Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters: Recent Episodes
Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed.
Is it appropriate to talk about disability? Is there a way to respectfully talk about disability? What words do I use when talking about disability? How do I teach kids about disability? Why do I feel awkward when I talk about disability? Are my disability awareness efforts outdated and offensive? Or are they aligned with disability research, allyship, and inclusion? Are there any quick and easy, and good resources out there to teach me about disability? Is disability awareness necessarily connected to conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion? How can I be sure that I'm not teaching disability awareness from an ableist perspective?
Diana brings in speakers to answer these questions and more during inclusive, socially responsive conversations.
This is a forum for special education and general education teachers, parents, and community members who want to promote disability awareness from a progressive, dignifying, social justice, and diversity appreciation perspective.
In this episode, Diana leads listeners through guidelines for leading a disability awareness event from a social model lens. She tells the story of how she used to conduct disability awareness using traditional, outdated models. And she shares how her learnings and experiences have transformed her focus, and has taken her "beyond awareness." She includes a walkthrough of McMillin Elementary School's Beyond Awareness Celebration, and interviews leaders and participants throughout the planning, implementing, and reflection process.
Special thanks to McMillin Elementary School in Chula Vista, California. Thank you to Andrea Galang and Liza Tuscano, for continuing our McMillin tradition with so much enthusiasm and care. Thank you to all the administration, staff, families, and students for embracing these opportunities for new learning and growth throughout the years.
And mostly, thank you to all the guest presenters for generously sharing your time and energy with students, staff and families.
Links Mentioned or Related Diana's Trifold Laminated Guide, Beyond Disability Awareness: An Educator's Guide, Published by National Professional Resources, Inc. (NPR, Inc.)
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
"Beyond Awareness" - Diana's Digital Course
Andrea's Free Resource - Recorded Interviews with Guest Presenters
Diana's Free 5 Fundamentals Poster
Inspiration Porn Episode with Dr. Toni Saia
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website, including blog
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Free Resource - How to Talk with Kids about Disability
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights Thematic Unit/ Disability History Lesson Plans
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Beyond Awareness Tote Bag
Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie
Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt
Beyond Awareness Journal/Notebook
Diana's Teachers Pay Teachers Store - Disability as Diversity
Diana's Brand New Resource! Beyond Disability Awareness: An Educator's Guide, Published by National Professional Resources, Inc. (NPR, Inc.)
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
In this episode, Diana interviews Richard Rieman, founder of Imagination Storybooks, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing rich and fully accessible reading experiences to children who are blind, low vision, deaf, hard-of-hearing, neurodiverse, and all children.
Richard Rieman Bio
Links Mentioned or Related Imagination Storybooks
Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) free classroom resources
Storybooks Club
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website, including blog
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Free Resource - How to Talk with Kids about Disability
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights Thematic Unit/ Disability History Lesson Plans
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Beyond Awareness Tote Bag
Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie
Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt
Beyond Awareness Journal/Notebook
Diana's Teachers Pay Teachers Store - Disability as Diversity
Diana's Brand New Resource! Beyond Disability Awareness: An Educator's Guide, Published by National Professional Resources, Inc. (NPR, Inc.)
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
In this episode Keah Brown shares about her journey from self-hate, rooted in a moment in time when another child made fun of her, to self-love. She shares how this has inspired her work, including children's book, Sam's Super Seats, and young adult novel, The Pretty One. Our conversation explores societal narratives about disability and the impact of those narratives in the lives of people with disabilities. I love that Keah considers herself a "fan of life." This episode is uplifting and thought-provoking. This is an episode you want to share with young people as well.
Keah Brown Bio Links Mentioned Sam's Super Seats
The Pretty One
Keah Brown TEDx Talk
You Are the Best Thing - Tarana Burke and Brene Brown
The Secret Summer Promise
DisabledAndCute
Keah on Instagram
Keah on Facebook
KeahBrown.com
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights Thematic Unit/ Disability History Lesson Plans
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Beyond Awareness Tote Bag
Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie
Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt
Beyond Awareness Journal/Notebook
Diana's Teachers Pay Teachers Store - Disability as Diversity
Diana's Brand New Resource: Beyond Disability Awareness: An Educator's Guide, Published by National Professional Resources, Inc. (NPR, Inc.)
