Empowering Inclusive Education with Amanda Morin

About the Guest(s): Amanda Morin is a renowned expert in the field of special education and advocacy. With a background as a parent, teacher, and early intervention specialist, Amanda has transitioned to a role of education writer and advocate. She currently holds a significant position at the National Center for Learning Disabilities and contributes extensively to their online resource, Understood.org. Amanda is also the author of several books, including "The Everything Parent's Guide to Special Education," "The Everything Kids' Learning Activities Book," and "On-the-Go Fun for Kids: More than 250 Activities to Keep Little Ones Busy and Happy—Anytime, Anywhere."

Episode Summary: Welcome to another enriching episode of The Think Inclusive Podcast! In this episode, Tim Villegas sits down with Amanda Morin from the National Center for Learning Disabilities and Understood.org to discuss strategies for transitioning students with disabilities back to school. Amanda shares her insights as a former teacher and advocate, offering practical advice to parents on how to prepare their children for a new school year. Furthermore, the conversation delves into how to handle IEP meetings, particularly when recommendations for a more restrictive setting emerge. Amanda's powerful experiences and actionable tips make this episode a must-listen for educators and parents alike.

Throughout this episode, Amanda highlights the importance of understanding and addressing the anxieties of students returning to school, especially those with learning and attention issues. She also emphasizes the importance of keeping open lines of communication between parents and teachers and presuming competence and good intent from everyone involved. The discussion also covers how parents can strategically advocate for their children to remain in the least restrictive environment possible, backed by data and open dialogue. Amanda's unique perspective as both a parent and an educator offers invaluable insights for fostering an inclusive and supportive educational experience.

Transcript https://c80acee1-5663-46ff-a2d6-b4cf328e0b7f.usrfiles.com/ugd/c80ace_d9a8938f7a1c4ca1b61d57441c3dde94.pdf

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding Anxieties: Listen and address the anxieties of students, helping them feel prepared and supported as they transition back to school.
• Effective Communication: Foster positive communication between parents and teachers to establish mutual understanding and support for the student’s needs.
• Advocacy Strategies: Use data to ask why a more restrictive environment is being recommended and explore all possible supports in the current setting first.
• Parent and Teacher Collaboration: Collaborate with parents who believe in inclusion to create a strong support system and advocate for inclusive practices in schools.
• Presuming Good Intentions and Competence: Start the school year by presuming competence of the students and good intentions from everyone involved, fostering a supportive environment for all.

Resources:

Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamorin.com/

MCIE: https://mcie.org/

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