Characteristics of Fully Inclusive Schools: A Conversation with TASH Leaders

Debbie Taub — TASH board member and technical assistance provider with the TIES Center, a national TA center focused on building inclusive systems for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. Also brings a parent perspective as a mom advocating at the IEP table. Diane Ryndak — Professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; co‑chair of TASH’s Inclusive Education Community of Practice (CoP), former TASH board member, and affiliated with the TIES Center on inclusive practices and policies. Mary Fisher — Faculty at Lewis University (Romeoville, IL); co‑director of the TASH Inclusive Education CoP and long‑time TASH member since 1977. Focuses on teacher preparation and practical ways schools move toward inclusion. Members of the TASH Inclusive Education Community of Practice break down what fully inclusive schools look like and how to get there—moving from “one student at a time” fixes to systemic change at school, district, and state levels. They highlight presuming competence, high expectations, explicit communication instruction, and clear placement in general education as non‑negotiables, and point listeners to tools (like TIES Center’s RISE/IER) that help teams reflect and plan. Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/tash-characteristics-of-fully-inclusive-schools/