Inclusion Matters Education Program

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.

08/12/2026

Happy First Day of School! The buses are rolling, the backpacks are packed, and a brand-new school year is officially here! As our students step into their classrooms and onto the playgrounds today, the Education Department at Inclusion Matters by Shane's Inspiration wishes everyone a fantastic first day back.

True inclusion means ensuring that every single student—no matter how they learn, communicate, play, or move—feels a true sense of belonging from day one. To help schools foster this connection year-round, we are officially accepting applications for our Together We Are Able (TWAA) Social-Emotional Education Program! Best of all, this is a completely free service for schools.

TWAA provides educators with the tools to challenge misconceptions, teach empathy, and build real playground reciprocity so that no student ever gets left on the sidelines.

Let's make this school year the most inclusive one yet! Bring TWAA to your school for free: https://inclusionmatters.org/ed-program-register-form/

06/16/2026

For nine years, Ms. Ramirez and Lockhurst Elementary's Buddy Program have shown that true inclusion is built through daily recess, classes, and year-round friendships. By pairing up students of all abilities, they are building empathy and a stronger community. That is the heart of Together, We Are Able®! Thank you, Lockhurst team!

04/07/2026

Soft sand, different textures, little hands exploring 🤲✨

Sensory play isn’t just about keeping kids busy—it helps them feel calm, stay present, and make sense of the world around them. What looks like simple scooping, pouring, and repeating is actually powerful learning in action.

It creates space for children to regulate, connect, and engage in ways that feel right for them—no pressure, just play. And sometimes, that’s exactly what they need.

At Inclusion Matters by Shane's Inspiration, we believe play should meet every child where they are.

11/19/2025