49. Beyond Inclusion: Rightful Presence with Kristin Wright

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 conversation explores the harmful persistence of the medical model in education, the importance of shifting mindsets from exclusion to rightful presence, and how inclusion must be viewed not as charity, but as a fundamental human right. Kristin also offers candid reflections on systemic ableism, the political threats to essential protections like Medicaid and Section 504, and the urgent need for collective advocacy. This episode is a heartfelt call to action for educators, families, and policymakers to reimagine inclusive education as not only possible, but necessary. Guest Information  Kristin Wright Links to Resources MentionedTIES CenterDisability Voices UnitedNational Center for Learning DisabilitiesParents Helping ParentsDisability Rights CaliforniaRightful PresenceJudy HeumannChaeli MycroftAngela Van Ostran Free ASL Classes (Email Diana for details - [email protected]) 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: Bringing Disability into Diversity in K-12 Schools & Communities - Diana's Book Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights - Diana's Children's Book Ed Roberts: Champion of Disability Rights Thematic Unit/ Disability History Lesson Plans "Beyond Awareness" Digital Course Diana's TEDx Talk Beyond Awareness Facebook Page Diana on Instagram Beyond Awareness Tote Bag  Beyond Awareness Pullover Hoodie Beyond Awareness Raglan Baseball T-Shirt Beyond Awareness Journal/Notebook Diana's Teachers Pay Teachers Store - Disability as Diversity Diana's Trifold Laminated Resource: Beyond Disability Awareness: An Educator's Guide, Published by National Professional Resources, Inc. (NPR, Inc.)   Credits and Image Description Intro and outro music courtesy of Emmanuel Castro. Podcast cover photo by Rachel Schlesinger Photography. Podcast cover image description: Black and white photograph of Diana, a Spanish-American woman with long, wavy, brown hair. She is wearing a flowy, white blouse and smiles at camera as she leans against wooden building. Photo is colorfully framed with gold and orange rays of seeming sunshine on top half, and with solid sage green color on bottom half. Text reads "Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters, Diana Pastora Carson, M.Ed."