SWIFT is excited to launch the new SWIFT Family and Community Newsletter, geared specifically for family and community members! Sign up for the newsletter here and share this link with family and community members in your district to spread the information about the academic, social, and behavioral benefits for all students involved in equity-based inclusive education.  

"My child belongs in my heart; he belongs in our family; and he belongs in our local school."

        - Sue Swenson, Deputy Assistant Secretary, OSERS, US DOE

SWIFT in 2017

PEAK Parent Center Conference on Inclusive Education: Denver, CO, February 9-10, 2017

Focus on Inclusion: Indianapolis, IN, February 21-22, 2017

"SWIFT Schools in NH," NH Association of Special Education Administrators Annual Conference: Portsmouth, NH, March 16, 2017

SWIFT Unscripted is a monthly podcast featuring guests from among the SWIFT community.  A transcript link for each SWIFT Unscripted podcast is available at the end of its description.

Have you listened to our latest podcasts?

Dr. Amy Carter, Superintendent of Meridian (Mississippi) Public School District—a SWIFT partner—shares how educators and families in her community are collaborating to improve educational outcomes for all students.

Sue Swenson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, offers wisdom from her personal journey as a mother promoting inclusion for her son, Charlie, as well as her role guiding special education policy for the US DOE.

SWIFT Talk is SWIFT’s blog where you can find excellent articles from various members of the SWIFT community.

While more families and schools are opting for inclusive classrooms, they may find the transition daunting, especially in the beginning. Dr. Mary Schuh’s latest post, “Transitioning to an Inclusive Setting: 5 Strategies for Districts, Schools, and Families” offers ideas to ease the process.

Read about New Hampshire’s scaling up efforts from 8 to 20 partner schools and their focus on family and community engagement HERE.

Do you like to write and have a story to share about equity-based inclusive education? SWIFT welcomes submissions that advance the practice of equity, excellence, and All Means All. Click HERE for submission guidelines.

Webinar Wednesdays

SWIFT Webinars are free, closed captioned, and live on the third Wednesday of every month via Adobe Connect on topics related to SWIFT Domains and Features. Recordings, notes, and transcripts of all webinars can be downloaded from the Multi Media section of SWIFT Shelf.

We are delighted to have the University of Kansas Medical Center's Dr. Winnie Dunn—a leading expert and down-to-earth researcher—with us again for our next webinar about strength-based approaches and creating frameworks for reflective questioning to achieve All Means All.

Focus on Strengths: Imagine the Possibilities: February 1, 2017 at 12pm CST.

Upcoming webinars: "Family and Community Engagement" by Drs. Grace Francis and Shawna Haines, February 15, 2017 at 12pm CST.