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
In this episode Deanna Parvin Yadollahi shares their journey of self-discovery, self-love, and ensuing advocacy for access, not just for themself, but for the range of diverse humans within their learning community, and the wider community. A wealth of experiences and knowledge, Deanna broadens our understanding of the many meanings of access, and why access is so important. I hope you will benefit from Deanna's insight as much as I have.
Deanna Parvin Yadollahi (they/them) Bio Deanna Parvin Yadollahi (they/them) is a FAT, DISABLED, NEURODIVERGENT, MAD, non-binary, diasporic mixed-race Iranian and Toltec-Mexican community activist, organizer, and dog parent with 8 years of disability justice scholar-art-activism about collaboratively undoing ABLEISM and INTERSECTING OPPRESSIONS, especially as it relates to COLLECTIVE ACCESSIBILITY.
They hope to enact institutional change and radical reimagination that will lead to more supportive and just realities through community-building, resource-creating, presenting, writing, and via Deanna’s Creative Access Consulting practice.
Their work is based in deep appreciation for DISABILITY JUSTICE, which is INTERSECTIONAL and CALLS FOR CROSS-MOVEMENT SOLIDARITY as well as COMMUNITY-ADVOCATED ACCESSIBILITY PRACTICES. Deanna studied Disability Studies at the graduate level, and most highly values knowledge that is co-created within their communities.
Deanna acknowledges, with respect, that they are a settler on the unceded, traditional lands of the KIZH NATION. They support the LANDBACK MOVEMENT, CLIMATE JUSTICE, acknowledging historic oppression and intergenerational trauma, and dismantling its continuations today.
At this time, you can visit DEANNA’S WORKING DRAFT WEBSITE (BIT.LY/D-Y-SCHOLARSHIP)!
Links Mentioned Aimi Hamraie - Building Access: Universal Design and the Politics of Disability (free online book)
Deanna's LinkedIn Learning Course:
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Film
Talila Lewis (no gender pronouns) Working Definition of Ableism
Abled Advocators Article
A Resolution in Support of Inclusion and Accessibility for Students with Disabilities
Adrienne Maree Brown - Pleasure Activism
Alice Sheppard - Intersectional Disability Arts Manifesto
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights Thematic Unit/ Disability History Lesson Plans
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Beyond Awareness Tote Bag
Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie
Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt
Beyond Awareness Journal/Notebook
Diana's Teachers Pay Teachers Store - Disability as Diversity
Diana's Brand New Resource: Beyond Disability Awareness: An Educator's Guide, Published by National Professional Resources, Inc. (NPR, Inc.)
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
Allison C. Carey is a Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Shippensburg University and director of the Master’s Program in Organizational Development and Leadership. She co-authored Allies and Obstacles: Disability Activism and Parents of Children with Disabilities (Temple University Press, 2020), and authored Disability and the Sociological Imagination (Sage, 2022) and On the Margins of Citizenship: Intellectual Disability and Civil Rights in Twentieth Century America. She is co-series editor of Research in Social Science and Disability and has co-edited several volumes for that series, as well as co-editing Disability Incarcerated: Disability and Imprisonment in the United States and Canada. In 2021, she was awarded the Outstanding Career in the Sociology of Disability award from the Disability and Society section of American Sociological Association. She can be reached at accare@ship.edu.
Pamela Block's Bio & Contact information
Richard K. Scotch is Professor of Sociology and Public Policy at the University of Texas at Dallas. His teaching includes courses on medical sociology, social stratification, and social and health policy, while his research focuses on social policy and social movements related to disability, health, and education. He currently serves as Program Head of the Sociology and Public Health Program and the Criminology and Criminal Justice Program in the School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences. Dr. Scotch’s most recent book, Allies and Obstacles: Disability Activism and Parents of Children with Disabilities was coauthored with Allison Carey and Pam Block and published by Temple University Press.
In this episode we discuss the history of parent-led disability advocacy organizations and their relationships to and interactions with organizations led by people with disabilities. We also discussed how this history relates to current mindsets about disability, collaborative efforts between parent organizations and disabled activists, as well as tensions among these groups. If you are an educator, this will give you insight into some reasons why parents, educators, and disabled activists might have differing perspectives. If you are a parent, not only will you be validated, but also empowered with new information.
