Join host Carrie Basas and guest Taina Karru-Olsen in a lively discussion about family engagement, disability justice, and the importance of inclusive education. Taina shares insights from her personal journey as a parent of a multiply disabled child, and the creation of Inclusion for All, a grassroots movement advocating for systemic change. Together, they explore the power of community, what parent groups often get wrong, the limitations of traditional advocacy, and the need for schools to foster environments of belonging for all students. Rooted in WA is produced by Roots of Inclusion (rootsofinclusion.org) with support from the WA Statewide Family Engagement Center (https://wasfec.org).

Join host Carrie Basas as she chats with guest Jim Chambers about the challenges facing families affected by incarceration. They discuss Jim's experiences of family engagement after serving a 23-year prison sentence and his advocacy work. Jim shares his journey from incarceration to becoming a peer leader in prison programs such as Long Distance Dads and an ally with the Black Prisoners Caucus. They delve into the challenges of reintegration, the barriers faced by incarcerated parents, the judgments that others can make about our worst moments, and the importance of supportive relationships. Jim also talks about the clemency process, working toward systemic change, and his hopes for building a better future for his family. Rooted in WA is produced by Roots of Inclusion (rootsofinclusion.org) with support from the WA Statewide Family Engagement Center (https://wasfec.org).

Join host Carrie Basas and guest Anna Zivarts, author of When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency (Island Press, 2024), as they discuss family engagement and the personal experiences of parenting with a disability and as a non-driver. Anna shares her journey as a low-vision parent, her family's history with nystagmus, transportation equity activism, and the challenges and triumphs of raising a child with a disability. They delve into the importance of disability identity, community connections, disability-identifying providers, and the role of public policies in creating inclusive environments and robust transportation systems. This episode sheds light on the impact of systemic barriers and the power of advocacy in shaping a more accessible world for all. Rooted in WA is produced by Roots of Inclusion (rootsofinclusion.org) with support from the WA Statewide Family Engagement Center (https://wasfec.org).