Think Inclusive

by Tim Villegas

Season 13

Shifting Focus from Compliance to Outcomes in Education with Glenna Wright-Gallo

Glenna Wright-Gallo is the Vice President of the Office of Strategic Research and Policy at Everway, a global neurotechnology software company. She has previously served as the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the U.S. Department of Education. Glenna is also a person with a disability, a parent, and a former state Director of Special Education. Her extensive experience across educational roles at state and federal levels positions her as an influential figure in shaping inclusive education policies and practices. In this riveting episode of Think Inclusive, Tim Villegas speaks with Glenna Wright-Gallo about the pressing need to shift from a compliance-focused model to outcomes-focused education within special education systems. Glenna brings a wealth of knowledge from her extensive career in education advocacy, emphasizing the importance of aligning educational practices with the intent of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) to create systems that genuinely serve all learners. This episode delves into how educational structures, often hampered by outdated schedules and siloed learning environments, can truly realize the promise of inclusive education by focusing on system-wide solutions rather than ad-hoc heroics. Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/shifting-focus-from-compliance-to-outcomes-in-education-with-glenna-wright-gallo-1336/

S13 · E36

Jul 17, 2026

1:02:17

Teaching Regulation as a Developmental Skill in Schools with Leah Kuypers

Leah Kuypers is a distinguished occupational therapist, internationally acclaimed trainer, and speaker renowned for creating the Zones of Regulation framework. With a strong background in occupational therapy and experience as an autism resource specialist, Leah has contributed significantly to international educational practices with her innovative approach to emotional and energy regulation within schools. Her work emphasizes the integration of both co-regulation and self-regulation strategies for learners, partnering with educators to foster a supportive environment for social and emotional development. Leah Kuypers continues to influence schools around the globe with her updated digital curriculum of Zones of Regulation, building on over 15 years of expert knowledge and application in the field. In this insightful episode of Think Inclusive, host Tim Villegas chats with Leah Kuypers, the creator of the internationally recognized Zones of Regulation framework. Designed to help manage emotions and energy levels, this model is used globally to encourage the development of self-regulation skills within educational settings. The conversation centers around understanding regulation as a skill that can be taught—not just a behavior to manage. They explore the transformative impact of the Zones framework for entire school communities, highlighting how it shifts traditional disciplinary models to more supportive and skill-building approaches.

S13 · E35

Jul 16, 2026

1:11:48

Inclusion for Students with Visual Impairments: Overcoming Barriers Together with Jonathan Hooper

Jonathan Hooper is a distinguished educator and a certified teacher of students with visual impairments (TVI) and an assistive technology professional (ATP). With 13 years of experience as an itinerant vision teacher in New York City, Jonathan currently contributes his expertise at Pediatric VIEW at The Children's Home of Pittsburgh. There, he specializes in Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) and complex support needs alongside Dr. Christine Roman Lantzy. His journey into the field was driven by firsthand classroom experiences with a student with visual impairments, which inspired him to transition from a general education role to a specialized advocate for inclusive education. In this insightful episode of Think Inclusive, hosted by Tim Villegas, listeners explore the essential aspects of creating inclusive environments for students with visual impairments. Jonathan Hooper shares his journey from a general education teacher to a specialist in visual impairments, emphasizing the separation of vision from cognition and the significance of presuming competence. The discussion broadly encompasses the value and implementation of accessibility in educational contexts, ranging from academic subjects to everyday social interactions in lunchrooms and playgrounds. Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/inclusion-for-students-with-visual-impairments-overcoming-barriers-together-with-jonathan-hooper-1334/

S13 · E34

Jul 10, 2026

1:06:05

Rethinking Social Skills: Teaching Social Thinking for All Learners with Michelle Garcia Winner

About the Guest(s): Michelle Garcia Winner is a renowned speech-language pathologist and the founder of Social Thinking. With over 30 years of experience, she has developed a methodology that seeks to aid teachers, therapists, and families in supporting social and organizational learning. Her work focuses on helping individuals, especially those on the autism spectrum, understand and enhance their social thinking skills. In this episode of Think Inclusive, host Tim Villegas sits down with Michelle Garcia Winner, the mind behind the Social Thinking methodology. With a rich conversation centered around the invisible social rulebook, they discuss how educators and therapists can move beyond teaching social skills as mere behaviors. Michelle unfolds her insights into interpreting social situations, self-advocacy, and flexible thinking, breaking down the complexities into teachable and actionable strategies. Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/rethinking-social-skills-teaching-social-thinking-for-all-learners-with-michelle-garcia-winner-1330/