Links or Resources Mentioned * Allies and Obstacles: Disability Activism and Parents of Children with Disabilities - Note: Allies and Obstacles won an Outstanding Publication Award from the Disability & Society section of the American Sociological Association and the Scholarly Achievement Award from the North Central Sociological Society. Discount 30% off all Temple University Press books using the code FALLTUP through October 30, 2022. * Black Disability Politics by Sami Schalk * Crip Kinship: The Disability Justice & Art Activism of Sins Invalid by Shayda Kafai * Just Care: The Messy Entanglements of Disability, Dependence, and Desire by Akemi Nishida * United for Communication Choice * Diana's Blog Post on Family Matters: Commitment to Inclusive Living
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights Thematic Unit/ Disability History Lesson Plans
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Beyond Awareness Tote Bag
Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie
Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt
Beyond Awareness Journal/Notebook
Diana's Teachers Pay Teachers Store - Disability as Diversity
Diana's Brand New Resource: Beyond Disability Awareness: An Educator's Guide, Published by National Professional Resources, Inc. (NPR, Inc.)
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
Megan Gross
Nancy Brundrett
In this episode, Diana shares a conversation about inclusive schools with Teacher on Special Assignment, Megan Gross, and Classified on Special Assignment, Nancy Brundrett, educators in the Poway Unified School District. Megan and Nancy discuss their district's journey toward inclusive practices, including their highlights and challenges. Their passion and candidness is both refreshing and inspiring of hope for educators learning through inclusion.
Links Mentioned * Supporting Inclusive Practices (The SIP Project) + Kristin Brooks + Kevin Schaefer * WISH Charter Schools * Chime Institute * El Dorado SELPAs
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Beyond Awareness Tote Bag
Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie
Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
Dr. Toni Saia Bio
In this episode, Dr. Toni Saia defines "Inspiration Porn" and provides examples of common misconceptions about the disability experience that are perpetuated through popular inspirational comments, memes, news stories, etc. She challenges us to think about the origins of our tendency toward inspiration porn, to think about the difference between our intentions and the impact of what we say and do, and to find alternatives that respect the lived experiences of disabled people.
Links Mentioned Stella Young TED Talk - "I'm not your inspiration, thank you very much"
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
FREE RESOURCE - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Beyond Awareness Tote Bag
Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie
Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
Dr. Christa Bialka Bio
In this episode, Diana Pastora Carson and Dr. Christa Bialka discuss what research tells us about how we do or do not discuss disability in our classrooms, as well as what holds teachers back from having conversations about disability in schools. She implores us to begin talking about disability because "when you don't talk about disability, you're ignoring somebody's experience, and the barriers that they might encounter." But she says that when we talk about disability, it should be in the context of how it shows up in our society. For example, we should be talking about disability history and culture, and framing disability as a social identity.
Links Mentioned * Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body: https://rebekahtaussig.com/portfolio/sitting-pretty/ * Imani Barbarin: https://crutchesandspice.com/ * Dr. Mara Sapon-Shevin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5XdFt58gA4 * Disability Equality Education: https://www.disabilityequalityeducation.org/resources * Also, here’s another incredible, very user-friendly resource that we forgot to mention: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/646508/demystifying-disability-by-emily-ladau/ * Diana's Guidelines for Screening Classroom Books
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Beyond Awareness Tote Bag
Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie
Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
In this episode, Diana Pastora Carson shares her guidelines for selecting appropriate classroom books about disability in a way that aligns with Disability Studies in Education and the social model of disability, and in a way that is respectful of the many voices of disability.
