Designing Belonging — with Shailee Patel

In this episode of The Bold Women Backstory, Jolene Levin sits down with Shailee Patel, Director of Special Education Programs and Innovation at Novi Community Schools, for an inspiring conversation about advocacy, leadership, and reimagining what special education can be.Inspired by her cousin with Down syndrome and the challenges her family faced advocating for equal opportunities, Shailee built a career dedicated to ensuring every student has access to the support, services, and environments they deserve.She shares the story of creating one of Michigan's most innovative special education facilities—a space she affectionately called the "Taj Mahal"—designed to serve students from birth through age 26 with dignity, purpose, and a sense of belonging.In this conversation, we explore:The power of advocacy in special educationWhy equitable access matters for every studentDesigning environments that support diverse needsBuilding innovative programs that keep students connected to their communitiesCreating a vision that transforms lives and familiesShailee's message is clear: belonging doesn't happen by accident—it is intentionally designed through advocacy, opportunity, and a commitment to seeing every student's potential.