The Power of Presuming Competence

2016-11-10T10:11:44-05:00By |Categories: AAC, Advocacy In Action, Autism, blog, Cross Disability, General, Inclusion, Inclusion Resources, Inclusive Education, Resources, Video|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

"Thasya", a mini film by Dan Habib, highlights the power of presuming competence, differentiated instruction and augmentative and alternative communication. Inclusion works.

Transforming Education to Benefit ALL Students

2016-11-10T10:11:46-05:00By |Categories: Author, Autism, blog, Cross Disability, General, Inclusion, Inclusive Education, Inclusive Education, Lauri Swann Hunt|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

As part of a 5-year, $24.5 million grant awarded by the U.S. DOE , the SWIFT Center was founded to assist districts and their schools to engage in a transformational process, in order to achieve equity and excellence for all students. Research has demonstrated that inclusive education significantly improves academic and behavior outcomes for all children.

We Are Not In Our Own World

2016-11-10T10:11:47-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Author, blog, Featured (Homepage), General, Inclusive Education, Judy Endow, Search Categories, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

We need to be careful about how we think about and talk about people with disabilities. One example is the reference that those who are autistic or deaf or blind or have some sort of movement differences are “in their own world.”

Being Where I Can Simply Be

2016-11-10T10:11:47-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, Editor's Picks, Featured (Homepage), General, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

After a three-day conference, I needed to sleep. I needed to sleep because I was dreamy, trying to keep the feeling of being in a place where I can be myself and also be a little bit like a star. Also, building community.

Senator’s Call for Transition Action Plan An Excellent Idea

2016-11-10T10:11:47-05:00By |Categories: Author, blog, General, Lifestyle, Politics, Sarah Levis, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Democrat Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey has introduced a

Inclusion is a right not a privilege.

2016-11-10T10:11:47-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Advocacy, Advocacy In Action, Author, Autism, blog, Cross Disability, Disability Rights, General, Inclusion, Inclusion Videos, Inclusive Education, Lauri Swann Hunt, Ollibean Family, Ollibean Mama Spotlight, Parenting, Search Categories, Videos|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Inclusion is not only socially just, but research shows it improves academic outcomes for all students.

I Am Here To Make A Difference For My People

2016-11-10T10:11:47-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Advocacy In Action, Author, blog, Cross Disability, Disability Rights, Editor's Picks, General, Inclusion, Inclusion Videos, Inclusive Education, Lauri Swann Hunt, Ollibean Brothers & Sisters, Ollibean Family, Ollibean Thought Leaders, Videos|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

"I am here to make a difference for my people. I hope that you listen to what I have to say. I want people like you to stop judging me." Tres Whitlock

Seattle Children’s Hospital Pulls Bus Ads After Community Outrage

2016-11-10T10:11:48-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Author, Autism, blog, General, Judy Endow, Search Categories|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

“Autism is a disability, but it is not a disease. It is not a life-threatening illness,” said Matt Young, co-leader of ASAN-WA. “The idea it’s a state to be wiped out has much negative impact on our lives.”

Advocacy Groups Call for Autistic Teen’s Killers to Be Charged With Hate Crime

2016-11-10T10:11:48-05:00By |Categories: Ableism, Advocacy, Advocacy, Articles, Author, Autism, blog, Disability Rights, General, Sarah Levis, Search Categories|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

How does it make you feel when you hear a

Ollibean Inclusive Baseball Camp August 5-16

2016-11-10T10:11:48-05:00By |Categories: Events, Inclusion, Ollibean Foundation|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Hope you can join us for our 2nd Annual Ollibean Inclusive Baseball Camp at Palma Ceia Little League. 2 sessions August 5- 9, and August 12-16.

The Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education – 07/12/13

2016-04-20T09:34:59-04:00By |Categories: Advocacy Resources, Articles, Autism Resources, Cross Disability, Events, Inclusion Resources, Resources, Resources We Love|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This week, Carol Quirk who is the Co-Executive Director for

Ollibean Spotlight: Renee Salas

2016-11-10T10:11:48-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Author, Autism, blog, Books You Need, Cross Disability, Editor's Picks, General, Inclusion, Lauri Swann Hunt, Lifestyle, Neurodiversity, Ollibean Family, Ollibean Mama Spotlight, Ollibean Thought Leaders, Parenting, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

" Talk to people with disabilities. As many as you can: Adults, adolescents, kids. These people are the real experts on disabilities. These are the people that can tell you what life with a disability is like." Renee Salas