Some of Diana's Favorite Disability and Diversity Related Classroom Books We Move Together, Kelly Fritsch, Anne McGuire, Eduardo Trejos
All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything, Annette Bay Pimentel
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights, Diana Pastora Carson
Red: A Crayon's Story, Michael Hall
One, Kathryn Otoshi
Whoever You Are, Mem Fox
It's Okay to Be Different, Todd Parr
Only One You, Linda Kranz
Pedro's Whale, Paula Kluth & Patrick Schwarz
Coaster, Paula Kluth
Can I Play Too? Mo Willems
This is Our House, Michael Rosen
Mama Zooms, Jane Cowen-Fletcher
Rolling Warrior: The Incredible, Sometimes Awkward, True Story of a Rebel Girl on Wheels Who Helped Spark a Revolution, Judith Heumann, Kristen Joiner, et al
Real, Carol Cujec & Peyton Goddard
Black Disabled Art History 101, Leroy F. Moore, Jr.
Sign Language for Kids, Lora Heller
What's your favorite book that aligns with my Beyond Awareness Book Screening guidelines? Shoot me an email with your favorite title! Diana@GoBeyondAwareness.com
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
In this episode, Diana Pastora Carson guides listeners through reflection of their perceptions of disability, and the results of having a negative outlook on disability vs. having a positive, respectful outlook on disability. She encourages educators to self-reflect, even when it feels uncomfortable, because in the end, we will be better for it, and our students with and without disabilities will reap long-term benefits from our mindset. This is an episode you'll want to listen to whenever you're needing a boost to keep your eyes on the prize.
My Favorite Podcasts Amplify Inclusion Podcast
Disability Visibility Project Podcast
Down to the Struts Podcast
Good Things in Life Podcast
The Heumann Perspective Podcast
The Accessible Stall Podcast
Think Inclusive Podcast
Some of my Favorite Books Ableism: The Causes and Consequences of Disability Prejudice - Michelle Nario-Redmond
Anatomy of Autism: A Pocket Guide for Educators, Parents, and Students - Diego Pena
Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist - Judith Heumann
Black Disabled Ancestors - Leroy Moore
Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally - Emily Ladau
Disability Visibility: First Person Stories from the 21st Century - Alice Wong
Find Another Dream - Maysoon Zayid
Golem Girl: A Memoir - Riva Lehrer
Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law - Haben Girma
No Pity: People with Disabilities Forging a New Civil Rights Movement - Joseph Shapiro
The Pretty One: On Life, Pop Culture, Disability, and Other Reasons to Fall in Love with Me - Keah Brown
The Short Bus: A Journey Beyond Normal - Jonathan Mooney
Undoing Ableism: Teaching About Disability in K-12 Classrooms
You're Going to Love This Kid: Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom - Paula Kluth
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
Keith Jones Bio
In this episode, Keith Jones takes us on a journey through past and present experiences of ableism in education, as well as the intersection of being Black as well as disabled. Keith simultaneously honors educators while also speaking frankly with us and challenging us. What do we want to be? A brick wall? Or a launching pad? Finally, in this episode, you'll hear a clip from Krip Hop Nation's Emmy Award-Winning song, Rising Phoenix. Note: Adult language.
Links and People Mentioned Soul Touchin' Experiences
Krip Hop Nation
Rising Phoenix Song Video (Keith Jones begins at 1 min., 30 seconds) :)
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Beyond Awareness Tote Bag
Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie
Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt
Darlene Hanson's Bio
Kindred Communication
In this episode, Darlene takes us deep into the idea of the right to communication and what that means in terms of controversial AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) methods. She directs listeners to the understanding of communication as a right, and that prohibiting these strategies is, in effect, denying people their right to communication, which is an ADA violation. Darlene distinguishes between the more commonly known strategies of facilitated communication, Rapid Prompting Method, and Spelling to Communicate. And she gives practical tips for how to engage with someone from a "presumption of competence" perspective. I personally LOVE this episode so much. I hope that it inspires many people toward inclusivity in communication!
Links and People Mentioned Kindred Communication
Go Kindred App
Wellspring Guild - to learn more about facilitated communication
Halo Foundation - to learn more about Rapid Prompting Method & Soma Mukhoppadhyay
Growing Kids - to learn more about Spelling to Communicate & Elizabeth Vosseller
Movement Differences and Diversity in Autism... - Anne Donnellan & Martha Leary
Related Links and People Books Written by Non-Speaking Autistic People:
Anatomy of Autism by Diego Peña
I am Intelligent: From Heartbreak to Healing - A Mother and Daughter's Journey Through Autism by Peyton and Dianne Goddard
The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism by Naoki Higashida
Films About Non-Speaking Autistic People Who Type:
Wretches & Jabberers
Deej
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Beyond Awareness Tote Bag
Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie
Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt
Jillian Parramore has a B.A. in Applied Arts and Sciences Liberal Studies, emphasizing Elementary Education and Bachelor's in Child Development with a credential.
