Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters
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 Are my disability awareness efforts outdated and offensive?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.
- Update frequency
- every 24 days
- Average duration
- 35 minutes
- Episodes
- 49
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
49. Beyond Inclusion: Rightful Presence with Kristin Wright
In this powerful episode of Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson is joined by Kristin Wright, Executive Director of Inclusive Practices at the Sacramento County O…
48. Inclusion...Now What? With MCIE's Carolyn Teigland & Tim Villegas
In this episode of Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson has a conversation with Carolyn Teigland, Chief Executive Officer, and Tim Villegas, Director of Communica…
47. Raising Inclusive Kids with Kayla Coburn
In this podcast episode of Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson has a conversation with author, educator, podcaster, and parent, Kayla Coburn of Inclusion Starts …
46. A Chat with Chet Cooper, ABILITY Magazine Founder
In this podcast episode of Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson interviews Chet Cooper, founder of ABILITY Magazine. This was a fun interview between friends. But…
45. UDL, Inclusion, and Co-Teaching with Dr. Paula Kluth
In this episode, Diana and Paula discuss their passion for inclusion, and the relentless work of Dr. Paula Kluth as an author, mentor, coach, and speaker, advocating for and empow…
44. "Almost Heaven" AwareNow Magazine Article Audio by Diana Pastora Carson
In this episode, Diana Pastora Carson, educator, consultant, and public speaker, shares the audio format of her AwareNow Magazine article entitled "Almost Heaven". This article demonstrates the conse…
43. Disability Awareness vs. Access Awareness
In this solo episode, Diana Pastora Carson, educator, consultant, and public speaker, discusses the distinction between disability awareness and access awareness, and the critical, long-term importan…
42. Occupational Therapy in Inclusive Education with Savitha Sundar
In this episode, Diana and Savitha discuss the value and importance of occupational therapists roles in inclusive education vs. the traditional roles of occupational therapists in …
41. Love Is a Classroom with Dr. Andrew DL Goff
In this episode, Diana and Dr. Goff discuss his memoir, Love Is A Classroom, the value of early childhood inclusion, and cultural humility with families. They also discuss the …
40. Disability Literacy and Universal Design for Learning with Dr. Allison Brenneise
In this episode, Diana and Dr. Brenneise discuss the distinctions between instructional communication, communication education, and critical communication pedagogy. They also d…
39. Inclusionary Practices for Schools with Dr. Cassie Martin
In this episode, Diana interviews Dr. Cassie Martin, Executive Director of Special Education for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington State. She was…
38. Disability Awareness Distinctions with Diana Pastora Carson
In this solo episode, Diana speaks from her heart about the distinctions she advocates for within any disability awareness endeavors, and why long-term, traditional disability awareness practices are…
37. My Disability Awareness "Why"
In this episode, Diana discusses the correlation between real life situations that she and other individuals and their family members find themselves in due to lack of societal commitment to their we…
36. Creating Belonging, Connection, and Community with Dr. Leah Kelley
In this episode, Diana has a conversation with Dr. Leah Kelley, author of The Person Who Arrives: Connecting Disability Studies and Educational Practice for Teachers, Parents, and Others. They discus…
35. Mainstreaming, Integration, Inclusion & Belonging with Dr. Shelley Moore
In this episode, Diana has a conversation with Dr. Shelley Moore. Shelley is a Canadian educator and an expert on special education who also has taught in the U.S. She is the author of One Without th…
34. Disability Awareness: Do It Right
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 …
33. Parent Advocacy for Inclusion with Olivier Bernier / Forget Me Not Film
In this episode, Diana interviews Olivier Bernier, film producer of Forget Me Not, which revolves around his family's fight for inclusive schooling for their son, Emilio, who has Down Syndrome.
32. Accessible Children's Books with Richard Rieman of Imagination Storybooks
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 …
31. Autism Siblings, Presumption of Competence & Spelling to Communicate with Danny & Tara Whitty
In this episode, Danny Whitty and his sister, Tara, talk with Diana about the importance of spelling to communicate, communication regulation partners, and their sibling relationship. This is an emot…
30. Embracing Disability Identity with Qudsiya Naqui
In This Episode
Diana interviews Qudsiya Naqui, lawyer, disability justice activist, and podcast host of Down to the Struts. In this episode, Qudsiya shares about her journey to emb…