Heather Avis from The Lucky Few on Intentional Inclusion
12/14/23 • 58 min
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About The Guest(s): Heather Avis is an author, speaker, and advocate for individuals with Down syndrome. She is the founder of The Lucky Few, a foundation that aims to shift the narrative around Down syndrome and create spaces of belonging for everyone. Heather shares her personal experiences as a mother of three adopted children, two of whom have Down syndrome, and uses storytelling to challenge societal perceptions and promote inclusion.
Summary: Heather Avis and Tim Villegas engage in a thought-provoking conversation about intentional inclusion and the power of storytelling in transforming perceptions. They delve into the challenges and progress in creating inclusive spaces for individuals with disabilities, as well as the need to address ableism within the disability community itself. Heather emphasizes the importance of intentional adjustments and thoughtful consideration to foster true inclusion. They also discuss the impact of the fight for inclusion on parents and caregivers, highlighting the need to prioritize the well-being and hearts of disabled individuals. Ultimately, the conversation centers around recognizing the full humanity and worth of individuals with disabilities, irrespective of societal expectations.
Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/wjkXhhny49k-OJu1BbN1twhWTho
Key Takeaways:
- Inclusion necessitates deliberate adjustments and thoughtful consideration of the impact of decisions.
- Storytelling is a powerful tool for changing perceptions and creating spaces of belonging.
- Addressing and dismantling ableism within the disability community is crucial for achieving genuine inclusion.
- The fight for inclusion can be emotionally taxing for parents and caregivers, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the well-being of disabled individuals.
- Inclusion should extend beyond societal expectations and encompass the recognition of the full humanity and worth of individuals with disabilities.
Win a copy of "Equitable and Inclusive IEPs" by Andrea Ruppar and Jennifer Kurth from our sponsor Brookes Publishing!
Enter Here: https://bit.ly/brookes-giveaway-1223
Heather Avis:
Website: https://www.theluckyfew.co/
Everyone Belongs: https://www.theluckyfew.co/collections/everyone-belongs
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.
About The Guest(s): Heather Avis is an author, speaker, and advocate for individuals with Down syndrome. She is the founder of The Lucky Few, a foundation that aims to shift the narrative around Down syndrome and create spaces of belonging for everyone. Heather shares her personal experiences as a mother of three adopted children, two of whom have Down syndrome, and uses storytelling to challenge societal perceptions and promote inclusion.
Summary: Heather Avis and Tim Villegas engage in a thought-provoking conversation about intentional inclusion and the power of storytelling in transforming perceptions. They delve into the challenges and progress in creating inclusive spaces for individuals with disabilities, as well as the need to address ableism within the disability community itself. Heather emphasizes the importance of intentional adjustments and thoughtful consideration to foster true inclusion. They also discuss the impact of the fight for inclusion on parents and caregivers, highlighting the need to prioritize the well-being and hearts of disabled individuals. Ultimately, the conversation centers around recognizing the full humanity and worth of individuals with disabilities, irrespective of societal expectations.
Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/wjkXhhny49k-OJu1BbN1twhWTho
Key Takeaways:
- Inclusion necessitates deliberate adjustments and thoughtful consideration of the impact of decisions.
- Storytelling is a powerful tool for changing perceptions and creating spaces of belonging.
- Addressing and dismantling ableism within the disability community is crucial for achieving genuine inclusion.
- The fight for inclusion can be emotionally taxing for parents and caregivers, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the well-being of disabled individuals.
- Inclusion should extend beyond societal expectations and encompass the recognition of the full humanity and worth of individuals with disabilities.
Win a copy of "Equitable and Inclusive IEPs" by Andrea Ruppar and Jennifer Kurth from our sponsor Brookes Publishing!
Enter Here: https://bit.ly/brookes-giveaway-1223
Heather Avis:
Website: https://www.theluckyfew.co/
Everyone Belongs: https://www.theluckyfew.co/collections/everyone-belongs
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.
Previous Episode
*FEED DROP* UDL in 15 Minutes
This week, we are bringing you a feed drop from UDL in 15 Minutes by Loui Lord Nelson
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The ultimate UDL question is “what does UDL look like?” Loui shares how her new tool, The UDL Gears, helps UDL users in all fields and around the world shift that question to, “What are the consistencies of UDL application?” In this episode, guest host Dakota Hudelson (from episode 8) is asking the questions and Loui is the guest!
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Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/kos8iJRL3YlaU7yUSla1NYioViA
Follow/Subscribe to UDL in 15 Minutes: https://theudlapproach.com/podcasts/
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Next Episode
Advocating for Inclusive Education: A Conversation with Arthur Aston
About The Guest(s): Arthur Aston is a podcaster and the host of the Inclusion Think Tank podcast for the New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education (NJCIE). He was born with spina bifida, a condition that affects his mobility, and has dedicated his life to changing the way people see and interact with individuals with disabilities.
Summary: Arthur Aston, host of the Inclusion Think Tank podcast for NJCIE, shares his personal journey of living with spina bifida and how it led him to become an advocate for inclusive education. He discusses the importance of inclusive education and the need for students with and without disabilities to learn together. Arthur also highlights the work of NJCIE in providing professional development and consulting services to promote inclusive education in schools.
Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/dcqHcjhDxPQq3gOnBUbUznydM0c
Key Takeaways:
- Inclusive education is a fundamental right for every student and allows for learning and growth for all.
- Accessibility benefits everyone, not just individuals with disabilities.
- Inclusive education provides an opportunity for students to learn from each other and realize their similarities.
- Making changes towards inclusive education takes time, patience, and dedication.
- It is important to include the voices of individuals with disabilities in the conversation about inclusive education.
NJCIE Website: https://www.njcie.org/
Inclusion Think Tank Podcast: https://www.njcie.org/podcast
All In (Arkansas): https://sites.google.com/view/inclusive-practices/home
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.
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