Jillian has taught early childhood, elementary, middle school, and university level for the past ten years. For the past six years, Jillian has been training special education departments on inclusive education in school districts throughout Southern California. She also provides health education for her community through People First of California. She also volunteers for Beyond Awareness Celebration events in school districts. Jillian participated in TEDxChula Vista to discuss inclusion in society through her lived experience with Cerebral Palsy and living on the Autism spectrum. The video can be found here. Jillian and her partner live together with their three rescue dogs, including Starbuck, a 21-year-old chihuahua.
In this episode, Jillian Parramore shares about her life growing up as a child with multiple disabilities, and especially as a child who did not speak until the age of 10. She shares about the way that she was treated, and how this lonely experience of being spoken about, rather than spoken to, affected her concept of self. Jillian distinguishes about the differences between mainstreaming and inclusion, and shares direct messages of encouragement for educators, parents, and students, about how we must presume competence, and advocate for, facilitate, and respect alternative communication methods.
Links Mentioned Disability Rights California
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
FREE RESOURCE - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Beyond Awareness Tote Bag
Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie
Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt
Link to Dr. Sara Acevedo's Bio
Dr. Acevedo's Email Address: acevedsm@miamioh.edu
In this episode, Dr. Sara Acevedo gives us insight into the person-first and identity-first language debate, and explains how language perspectives are connected to historical context of perceptions of disability. She also dives into the difference between disability rights and disability justice. Finally, Dr. Acevedo leaves us with many resources, names of books, and individuals, disability activists, speaking and non-speaking, who have stories to tell and things to teach us.
Links and People Mentioned Gloria Anzaldua
Patricia Hill Collins
Simi Linton - Claiming Disability: Knowledge and Identity
Vic Finkelstein
Allison C. Carey, Pamela Block, Richard Scotch - Allies & Obstacles: Disability Activism and Parents of Children with Disabilities
Sins Invalid
Leroy Moore
Patty Berne
Angela Davis
Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
Eli Clare
Mia Mingus
Alice Wong - Disability Visibility Project
Adam Wolfond
Hari Srinivasan
David James (DJ) Savarese
Emma Zurcher-Long
Diego Peña (Mentioned Post-Recording)
Correction of note: Dr. Acevedo corrected the comment that 504 protesters occupied the "federal building," and not the "capitol building."
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Beyond Awareness Tote Bag
Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie
Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt
Clare Killy (she/her) is the Vice President of Digital Experiences at Aspire, a Chicagoland nonprofit focused on disability inclusion. She leads Aspire's DEI Consultation and Virtual Life Coaching teams and also hosts Aspire's Amplify Inclusion podcast. Clare is a licensed educator and child development specialist with experience as a teacher, advocate, inclusion consultant and program director. In addition to her work at Aspire, Clare is Co-Chair of the Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium and also serves as adjunct faculty at the Erikson Institute. Clare has experience working with individuals, families and providers in a variety of roles and across diverse environments.
In this episode, Clare elaborates on what it means to shift our mindset as it relates to foundational understandings of disability. She discusses how sustainability in terms of access and inclusion for disabled people is only possible when we have a strong foundational understanding of disability as normal and natural, and as a part of human diversity.
Links Mentioned Aspire Chicago
Amplify Inclusion
Disability Lead
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Beyond Awareness Tote Bag
Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie
Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
Norman Kunc & Emma Van der Klift Bio
In this episode, Norman Kunc and Emma Van der Klift tell their stories as disabled people, and share the lessons they've learned about what it means to be disabled, and how by shifting paradigms of disability from a physiological understanding to a sociological understanding, their lives have been empowered. They offer gems of support to educators and parents alike as they unveil their transformative mindset.
