08: Fully Including Teens of Different Backgrounds & Disabilities in The Classroom

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Michelle Tetschner is an advocate, mom of three boys, and author of the book, “Fully Included”. One of Michelle’s sons has down syndrome and she set out to help our education system become more inclusive to all different types of people, with or without disabilities, By having more diversity in the world, and especially in the classroom, you open to having a much more compassionate and understanding society. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Key Takeaways</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Michelle shares some of the benefits of including everyone in the classroom. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">We’re all perfectly imperfect. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Every human being at its core is looking to connect with another human being. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Michelle talks about down syndrome for those who might not know what it is. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">We’re all going to experience a disability at some point in our lives. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Celebrate people’s uniqueness. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">How can parents get involved and support diversity? </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Disabilities aren’t going away. There’s a good chance your son or daughter will encounter someone with a disability sometime in their life.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">A majority of students are simply blown away once they really get to know someone that’s slightly different than them. </span></li> <li style="font-weight