Inclusion Matters Education Program

10/26/2026

We’re excited to be part of the 2026 Inclusion Done Right! Conference at Stony Brook University in Long Island, NY on November 6!

Our CEO/Co-Founder, Tiffany Harris, will deliver the keynote address, “The Transformative Power of Inclusive Play,” while our Education Program Manager, Blanca Villareal, will lead a breakout session focused on our early childhood education program, Inclusive Steps, and the importance of inclusion in early childhood. (earlychildhood.inclusionmatters.org/steps)

We look forward to connecting with educators, advocates, and community leaders who share our commitment to creating a world where everyone belongs!

Learn more and register for free at healthprofessions.stonybrookmedicine.edu/cce/IDR26. Registration deadline is November 1, 2026.

Those interested in Certificates of Attendance/Continuing Education Units (CEUs) can pay $50 for 5 contact hours/.5 CEUs.

10/16/2026

Hope to see you all there!

Every BOO-dy Has a Voice at My PlayClub: Goblin Gathering!

Join us for a spook-tacular Halloween celebration where children of ALL abilities can enjoy festive activities, make new friends, and discover that every voice matters!

This year, we're proud to bring the spirit of LA2050's Party at the Polls initiative to Goblin Gathering with our own “Every BOO-dy Has a Voice: An Inclusive Party at the Polls!”

Kids can cast their votes for their favorite Halloween dance song, playground equipment, and Halloween treat at our accessible Kids' Polling Place. We'll announce the winners and put their choices into action, showing children that their voices count!

We're also excited to welcome the City of Los Angeles Office of the City Clerk's Election Division, which will share information about Same-Day Voter Registration for parents and caregivers.

Plus, enjoy pumpkin decorating, face painting, our Sensory Spook Tent, a Halloween Costume Parade, treats, and plenty of inclusive playground fun!

Hosted by Universal Studios Hollywood.

Saturday, October 24, 2026
10:30 AM–1:00 PM
Solano Canyon Playground, Elysian Park
835 Academy Road, Los Angeles, CA 90012

FREE EVENT! RSVP today:
inclusionmatters.org/my-playclub

Because every BOO-dy belongs, and every voice matters!

10/14/2026

Halloween is for everyone! Spooky season is just around the corner, and we are celebrating with some incredible, adaptive costume ideas designed so that every child can join in on the fun comfortably and confidently.

Adaptive Costume Tips: Make Halloween accessible by using lightweight panels to turn wheelchairs into themed vehicles, choosing soft, tagless layers for sensory comfort, or opting for adaptive garments with hidden flaps for easy medical access.

We want to hear from our community!
What are your children or students dressing up as this year? Do you have any brilliant DIY adaptive hacks or go-to shops for accessible costumes? Drop your ideas and recommendations in the comments below!

• Image 1: A smiling young man in a wheelchair celebrates at an inclusive playground inside a custom DIY bathtub costume, complete with fake bubbles and a rubber duck, alongside two supportive friends.

• Image 2: A young child sits in a wheelchair customized to look like Oscar the Grouch's trash can, featuring a bright orange "SCRAM!" sign taped to the front.

• Image 3: A smiling young girl dressed as Cinderella sits in a wheelchair fitted with an elaborate blue and gold Disney princess carriage cover.

10/08/2026

Make Room for Every Student Voice!

True inclusion starts with listening! Students know what makes them feel welcomed, valued, and included. When schools listen to their voices, they create stronger communities where everyone belongs.

This Inclusive Schools Week (December 7–11), encourage students to share their ideas! Ask, listen, act, and respond. Discover simple activities and resources to help every student have a voice.

Read about Student Voice: inclusiveschools.org/resource/student-voice-in-inclusive-schools/

Explore Inclusive Schools Week activities: inclusiveschools.org/isw-activities/2026/

Join the celebration! We invite schools to partner with Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration for Inclusive Schools Week 2026. Sign up your school today!

inclusionmatters.org/launified

10/06/2026

"Celebrating Our Inclusion Champions this World Teachers' Day!

Today is World Teachers' Day, and we are incredibly honored to spotlight two phenomenal educators who know what true inclusion is all about.

Meet Denise Emmerson and Knarik Alajian, Special Education PALS teachers at Burbank Elementary School!