Links Mentioned Broadreach Training
Being Realistic Isn't Realistic
Talk to Me: What Educators (and Others) Can Learn about De-Escalation from Hostage Negotiators
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Beyond Awareness Tote Bag
Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie
Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
Andy Imparato's Bio
In this episode, Diana chats with Andy Imparato, Executive Director of Disability Rights California, about educational equity and civil rights. During this robust conversation, Andy reflects the lesson he's learned that civil rights laws do not enforce themselves, and that parents and guardians are put in the position to be "private attorney generals" when educated about their children's rights. He advocates for teacher training for equitable, modern classrooms. He also asks administrators to operate from the core values that brought them into education in the first place. He encourages disabled students seek out people who view their disability as normal, and as an asset. Andy passionately shares the belief that "inequality is not inevitable" and with some imagination, coordination, and commitment, everyone in our communities can thrive.
Links Mentioned Disability Rights California
Catherine Lhamon, Assistant Secretary, Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education
Taryn Williams, Assistant Secretary, Office of Disability Employment Policy
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Beyond Awareness Tote Bag
Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie
Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
Leroy F. Moore, Jr. Bio
ABILITY Magazine Interview with Leroy Moore
In this episode, Diana chats with Leroy Moore about his personal journey that led to his passionate activism, and art, and his current role as a PhD student at UCLA, advocating and paving the way for Black Disability Studies. He shares the importance of Black disabled representation in all arenas, including education.
Note: Many educators and parents have been schooled in "person-first" language. This episode will include references and language which are grounded in identity-first language and disability pride language. It is important for us to be respectful of different language preferences. I ask listeners to remain open-minded and learn from alternative perspectives.
Links Mentioned Porgy and Bess
The Fair Act (Law Leroy Mentioned)
Krip Hop
Rising Pheonix Theme Song
Poor Press
Soul Touchin' Experiences
Black Kripple Delivers Poetry and Lyrics
Black Disabled Art History 101
Black Disabled Ancestors
Krip Hop Graphic Novel
Black Disabled Man with a Big Mouth and a High IQ
For You: Black Disabled Young Men
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Beyond Awareness Tote Bag
Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie
Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
Johnson Fellows Program https://www.sandiego.edu/soles/learning-and-teaching/johnson-education-fellows.php Teacher Leaders for Inclusion https://www.lead4inclusion.com/ Teachers for Inclusion Learning about Disability Culture https://www.facebook.com/groups/201578786622476
Jonathan Mooney is a widely sought after speaker whose work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, USA Today, HBO, NPR, ABC News, New York Magazine, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe. See Jonathan's full bio here on his website, www.JonathanMooney.com.
In this episode of Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Jonathan Mooney speaks with Diana about our historical and current dehumanizing perceptions of people with atypical brains and bodies, and the consequences of those beliefs. He discusses the importance of reconceptualizing disability, taking it from "different as deficient," to different as a normal part of diversity. He gives multiple examples of the manifestations of institutional ableism, and what is possible when we understand our power in becoming part of the solution.
Links Mentioned The Short Bus: A Journey Beyond Normal
Normal Sucks: How to Live, Learn, and Thrive Outside the Lines
Learning Outside the Lines: Two Ivy League Students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD Give You the Tools for Academic Success and Educational Revolution
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Beyond Awareness Tote Bag
Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie
Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
Suzanne Stolz, Ed.D. serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of San Diego. A former high school English teacher, administrator, and leader of disability programs, she has expertise in online instruction, curriculum design, mentoring, school culture, Universal Design for Learning, and disability studies in education. Her research, related to conceptions of disability and disability pedagogy, often includes reflection about her experience as a disabled student. She has created disability curriculum for high school students, for out-of-school time programs, and for disability mentoring. She advises a student organization, Alliance of Disability Advocates, and also has served on the board of the Society for Disability Studies. Suzanne is especially passionate about working with preservice and inservice teachers to rethink their conceptions of disability and create inclusive school communities. Annually, she leads a fellowship program for general education teachers who want to become leaders of inclusion at their school sites.
In this episode, Suzanne distinguishes between Disability Studies in Education and Special Education, and shares why it's important that we educate ourselves with a Disability Studies lens.
