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 c...
Jun 26, 2025•52 min
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 Communications, of the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE). They discuss changes in the priorities of the federal administration, what it means for disability rights, for inclusive educational opportunities, and what we can do going forward as families and educators. They also recommend followin...
Mar 24, 2025•46 min
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 Now. Not only do they discuss inclusion in schools, but also what parents can do to raise inclusive-minded children. Check out the links below to see all that Kayla has to offer Guest Information Kayla Coburn Bio Links Mentioned Kayla Coburn Children's Books Inclusion Starts Now Podcast Stay Connecte...
Feb 10, 2025•42 min
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 also a glimpse into the historical obstacles that have existed in the areas of housing, employment, and representation in entertainment for people with disabilities; as well as the ableism that has been the foundation for those obstacles that still exist today. Chet Cooper, a professional interviewe...
Jan 28, 2025•50 min
Dr. Paula Kluth Bio 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 empowering educators with strategies for inclusion. Paula shares countless resources to support educators committed to ensuring access to curriculum and relationships for all students. Paula's work has been a beacon of hope for many educators wanting to make classrooms welcoming places for all students. P...
Dec 11, 2024•1 hr 3 min
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 consequences of dehumanizing practices in autism and developmental disabilities (such as abuse and institutionalization), vs. respectful and accommodating ways to be with people and allow them to be themselves. This episode is for educators who strive for inclusive practices, as well as families of childr...
Oct 26, 2024•17 min
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 importance of focusing on barriers and access vs specific disability labels. Teachers, parents, clergy, anyone who strives to make the world a better place by leading disability awareness in schools and in the community, should listen to this first. Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website, including blog F...
Oct 09, 2024•17 min
Savitha Sundar Bio 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 schools. Savitha sees her OT role as a "participation access interventionist," as opposed to a deficit remediator. She also believes that access advocacy is a key to occupational justice. People and Sources Mentioned Inclusive Occupations Podcast InclusiveOccupations@gmail.com Dr. Shelley Moore - (On...
Sep 21, 2024•58 min
Dr. Andrew DL Goff Bio 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 dissonance between district policies and the love and understanding for learners and their families that is based in relationships between classroom teachers and those they serve, and the difference that good leadership can make. Andrew brings up the distinctions between mindset, heartset, and skills...
Aug 22, 2024•52 min
Dr. Allison Brenneise In this episode, Diana and Dr. Brenneise discuss the distinctions between instructional communication, communication education, and critical communication pedagogy. They also discuss the need for disability literacy as well as universal design for learning as a means for shifting mindsets, teaching to the margins, and advancing societal inclusion of people with disabilities. Links Mentioned OCR (Optical Character Recognition) UDL (Universal Design for Learning) Shelley Moor...
Jul 16, 2024•46 min
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 also the architect of the Inclusionary Practices Demonstration Sites Project, which is what our conversation was focused around. She talks about the 16 demonstration sites that highlight inclusionary practices, and why and how she and her team brought these schools into existence, and how they have t...
May 31, 2024•19 min
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 unproductive and even harmful. She encourages listeners to reflect on their "why", and ensure that their disability awareness endeavors revolve around societal responsiveness to individual needs being met, creating spaces where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Stay Connected with Diana Diana's W...
May 11, 2024•19 min
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 well-being, and the social paradigm focus of going Beyond Awareness vs. traditional disability awareness. She concludes with encouragement to listeners to take steps toward going Beyond Awareness so that we can begin making progress toward access to well-being for all. Stay Connected with Diana Diana's...
Jan 24, 2024•25 min
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 discuss the importance of creating belonging, community, and connection in the classroom, understanding the breadth of diversity when it comes to inclusion, and how the disability experience intersects with so many other lived experiences that are important to bring to the table. Dr. Leah Kelley Links Ment...
Nov 25, 2023•30 min
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 the Other, which I've read a couple times, as well as her upcoming book, All for One, which I look forward to reading. Shelly is a teacher researcher, YouTuber and extraordinary speaker. She advocates for inclusive education and seeks to reform iep programs to better suit the needs of individual studen...
Oct 20, 2023•40 min
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 traditional, outdated models. And she shares how her learnings and experiences have transformed her focus, and has taken her "beyond awareness." She includes a walkthrough of McMillin Elementary School's Beyond Awareness Celebration, and interviews leaders and participants throughout the planning, im...
Sep 12, 2023•27 min
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. Olivier Bernier Bio Forget Me Not Film Links Mentioned or Related The Henderson Inclusion School, Boston Tom Hehir Sue Swensen 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:...
Jul 26, 2023•37 min
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 blind, low vision, deaf, hard-of-hearing, neurodiverse, and all children. Richard Rieman Bio Links Mentioned or Related Imagination Storybooks Nancy Hinde Giving Fund Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) free classroom resources Storybooks Club Stay Connected with Diana Diana's Website, inclu...
