allie Tasche is an advocate and leader in the field of inclusive education. With over a decade of experience that includes six years as a classroom educator followed by various coaching and administrative leadership roles, Allie has specialized in systems-level practices for educational equity. Her background includes working in summer camps, group homes, classrooms, and school districts, all with a focus on disability justice and inclusion. Allie has also served as a board member of her local Autism Society, Greater Wisconsin, and currently plays a crucial role within the national team of the Autism Society as the leader of national programs for an affiliate network.

Episode Summary: This episode of the Think Inclusive podcast features a fascinating conversation with Allie Tasche, an impassioned advocate for inclusive education and a key player at the Autism Society. The episode delves into Allie's personal journey, the significance of inclusion in education, and the Autism Society's effort to empower communities. Tim Villegas, the host, and Allie discuss her formative experiences and dedication to creating an inclusive environment, stemming from her family background and firsthand encounters with disability service fields. Allie highlights key insights on the Autism Society's initiatives and strategies for promoting acceptance over awareness.

Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/IVFhGZyI4mI53yBCPUyR74pLyNA

Key Takeaways:

• Inclusive education is deeply personal and vital for Allie Tasche, inspired by her family's history and experiences that sparked a commitment to disability justice.
• The Autism Society has progressed from an old brand that no longer represented its values to a new interconnected threads logo symbolizing the autism community's diversity and strength.
• Inclusive practices in schools are crucial for building a foundation for a more inclusive society across various community settings.
• Educators play an essential role in modeling and implementing inclusive practices beyond the classroom environment, influencing other sectors of the community.
• The Autism Society's National Programs team, led by Allie, is dedicated to filling community gaps by highlighting intersectionality and creating connections through programs, resources, and services.

Resources:

• The Autism Society: https://autismsociety.org/
• Eric Carter's Ten Dimensions of Belonging: https://promotingprogress.org/sites/default/files/2022-02/Fostering_Belonging_Handout.pdf
• Shelly Moore's Five P's: https://youtu.be/u7FWSMekshc
• Paul Gorski's Fix Injustice Not Kids Principle: https://www.ascd.org/books/fix-injustice-not-kids

MCIE: https://www.mcie.org

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

About the Guest(s): Dr. Jodi Asbell-Clarke is an esteemed figure in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) community, particularly in the realm of game-based learning. With a background enriched by working on the space shuttle program for its first 25 missions, she has been pivotal in linking computational thinking and neurodiversity, offering unique insights into the talents that neurodivergent learners bring to STEM problem-solving. Asbell-Clarke holds a wealth of experience and has dedicated her career to advancing equity and opportunities in STEM education through innovative methods such as educational gaming. She is a key member of the Educational Gaming Environments group (Edge) at TERC, a non-profit dedicated to STEM education.

Episode Summary: Join us on the Think Inclusive Podcast as we delve into the fascinating intersection of STEM education, game-based learning, and neurodiversity with our guest, Jodi Asbell-Clarke. With an intriguing blend of personal anecdotes and professional insights, this episode offers a deep dive into the ways educators can foster inclusive STEM classrooms that empower all learners, including those who are neurodivergent.

Asbell-Clarke shares her journey from being a student with a keen interest in math, thanks to a dedicated teacher, to her work on groundbreaking educational games that unlock the potential of neurodivergent learners. This conversation traverses topics from computational thinking to the transformative educational power of project-based learning, presenting novel approaches to teaching that emphasize inclusivity, differentiation, and executive function support.

Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/YwCjtk2WqRqgjOS9E-llrBEiskc

Key Takeaways:

• The link between computational thinking skills and the natural talents of neurodivergent learners can create strong competencies in STEM fields.
• Game-based learning can serve as a gateway to STEM for students who may not traditionally engage with these subjects, leading to improved learning outcomes.
• Including neurodiversity in STEM education is not about remediation but rather about leveraging individual strengths to foster a community of skilled problem-solvers.
• Differentiated instruction and multiple entry points into learning activities can help address the diverse needs of students in a STEM classroom.
• Project-based learning and games like Portal offer powerful frameworks for engrossing students in STEM education while nurturing critical thinking skills.

Resources:

• Educational Gaming Environments group (Edge): https://www.terc.edu/edge/
• Zoombinis game: Available in the App Store
• Jodi Asbell-Clarke's book: https://www.routledge.com/Reaching-and-Teaching-Neurodivergent-Learners-in-STEM-Strategies-for-Embracing-Uniquely-Talented-Problem-Solvers/Asbell-Clarke/p/book/9781032562476
• Education Week Article: https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/inside-a-school-that-doesnt-single-out-students-with-special-needs/2024/04

Thank you to our sponsor for this week and the month of April: https://autismsociety.org/

MCIE: https://www.mcie.org/

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