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 Office of Education. Drawing from her deep personal and professional experiences—as a former California State Director of Special Education and the mother of a daughter with disabilities—Kristin shares her “why” for dedicating her life to the work of inclusion, belonging, and rightful presence. The conversation explores the harmful persistence of the medical model in education, the importance of shifting mindsets from exclusion to rightful presence, and how inclusion must be viewed not as charity, but as a fundamental human right. Kristin also offers candid reflections on systemic ableism, the political threats to essential protections like Medicaid and Section 504, and the urgent need for collective advocacy. This episode is a heartfelt call to action for educators, families, and policymakers to reimagine inclusive education as not only possible, but necessary.

Guest Information 

Kristin Wright

Links to Resources Mentioned

TIES Center
Disability Voices United
National Center for Learning Disabilities
Parents Helping Parents
Disability Rights California
Rightful Presence
Judy Heumann
Chaeli Mycroft
Angela Van Ostran Free ASL Classes (Email Diana for details - [email protected])

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 Trifold Laminated 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."