Advocating for Full Inclusion: Every Student Deserves Belonging with Sandra McElwee
From Think Inclusive by Tim Villegas
April 17, 2026 · 1h 2m · Season 13 · Episode 29
About this episode
Sandra McElwee discusses her advocacy for inclusive education and the challenges families face in the educational system.
Sandra McElwee is a prominent advocate for inclusive education and disabilities rights, known for her role as Sean's mom from the Emmy-winning reality TV series, "Born This Way." With over three decades of experience advocating for individuals with disabilities, Sandra has been a pillar of support and change within the inclusive education community. She is an author, public speaker, and independent facilitator writing Person-Centered Plans in California. In this episode of Think Inclusive, host Tim Villegas engages in a compelling conversation with Sandra McElwee, a pioneering advocate for inclusive education. As the mother of Sean, famously known from the TV show "Born This Way," Sandra shares her journey of challenging educational norms to ensure her son had an inclusive education from the 1990s onwards. This episode explores the transformative power of inclusion in schools and the uphill battle families often face within the educational system. Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/advocating-for-full-inclusion-every-student-deserves-belonging-with-sandra-mcelwee-1329/
People in this episode
Host: Tim Villegas
Guest: Sandra McElwee
Topics covered
- inclusive education
- disabilities rights
- advocacy
- educational norms
- family support
- transformative power of inclusion
Keywords
- inclusive education
- disabilities rights
- Sandra McElwee
- Tim Villegas
- Born This Way
- advocacy
- educational challenges
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Born This Way
More episodes of Think Inclusive
- Patrick Mulick: Why "Bad Choice" Is the Wrong Language for Schools · June 9, 2026 · 53 min
- TerpsEXCEED: Making College Possible for All · May 28, 2026 · 27 min
- Rethinking Social Skills: Teaching Social Thinking for All Learners with Michelle Garcia Winner · April 23, 2026 · 47 min
- Building Inclusive Schools: From Belief to Practice with Michele Gardner · April 9, 2026 · 56 min
- Centering Disabled Students' Voices for True Inclusion and Justice with Dom Kelly · April 2, 2026 · 58 min
- Beyond Welcome: What Real Belonging Looks Like in Schools with Megan Ohlssen · March 19, 2026 · 60 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Think Inclusive podcast page.