For over 15 years, Denise and Knarik have been bringing their incredible students on our Together We Are Able field trips, creating unforgettable experiences outside the classroom. In this video, they look back on this long-standing partnership with our organization and share exactly how and why inclusion works so beautifully on their campus. They remind us all that true school community has no barriers.

To Denise, Knarik, and all the special education teachers who partner with us year after year to break down walls thank you for your passion, your brilliance, and your unwavering dedication. We are so proud to stand with you in molding a more inclusive world.

👉 Watch the video below to hear their inspiring insights!"

10/01/2026

During our Together We Are Able field trip at Rocket’s Universe, these three students came together to play, explore, and experience the playground side by side. What started as a buddy activity quickly became something more: a genuine friendship.

In this video, they share what they loved about the playground and, most importantly, that they’re all friends now.
That’s the power of inclusive play.

Children don’t need a lesson on how to be friends. They need opportunities to play together, discover what they have in common, and see each other for who they are. On a playground, conversations happen, laughter happens, confidence grows, and friendships can form faster than we ever could have planned.
This is what happens when every child has a place to play and everyone has someone to play with.

Because sometimes, friendship starts with something as simple as, “Do you want to play?”

09/21/2026

Monday Morning Leaderboard!

It’s event week! Our 29th Annual Once Upon a Run, Walk & Roll, presented by Wells Fargo, is THIS SUNDAY, September 27, and these incredible fundraisers and teams are leading the charge for inclusion! We are so grateful for your valiant efforts!

Top Individual Fundraisers:

1. Valerie Hambas
2. Candace Weisz
3. Mark Demos
4. Scott Williams
5. Marci Moran
6. Carol Kurz
7. Robert Zagon & The Floor Center
8. Steve Bloom
9. Helen Hambas
10. Rachael Clarke

Top Fundraising Teams:

1. The Hambones
2. The Crowe That Laid the Golden Egg
3. Medieval Morans
4. Preferred Bank
5. Team Adina
6. Frandzel’s Court
7. Team NCIS
8. Wagon Wheel Walkers
9. Helen’s Inclusion Heroes
10. Inclusion Ever After

There’s still time to make this week count! Share your fundraising page, ask a few more friends and family members to support you, start a team, or make a donation. Every dollar raised supports our free, year-round programs for children of ALL abilities.

Once Upon a Run, Walk & Roll
Sunday, September 27
Shane’s Inspiration Playground • Griffith Park
7:00 AM — Registration & Exhibition Fair Opens
8:00 AM — Opening Ceremony with Brian Dietzen (NCIS) and ABC7’s Josh Haskell + Warm-Up
8:30 AM — 2.4-Mile Run, Walk & Roll
9:30 AM — Exhibition Fair Continues
11:00 AM — Exhibition Fair & Event Conclude

Registration is FREE! Join us or donate at bit.ly/rwr2026.

One week. One final push. Let’s make it count! Our kingdom needs YOU!

09/11/2026

Teachers, let’s celebrate the power of belonging!

Inclusive Schools Week is happening this December, and we want to feature the incredible ways your campus embraces every single learner.

Here is how you can take action today:

•Sign up now: Secure your spot to get free inclusion resources, curriculums, and tools. https://inclusionmatters.org/launified/

•Win Sponsor Prizes: Just by signing up, you will automatically get an entry into our opportunity drawing to win amazing prizes from our sponsors!

•Share your practices: What inclusion strategies are working on your campus right now?

•Tell your story: Comment below or tag us to share how social inclusion has transformed your school community or created unexpected friendships!

Let’s inspire each other and show the world why inclusion matters!

09/09/2026

Through our Together We Are Able field trips, students are paired as buddies and given the opportunity to learn, play, and connect with one another. And sometimes, those buddy connections grow into something even more special: pen pals.

One of those letters recently touched our hearts:

“Dear D’ari,

I am so happy that I got to go to Aidan’s Place with you and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. It was really nice meeting you and I hope to do it again. You are so sweet and loving and warm everybody’s heart when you are nearby. You are a great musician and I can’t wait to see what you do when you get older because of how bright you are. Thank you for being my buddy and the best buddy.

From,
Noam”

Sometimes, a field trip doesn’t end when the bus leaves. Sometimes, it starts a friendship.


Image Description: A child's handwritten note on lined paper reads, "Thank you for being my buddy and the best buddy. From, Noam." Below, a marker drawing shows two smiling figures holding hands—one in a blue shirt raising a mallet, and one with pigtails—standing between a yellow playground music panel and a wheelchair.