In this first part of the two-part series on the Inclusive Education Roadmap (IER) by the TIES center, Dr. Diane Ryndak gives us a general overview of the work done for sustainable systemic change in inclusive education at the state, district, and school. After getting together a diverse Equitable Inclusive Leadership Team (EILT), the second step of the Inclusive Education Roadmap is called RISE (Reflecting on Inclusive Systems of Support). The school Leadership Team is led to deeply reflect and engage in critical discussions about their system's current use of inclusive educational practices for all students, including students with significant cognitive disabilities.

"Systems change is not quick and easy," Dr. Ryndak shares. "We are still doing what we did decades ago." Several easy-to-use tools for implementing inclusive education were identified in their extensive research, but they have not been effective in implementing sustainable change. The IER is a long process based on implementation science. "We are looking at a five to seven-year process." She says.

Dr.Ryndak is a Professor of Specialized Education Services at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Her lifelong career is focused on inclusive education and access to the general curriculum for students with extensive support needs, student outcomes achieved by inclusive services, preservice teacher preparation, and technical assistance for sustainable school reform efforts related to inclusive education.

⁠The TIES Center's Inclusive Education Roadmap⁠- https://publications.ici.umn.edu/ties/ties-ier-rise/introduction

Contact Dr. Diane Ryndak at dlryndak@uncg.edu. 

Check out our website- www.inclusiveoccupations.com

Podcast transcript with audio available at Otter. ai