Jun 25, 2023•26 min
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 emotional episode, as Diana, Tara and Danny connect and relate to one another with raw authenticity and love. If you are curious about autism, and especially non or minimally-speaking autistic communicators, then come right in and allow your world view of autism to be impacted in an irreversible way. Not...
May 19, 2023•45 min
In This Episode Qudsiya Naqui Bio 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 embracing her blind identity, her disability identity, and the disability community that brought her into the fold. She speaks to the isolation felt when in her younger years, she was excluded from participation in school activities simply because people did see her need for access, nor her right to acc...
Mar 24, 2023•40 min
In This Episode So often there is a disconnect between what parents and students want and need, and what school systems offer students. In this episode, Diana talks with Shubha Bala, a parent of a pre-schooler. In spite of his young age, Shubha and her partner have already felt disappointment and frustration with their son's school experience. We discuss some of the ideological differences that have been at the heart of the embattled territory between family and school. My hope with providing a ...
Feb 11, 2023•53 min
In This Episode In this episode, Diana interviews her long-time favorite, internationally-known, badass disability rights activist, widely known as the "Mother of the Disability Rights Movement," Judy Heumann. They discuss the importance of acknowledging our interdependence within the disability rights movement, and the importance of including disabled people within other social movements. Judy talks about what we should be focused on when it comes to disability awareness, and language related t...
Jan 01, 2023•50 min
In This Episode In this episode, Maya shares her journey to embracing her identity as a person who stutters and as a disabled person. She shares about her work in verbal diversity, and gives guidance to educators and families about how to approach the topic of, respond to, and support people who stutter. My favorite quote from this episode is: "Your unique rhythm is what makes you, you." Maya Chupkov Bio Links Mentioned Proud Stutter Website National Stuttering Awareness Week (2nd week of May an...
Dec 15, 2022•33 min
In this episode Keah Brown shares about her journey from self-hate, rooted in a moment in time when another child made fun of her, to self-love. She shares how this has inspired her work, including children's book, Sam's Super Seats, and young adult novel, The Pretty One. Our conversation explores societal narratives about disability and the impact of those narratives in the lives of people with disabilities. I love that Keah considers herself a "fan of life." This episode is uplifting and thoug...
Nov 26, 2022•43 min
In this episode Deanna Parvin Yadollahi shares their journey of self-discovery, self-love, and ensuing advocacy for access, not just for themself, but for the range of diverse humans within their learning community, and the wider community. A wealth of experiences and knowledge, Deanna broadens our understanding of the many meanings of access, and why access is so important. I hope you will benefit from Deanna's insight as much as I have. Deanna Parvin Yadollahi (they/them) Bio Deanna Parvin Yad...
Nov 11, 2022•44 min
Allison C. Carey is a Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Shippensburg University and director of the Master’s Program in Organizational Development and Leadership. She co-authored Allies and Obstacles: Disability Activism and Parents of Children with Disabilities (Temple University Press, 2020), and authored Disability and the Sociological Imagination (Sage, 2022) and On the Margins of Citizenship: Intellectual Disability and Civil Rights in Twent...
Oct 07, 2022•48 min
Megan Gross Nancy Brundrett In this episode, Diana shares a conversation about inclusive schools with Teacher on Special Assignment, Megan Gross, and Classified on Special Assignment, Nancy Brundrett, educators in the Poway Unified School District. Megan and Nancy discuss their district's journey toward inclusive practices, including their highlights and challenges. Their passion and candidness is both refreshing and inspiring of hope for educators learning through inclusion. Links Mentioned Sup...
Sep 09, 2022•53 min
Dr. Toni Saia Bio In this episode , Dr. Toni Saia defines "Inspiration Porn" and provides examples of common misconceptions about the disability experience that are perpetuated through popular inspirational comments, memes, news stories, etc. She challenges us to think about the origins of our tendency toward inspiration porn, to think about the difference between our intentions and the impact of what we say and do, and to find alternatives that respect the lived experiences of disabled people. ...
Aug 19, 2022•40 min
Dr. Christa Bialka Bio In this episode, Diana Pastora Carson and Dr. Christa Bialka discuss what research tells us about how we do or do not discuss disability in our classrooms, as well as what holds teachers back from having conversations about disability in schools. She implores us to begin talking about disability because "when you don't talk about disability, you're ignoring somebody's experience, and the barriers that they might encounter." But she says that when we talk about disability, ...
Aug 05, 2022•36 min
In this episode, Diana Pastora Carson shares her guidelines for selecting appropriate classroom books about disability in a way that aligns with Disability Studies in Education and the social model of disability, and in a way that is respectful of the many voices of disability. Some of Diana's Favorite Disability and Diversity Related Classroom Books We Move Together, Kelly Fritsch, Anne McGuire, Eduardo Trejos All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed ...
Jul 22, 2022•20 min
