Ollibean Think Tank

The Case for Inclusion: Does All Really Mean All?

Tim Villegas of Think Inclusive on the motivation to change from educating students with disabilities in segregated settings to inclusive settings where all means all.

A Sister Stands with Her Brother: I Am Heard, I Am Important, and I Am Included

No one wants to be the excluded one, the one to stand alone in silence, the one left out of the conversation. No one wants to be forgotten. So why are some individuals treated this way? Luckily it just takes one person to stand up and include, and the rest will follow. Be that person, take a stand, make a difference.

Musings from an Autism Outsider – Seeing the Full Spectrum

When I started writing about disabilities, I’d been working with disabled people for over fifteen years. I’d been in schools and agencies as the

Ollibean Think Tank Member Tim Villegas

My hope is that ThinkInclusive.us can create a bridge between educators, parents, and advocates (including self-advocates) to promote ideas, innovation and inspiration to change our world to be more accepting and value each and every human being.

I Am Disabled and I Am Proud

‎"Polite society often tells us that we need to take the 'dis' out of disability, but maybe... just maybe, we should spend some time putting it back in. Take the "dis" out of disability and you remove the core of what has shaped my life. Disability puts the "D" in diversity, but in order to make that a real difference we've got to own that spot. It took me 35 years to respect and honor that truth. Others shouldn't have to wait that long..." Lawrence Carter-Long

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This is not directed at anyone in particular. It is about several people I’ve met throughout my life. I sometimes need to remind myself that being me means following my own agenda and not pleasing the ones who will not be part of my story.

Autism and Psychiatric Diagnoses

At different times during my growing up and even during my adult years autism wasn’t something people knew much about. I often came in front of

The Presumption of Competence

Presumption of competence is more than an abstract idea. It has real and concrete effects. Here is one: it is better than a makeover.

My Voice, My Life : A Poem by Amy Sequenzia

This powerful poem from the book “MY VOICE, Autism, Life and Dreams” by self-advocate Amy Sequenzia says so much. We

Amy Sequenzia: Respect How I Choose to Speak

I type my words because I am non-speaking. One of my disabilities, or one characteristic of my disability, is that my body does not move like my brain wants.

That of course, includes my arm. And

The Case for Inclusion Part Two: What Does Inclusion Look Like?

It should always be the objective of public education to serve all students no matter what their disability label. It should always be the objective to give the right amount of support for all children.

Autistic Man, Jesse Saperstein Free Falls to End Bullying

Best-selling author, autism advocate and motivational speaker Jesse A. Saperstein is spreading an Anti-Bullying movement across America with his “Free-Falling to End Bullying in 2012” YouTube video hoping to put an end to torment in and out of the classroom.