Ollibean Spotlight: Kerima Cevik Pay It Forward Activist

2016-11-10T10:11:48-05:00By |Categories: blog, Lauri Swann Hunt, Ollibean Family, Ollibean Mama Spotlight, Parenting, Resources We Love|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

"Equal access, level playing field, dignity, respect for my son and all his community. No separate classrooms separate doors or isolation from others. See I’m a woman of color. When I began my education you could still see the Colored Only bathrooms in the Deep South. If you put my son in one room and say he is not good enough to be where the law says he should be, with his peers, then red flags of segregation fly up at me. Many parents of color feel the wrongness of it organically, but they have been convinced that their neurodiverse children are not good enough for their neighborhood school and that their children are a distraction or threat to typical children in some way. The different operating system in their child’s brain throws them off, particularly when maladaptive behaviors are in the mix. It leaves them feeling guilty, helpless, afraid their kids will come to harm, and they listen to anyone, even if their gut tells them the advice is unjust. I am and advocate of Universal Design for Learning. I think my son can be with his peers in age as well as ability and everyone can benefit." Kerima Cevik

Because I Stood With Henry

2016-11-10T10:11:48-05:00By |Categories: Amy Sequenzia, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, Featured (Homepage), General, Henry, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Because I stood with Henry I am happier today and you should too. Henry not only got his rights, he proved that presumption of competence should be the default for every student.

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network

2016-11-10T10:11:48-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Autism, Autism Resources, Disability Rights, General, Neurodiversity, Politics, Resources, Resources We Love|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by and for Autistic people.

Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism

2016-11-10T10:11:48-05:00By |Categories: Autism, Autism Resources, General, Parenting, Resources, Resources We Love|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

We love Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, a community of autistics, professionals, and parents sharing what you need to know about autism.

Untitled

2016-11-10T10:11:48-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, General, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

This is not directed at anyone in particular. It is about several people I’ve met throughout my life. I sometimes need to remind myself that being me means following my own agenda and not pleasing the ones who will not be part of my story.

People With Disabilities Practically Absent from Marketing Campaigns

2016-11-10T10:11:48-05:00By |Categories: Ableism, Around the Web, Articles, Author, blog, Conversation Starters, Cross Disability, Media Representation, Neurodiversity, Sarah Levis|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

ABC.com reports that despite sporadic appearances in the media and

Not Impossible: The Story of Daniel

2016-11-10T10:11:49-05:00By |Categories: Articles, blog, Education, General, Inclusive Education|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Five years ago (next month) our severely autistic son Daniel had a major breakthrough. This whole world is new to him: standards, peers, comradeship and competition.

Ariane Zurcher: Non-Speaking Autistic Woman Writes Book

2016-11-10T10:11:49-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Around the Web, Articles, Assistive Technology, Featured (Homepage), General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Barb Rentenbach's funny, poignant and beautiful must-read book, I Might Be You: An Exploration of Autism and Connection, is now available as an audiobook.

Hi @KatieCouric I am #autistic & would like to talk to you about #inclusion, #communication & #civilrights #KatieAutismChat

2016-11-10T10:11:49-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Articles, Featured (Homepage), General, Henry, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Katie Couric will have a Twitter Chat with Autism Speaks

Amy Sequenzia: Does it matter?

2016-11-10T10:11:49-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, General, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Should it matter that some of us are labeled intellectually disabled? Read the definitions, look at us in a realistic way and ask yourself; Does it matter? Aren’t we all worthy?

2013 Top Ten Signs of Special Ed Advocate Burn Out

2016-11-10T10:11:49-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, Articles, General, Inclusive Education|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Subtitle: Why you may need a trip to a COPAA

Mother

2016-11-10T10:11:49-05:00By |Categories: Amy Sequenzia, Amy Sequenzia, Author, blog, Editor's Picks, General, Parenting, Think Tank|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

This is for every person who embodies the meaning of motherhood. This is for the ones who nurture and protect, who never consider their lives more important than the lives of the ones being nourished, educated, protected and loved.

Everyone Communicates

2016-11-10T10:11:49-05:00By |Categories: Assistive Technology, Editor's Picks, General, Resources, Resources We Love|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

One of our favorite resources for all things AAC!

Ostracized for Autism

2016-11-10T10:11:50-05:00By |Categories: Advocacy, blog, General|Tags: , , , |

"The reason for this article is to spread awareness about why people shouldn't believe everything they see or hear from powerful people and companies. Respecting authority is great, but believing everything they say may make you a brainwashed, horrible person. Also, this article was written to remind people to treat others how they'd like to be treated, and not act cold to them regardless of how different they are."

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