S13 · E30

Apr 23, 2026

46:31

Advocating for Full Inclusion: Every Student Deserves Belonging with Sandra McElwee

Sandra McElwee is a prominent advocate for inclusive education and disabilities rights, known for her role as Sean's mom from the Emmy-winning reality TV series, "Born This Way." With over three decades of experience advocating for individuals with disabilities, Sandra has been a pillar of support and change within the inclusive education community. She is an author, public speaker, and independent facilitator writing Person-Centered Plans in California. In this episode of Think Inclusive, host Tim Villegas engages in a compelling conversation with Sandra McElwee, a pioneering advocate for inclusive education. As the mother of Sean, famously known from the TV show "Born This Way," Sandra shares her journey of challenging educational norms to ensure her son had an inclusive education from the 1990s onwards. This episode explores the transformative power of inclusion in schools and the uphill battle families often face within the educational system. Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/advocating-for-full-inclusion-every-student-deserves-belonging-with-sandra-mcelwee-1329/

S13 · E29

Apr 17, 2026

1:01:39

Building Inclusive Schools: From Belief to Practice with Michele Gardner

Michele Gardner is the interim CEO at All In for Inclusive Education, an organization dedicated to fostering inclusive practices in educational institutions. With over 25 years of experience in the New Jersey public school system, Michelle has held various roles such as special education teacher, paraprofessional, assistant principal, and director of special services. Additionally, she has been an adjunct instructor at the College of New Jersey, teaching future educators, and earning acclaim for her leadership in inclusive education. Her efforts focus on supporting systemic change through coaching, consultation, and professional development for educators and administrators. In this insightful episode of "Think Inclusive," Tim Villegas hosts Michele Gardner, interim CEO of All In for Inclusive Education, to discuss the intricacies of systemic change towards inclusive education. Tim and Michelle delve into how schools and districts can transform inclusive education from a mere belief to a practice embraced in every classroom. They explore core themes of systems change, capacity building, and mindset shift in educational environments, spotlighting the journey from exclusionary practices to inclusive excellence. Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/building-inclusive-schools-from-belief-to-practice-with-michelle-gardner-1328/

S13 · E28

Apr 9, 2026

55:36

Centering Disabled Students' Voices for True Inclusion and Justice with Dom Kelly

Dom Kelly is the co-founder, president, and CEO of New Disabled South and New Disabled South Rising. A lifelong disability advocate, Dom has made his mark in nonprofit leadership and as a systems thinker who combines lived experience with movement building. Apart from his advocacy work, Dom is an accomplished musician, having toured extensively and shared the stage with renowned artists such as the Indigo Girls and Joan Baez. Amassing an impressive array of fellowships and awards, Dom is also an Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity and a recipient of the JM Kaplan Funds Innovation Prize. He resides in Atlanta with his family. In this powerful episode of Think Inclusive, host Tim Villegas engages in a significant dialogue with Dom Kelly, steering deeply into the realm of disability justice in schools. The conversation navigates the intertwining facets of inclusion, justice, belonging, and how these play out within educational settings. Dom Kelly, drawing from his multifaceted experiences as a disability advocate and co-founder of New Disabled South, speaks on evolving beyond mere compliance to fostering inclusive environments that value the voices and needs of disabled students, especially at the intersection of race and disability. Complete transcript and show notes: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/centering-disabled-students-voices-for-true-inclusion-and-justice-with-dom-kelly-1327/

S13 · E27

Apr 2, 2026

57:37

1 of 24

Think Inclusive

Shifting Focus from Compliance to Outcomes in Education with Glenna Wright-Gallo

Teaching Regulation as a Developmental Skill in Schools with Leah Kuypers

Inclusion for Students with Visual Impairments: Overcoming Barriers Together with Jonathan Hooper

Fighting to Stop Fighting: What Keeps Advocates Like Ryan Honick Going?

Patrick Mulick: Why "Bad Choice" Is the Wrong Language for Schools

TerpsEXCEED: Making College Possible for All

Rethinking Social Skills: Teaching Social Thinking for All Learners with Michelle Garcia Winner

Advocating for Full Inclusion: Every Student Deserves Belonging with Sandra McElwee

Building Inclusive Schools: From Belief to Practice with Michele Gardner

Centering Disabled Students' Voices for True Inclusion and Justice with Dom Kelly