Real Inclusion with the Little Learners Program with Julie Curless

<p>Our focus in recent shows has been on solutions for an inclusive educational environment, and today’s show follows that theme. Today’s guest is in the thick of it with her pilot program for graduate students in speech and language.&nbsp;</p><p>Julie Curless is a speech-language pathologist who worked for nine years in a school system in Illinois. In working with students and their families, Julie developed a passion for meaningful inclusion, and she has been a presenter, consultant, and instructor to help teachers and paraprofessionals learn more about inclusion. As an instructor at Western Illinois University, she helps facilitate the Little Learners program for graduate students in speech-language pathology.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Show Highlights:</strong></p><ul><li>How Julie became involved in training teachers and professionals</li><li>How Julie’s pilot program, Little Learners, is working at Western Illinois University</li><li>How the objectives are measured in the Little Learners program regarding language, literacy, and socio-emotional skills (with parent input)</li><li>How surveys were distributed to parents in a multiple-choice format so they could choose their top objectives, based on their child’s specific needs</li><li>How the Little Learners coordinates objectives, goals, baseline data, and progress</li><li>How first-year graduate students gain initial experience in the Little Learners program before they branch out to classrooms in the community</li><li>How the Little Learners program helps graduate students at a ground-floor level to be the ones to effect change for inclusive education–all because of their “real-world experience”</li></ul><br/><p><strong>Links/Resources:</strong></p><p>Connect with Julie through<a href="http://www.wiu.edu/cofac/spa/directory/curless.php" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Email</a> if you have questions about her work and the Little Learners program at WIU.&nbsp;</p><p>Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learni