Links Mentioned Johnson Fellows Program
Teacher Leaders for Inclusion
Teachers for Inclusion Learning about Disability Culture
National Endowment for the Humanities
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
Johnson Fellows Program https://www.sandiego.edu/soles/learning-and-teaching/johnson-education-fellows.php Teacher Leaders for Inclusion https://www.lead4inclusion.com/ Teachers for Inclusion Learning about Disability Culture https://www.facebook.com/groups/201578786622476
Jeff Moyer is a true twenty-first century renaissance man. He is an advocate for human rights, a songwriter, author, poet, playwright, television producer, documentarian, and writer of fiction, disability history, and memoirs. Moyer's music is the soundtrack for the American Disability Rights movement and his songs became the theme music for a BBC documentary on that movement. Moyer’s music and books are at work in schools and universities internationally, and he has been featured on the CBS evening news, 2020 in National Geographic, as a commentator on NPR, and has three times been invited to the White House.
We’re People First – The Jeff Moyer Show, completed 20 episodes as the only fully accessible program on YouTube or any television broadcast medium. The Show provides in perpetuity, a provocative, entertaining, and enlightening overview of disability, disability rights history, and access through interviews with disability leaders, Jeff’s original music, and his insightful commentaries and conversations with his wife Cristi. In 2022 Jeff will introduce Underdogs – A Book of Short Stories, and will produce an international Zoom concert with Paul Mugambi, a Kenyan disability rights musician, who is blind.
Moyer is blind as a result of Inverse Retinitis Pigmentosa which began to steel his sight beginning at age five. His brother Mark was born that same summer with a severe cognitive disability which resulted in his institutionalization at age eight. Moyer’s advocacy was forged in the fires of his struggles for accessibility and education, and his decades of work which resulted in Mark’s return to community through supported living. Mark died in 2014.
Moyer received his bachelor’s degree in Social Welfare with highest honors from University of California at Berkeley in 1975, and his master’s degree in Rehabilitation Administration from University of San Francisco in 1978. He has received phase I and phase II certification as a member of the Americans with Disabilities Act Implementation Network. Jeff Moyer's books, recordings of music, and disability history documentaries can be found at www.jeffmoyer.com
In this episode, Diana and Jeff discuss the important things that kids need to know, and the things that adults can focus on for the best outcomes toward social inclusion.
Connect with Jeff www.JeffMoyer.com
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
Emily A. Nusbaum, Ph.D., is invested in supporting students labeled with disability and their families in accessing general education school contexts. She provides advocacy and support to families in Individual Education Plan and 504 Plan meetings, as well as other school-related contexts. She also provides consultation to create IEP and 504 Plans that reflect student capacity and that participation in general education contexts. Emily also works individually with students who have experienced educational trauma to support young people as they rebuild the sense of themselves as learners. She also provides 1:1 organizational and executive functioning support to students. Emily has extensive experience providing training and technical assistance to school teams and community organizations in the development of inclusive practices. Finally, she works as an expert witness on legal teams in litigation against school districts, related to Least Restrictive Environment and Free and Appropriate Public Education, as defined by federal law.
In this episode, Emily shares her foundational experiences of teaching in an inclusive setting, the work that she does to prepare incoming teachers for inclusive classrooms, and the importance of looking at disability from an intersectional lens.
Links Mentioned in Show Disability Visibility - Alice Wong
Black Disabled Art History 101 - Leroy Moore
Black Disabled Ancestors - Leroy Moore
Undoing Ableism: Teaching About Disability in K-12 Classrooms - Susan Baglieri & Priya Lalvani
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana Pastora Carson
Disability Studies in Education
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
Michelle Nario-Redmond, Ph.D. Michelle Nario-Redmond is a professor of psychology and biomedical humanities, specializing in stereotyping, prejudice and disability studies. As a Ford Fellow, she graduated from the University of Kansas with a Ph.D. in social psychology. Her research focuses on access to higher education, group identification, wellness and political advocacy, and strategies for social change and antiracist practices in higher education.
In 2019, she published her first book, “Ableism: The Causes and Consequences of Disability Prejudice for the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues,” and delivered a Congressional Seminar on Capitol Hill. A graduate of APA’s Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology, she currently serves as chair of Hiram College’s Diversity Committee and is passionate about reducing disparities in education, health and civic participation. Her favorite courses to teach include Who is Normal: Freak, Gimp, Crazy, Crip, and Gimpy Geezers: Representations of Ableism and Ageism.
