Taking Inclusion and Diversity a Step Further

As Spring Break season approaches, we always like to remind you to schedule any assessments that might be needed before the end of the school year. Don’t let the timeline sneak up on you! Check-in with your school now so you don’t get pushed to the next school year. Our series on eligibility continues as we are joined by Melissa Brady Petrillo, who came up with a unique idea for children with special needs. She is a teacher in New Jersey who is passionate about books and inclusion and was inspired to see that children with disabilities and special needs see themselves mirrored in the books they read. Her goal is to help students and families understand that everyone encompasses a unique mindset that must be valued in our world today. Join us for the conversation!Show HighlightsHow Melissa saw the need and took the risk to bring awareness to the inclusion problemHow Melissa came up with evaluative criteria for books that address different learning needsWhy children need to understand diversity in order to relate to othersHow books can be used as a starting point for conversations and connectionsHow more books are being written today that portray what neurodiverse people are going throughHow Melissa provides resources for other teachers through the Teachers Pay Teachers websiteWhy libraries, our communities, and our world need to become more inclusiveWhat’s next for MelissaLinks/ResourcesConnect with Melissa: Instagram, Her book, Sometimes, Resources on Teachers Pay TeachersContact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org   Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, then please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:FacebookInstagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us there and send us your questions!TwitterIEP websiteEmail us: [email protected]