027: Special Education: How to Advocate for an Inclusive School 52 Essential Conversations to Inspire Children

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day, I'm airing a special series of intimate and insightful interviews with four Harvard educators and two University of California professors on topics related to Implicit Bias. Our fourth topic of the 6-part series: Special Education.
In this episode, I chat with Melanie, Emmy award winning filmmaker, community activist, mother of 3, and former ward of the state. She shares her personal experience raising and advocating for a daughter with Down syndrome. She discusses implicit biases she had as a new parent and biases she has encountered as an educator and parent. She shares a number of resources in this episode, and in addition:
Mainstream biases around learning disabilities and how to deal with it
 How to “see to believe” for yourself and others
How to set expectations for yourself and your child
Persistent, Professional, Polite. Ways to advocate for your child
How teachers and educators can find their voice when working with children with special needs.
How to select the right school for your child