The King and Prince of Play
Ever watch a good idea go very wrong? My son Aidan was diagnosed at birth with 22q 11.2 Deletion, or Digeorge Syndrome as it is called by our San Diego Practitioners. This and a mild autism diagnosis...
View ArticleConsequences of Inclusion
When I began training school personnel in the art and science of inclusion, I wasn’t thinking too much about its benefits for typical children. I was more concerned about helping children with...
View ArticleTennis Balls Do the Trick: Solutions for Teachers and Students
I’ve been reading Paula Kluth’s book “You’re Going to Love This Kid” for a class I’m taking. It has been especially helpful and the wealth of information can be readily applied to any students and to...
View ArticleBest known as “Austin’s dad”
I am best known as “Austin’s dad”, that’s a title that no one else in the world get’s to have. My son Austin was born with a Dandy Walker, which meant that his life was labeled before it began, but...
View ArticleExtra Dad
Of course I never thought I’d be an “Extra Dad”. I wasn’t even sure if I’d even ever be a father, being in a wheelchair can make that sort of thing a bit up to chance. I wasn’t sure I’d ever have the...
View ArticleHappy Stepfather’s Day!
Have you ever met an understated person? It oftentimes takes keen observation and listening skills to understand the value this person has in our modern world of chest pumping and high fives for even...
View ArticleAre We Seen As Belonging Together?
Recently, news media reported a story about parents who were upset about their son’s class photo. The article showed the photo, with Miles looking as handsome as ever. However, as the 2nd grade class...
View ArticleRoll Models: Alessandro & Andy
I know all too well that even though life in a wheelchair is hard it can all be well in the end, but it’s not a hill it’s a mountain. I made it, (messily) but my journey only started after I had a...
View ArticleInclusion Just Made Sense
While pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation at Texas Woman’s University I participated in a cooperative work program. I was hired to work twenty hours each week to support children...
View ArticleA Nurse who Never Forgets her “Bag of Tricks”
I use accommodations, person first language and creative thinking every single day as a nurse and those skills were acquired by my work with Kids Included Together. You know the pictures that KIT makes...
View ArticleStephen Wampler Makes the Most of Life in Every Imaginable Way
My name is Steve Wampler. When I was born in 1968, I got stuck in my mother’s birth canal and was deprived of oxygen for a time. As a result, I have cerebral palsy. Having said that, I was the...
View ArticleBullying 101
Everybody wants to fit in. To be accepted. To be acknowledged. To be included. But for kids like Joey and Anita this is a dream. Anita, who has cerebral palsy, is taunted by classmates whenever she...
View ArticleBlack Friday, Cyber Monday…now we have #GivingTuesday
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” -Winston Churchill via @GivingTuesday Are you ready to kick-off the biggest start to the giving season? We sure are! On December 3,...
View ArticleMeeting Students Where They Are
I think of all students as differently abled in any case, not that certain students are disabled. We all know that students vary considerably in mental and physical ability and development, with some...
View ArticleThe Reciprocity of Inclusion
Inclusion is often viewed as an opportunity to equally include people with disabilities in everyday activity. In my eyes, working with Jillian gives me a chance to be included into Jillian’s world....
View ArticleAustin is Just One of Us
If you’ve watched a movie in one of AMC Entertainment’s 5000 movie theaters, chances are, you’ve met Austin and his friends. Austin, a youth with a disability, stars in a public service announcement...
View ArticleARE YOU NORM? I Am Norm celebrates its 4th anniversary of promoting inclusion...
Four years ago, twenty youth with and without disabilities came together to create a campaign advocating for inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of society. In less than 48 hours,...
View ArticleThis Part of the American Girl Story
A big fan of American Girl dolls, Melissa Shang, started a petition when she learned that the 2014 Girl of the Year was another dancer (and not a dancer like this!). Requesting an American Girl doll...
View ArticleBasic Tips For Planning Accessible Activities
Inclusion starts with program leaders and how they plan to accommodate participants’ needs. Your participants may have a diagnosed disability (Autism, Cerebral Palsy, etc.) or something that is...
View Article#LOVEInclusion
This February, show how much you #LOVEinclusion! Sign up here for free access to the #LOVEinclusion toolkit including easy fun activities to do with your students, a guide for ROCKING acts of...
View Article