In this episode, Dr. Nario-Redmond defines ableism and provides examples of ableism as it relates to education and everyday life, both as a mother, and as a community member.
Links Mentioned in Show Ableism: The Causes and Consequences of Disability Prejudice
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
In this episode of Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, author, speaker, and disability rights activist, Emily Ladau discusses the importance of authentic disability representation from an intersectional lens, being a lifelong learner, focusing on ableism and access, and how to avoid ableist disability awareness.
Links Mentioned Emily Ladau's Website
Emily Ladau's Book - Demystifying Disability: What to Say, What to Know, and How to be an Ally
The Accessible Stall Podcast with Emily Ladau and Kyle Khachadurian
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
Diana hosts a conversation with the minds behind The Nora Project, a program that works with schools to infuse disability studies and disability inclusion into school cultures.
Links Mentioned in Show Lauren and Katy Bios
The Nora Project Website
Lauren Schrero TEDx Talk
Jo Tolley
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
Shannen McKinney has spent her career in the service of students, teachers, support staff and administrators. It was during her undergraduate studies when she attended a job fair and subsequently began her first position in special education working with individuals with significant behavioral needs. While working at the non-public school, she realized there was a segment of the population who had been hidden and silenced. She fell in love with her work and the students who came into her life—and finally decided on a college major! This also meant she would indeed follow in her mother’s magical footsteps and embrace teaching as a career. Over the past two decades, she has held a variety of positions in education including instructional assistant, education specialist, autism specialist, and behavior analyst, and is currently the Program Specialist on the Support for Teams in Autism and with At-Risk Students (STAARS). She enjoys spending time playing outdoors, baking yummy goodies indoors, laughing with her amazing teenage daughter and phenomenal friends, and holding her loved ones tightly, but her true passion lies in helping people develop a deeper understanding of our shared human experience through listening, learning, mentoring, and advocating.
In this episode, Shannen discusses the value of relationship with students and with colleagues as we strive to create inclusive environments in our schools.
Link Mentioned in Show Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion - Paul Bloom
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
Is it appropriate to talk about disability? Is there a way to respectfully talk about disability? What words do I use when talking about disability? How do I teach kids about disability? Why do I feel awkward when I talk about disability? Are there any good resources out there to teach me about disability? This show will serve educators, parents, and community members who strive to learn and/or teach about disability in a research-based and respectful way, moving beyond simple awareness, and diving into inclusive and socially responsive conversations.
In this introductory episode, Diana shares her personal journey and transformation that led her from conducting traditional disability awareness activities and events, to reframing disability awareness into a social justice movement.
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
Tim Villegas, B.A.Director of Communications at Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE) Tim Villegas joined MCIE’s communications team in 2020, implementing MCIE’s communications and marketing plan, and leading MCIE communications through blogs, podcasts, social media, webinars, and product development. Throughout his prior sixteen-year career as a special education teacher, Tim advocated for the inclusion of learners with significant disabilities in general education classrooms and systems change in schools and districts; and spent three years as a district-level program specialist supporting learners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), emotional and behavioral needs, and intellectual disabilities. He founded Think Inclusive, now MCIE’s official blog.
In this episode of Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Tim Villegas discusses his transformation from a staunch self-contained, special education classroom teacher to an "inclusionist." He provides some recommendations for teacher support, and the value of spreading our stories of inclusion.
Links Mentioned in Show Email Tim: tvillegas@mcie.org
Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE)
Think Inclusive Blog & Podcast
Julie Causton - The Inclusion Podcast
Shelley Moore Video
Jenna Rufo & Julie Causton - Reimagining Special Education
Jennifer Kurth & Megan Gross- The Inclusion Toolbox
Emily Ladau - Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally
Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website
Free Resource - 5 Keys to Going Beyond Awareness
Beyond Awareness: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book
Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book
"Beyond Awareness" Digital Course
Diana's TEDx Talk
Beyond Awareness Facebook Page
Diana on Instagram
Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro.
Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography.
Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."
