Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Episode #62: Creating a Culture of Acceptance: How Inclusive Schools Can Build Stronger Communities

As our understanding of neurodiversity continues to evolve, it's become increasingly clear that our education system needs to adapt to meet the needs of all learners. Today, we're joined by Dr. Evisha Ford, the Founding Executive Director of the iCan Dream Center, a therapeutic school that serves neurodiverse learners and their families. Dr. Ford is a leading advocate for inclusive education and has dedicated her career to helping schools create environments where all students can thrive. In this episode, we'll be discussing how parents can help encourage their children's schools to become more inclusive, as well as practical strategies that educators can use to support neurodiverse learners. So, whether you're a parent, an educator, or just interested in learning more about neurodiversity, this episode is not to be missed. Order Dr. Ford’s Book, Benches in the Bathroom: https://amzn.to/3qgaUrl Connect with Dr. Evisha Ford: Instagram: @dr_evisha (https://www.instagram.com/dr_evisha/) Website: https://www.drevisha.com/ iCan Dream Center Website: https://icandreamcenter.com/ Facebook Private Group: Leading a Socially, Emotionally & Physically Safe School Culture (https://www.facebook.com/groups/6157723637618324/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drevisha/ Connect with Us: https://linktr.ee/waterprairie Support this channel: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/waterprairie Music Used: “LazyDay” by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/

How Inclusive Schools Can Build Stronger Communities
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Show Notes:

As our understanding of neurodiversity continues to evolve, it’s become increasingly clear that our education system needs to adapt to meet the needs of all learners. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Evisha Ford, the Founding Executive Director of the iCan Dream Center, a therapeutic school that serves neurodiverse learners and their families. Dr. Ford is a leading advocate for inclusive education and has dedicated her career to helping schools create environments where all students can thrive. In this episode, we’ll be discussing how parents can help encourage their children’s schools to become more inclusive, as well as practical strategies that educators can use to support neurodiverse learners. So, whether you’re a parent, an educator, or just interested in learning more about neurodiversity, this episode is not to be missed.

Order Dr. Ford’s Book, Benches in the Bathroom: https://amzn.to/3qgaUrl

Connect with Dr. Evisha Ford:

Connect with Us: https://linktr.ee/waterprairie

Support this channel: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/waterprairie

Music Used: “LazyDay” by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/


Meet Today’s Guest:

Dr. Evisha Ford is the Founding Executive Director of iCan Dream Center, a therapeutic school in Illinois, that serves the needs of neurodiverse learners and their families. She began her career serving inner-city homeless youth in Chicago. She is a former Assistant Superintendent, Director of Special Education, and Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership.

Dr. Ford is a sought after thought leader in schools nationally and internationally. She specializes in trauma-compassionate leadership, program design, cultural and racial equity, and effective school and nonprofit leadership. She is the author of Benches in the Bathroom: Leading a Physically, Emotionally, and Socially Safe School Culture. Dr. Ford was honored as one of the influential “100 Black Women in Chicago” for her educational contributions. However, her most generous recognition as “best mom ever” is granted by her two sons.

To learn more about Dr. Ford’s work, visit her website https://drevisha.com.


Episode #62: Creating a Culture of Acceptance

How Inclusive Schools Can Build Stronger Communities

(Recorded April 19, 2023)

(* Transcript will post soon)

Tonya Wollum

Tonya

Tonya Wollum is a disability advocate and host of the Water Prairie Chronicles podcast which connects special needs parents with resources to help them navigate parenting a child with a disability. She is the mother of 2 college-age children who have each grown up with a disability. That experience, along with a background in education, led her to create the Water Prairie Chronicles to help share what she has learned with parents of younger children to help them know how to advocate for their children.

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