Episode 111: Promoting Inclusion with Kayla Coburn of Inclusion Starts Now

Kayla Coburn is a children's book author and the founder of Inclusion Starts Now. She has worked in education since 2010 and is now a parent of two kids figuring out strategies to raise inclusive kids. Kayla works as an inclusion specialist to support families and schools to incorporate inclusive practices.

In this episode, Kayla shared her journey as an educator, from teaching gymnastics to working in the deaf-blind field. She shared why she started Inclusion Starts Now and how her business has evolved.

 
 
 
 
 

Read the transcript for this episode:

Welcome to Educator Forever, where we empower teachers to innovate education. Join us each week to hear stories of teachers expanding their impacts beyond the classroom and explore ways to reimagine teaching and learning.

Kayla Coburn is the founder of Inclusion Starts Now. She has worked in education since 2010 and is now a parent of two kids figuring out strategies to raise inclusive kids. She works as an inclusion specialist to support families and schools on best inclusive practices. She has also self published three children's books all about disability inclusion. Welcome, Kayla. So nice to have you here.


Kayla Coburn  

Oh, thank you, Lily. Thanks for having me


Lily Jones  

Absolutely. So I would love for you to start us off by telling us about your journey as an educator.


Kayla Coburn  

Yeah. So it all kind of started when I was about to go to college and I didn't know what major I wanted, and my mom was like, Well, you've always wanted to be a teacher. Why don't you just do that? And I was like, Oh, that's weird. Like, how would you know that I've always wanted to be a teacher? And then, like, throughout my years of college, I looked back at all these times that I was like, the teacher with my sister or my friends, where I was like, running a classroom, or like a talent show, like I was always leading these, like organized learning events. Really did not see, I don't know how I'd like, never thought to connect it, but yeah, then I just went to school and got into it was, like a Liberal Studies major and then a special education minor, and then it turned into just like, special education teaching credential that, yeah, I mean, and then it just really was, like, every part of my life I'm like, Wow, this makes so much sense why I'm here, like this, everything fell together pretty nicely, so, and that was like 2000 I think 2010 I was a para, and so that's where I, like, started being in the classroom.


Lily Jones  

Nice. That's great. And then what happened from there? 


Kayla Coburn  

So it was two years and as a para, while I finished undergrad. Oh, yeah, okay, so that must be, right, maybe I was like, two and a half years or something. Because then I had, like, the emergency teaching credential, you know, because teachers are just like, in need all the time, yes, um. And so I was, like, in grad school while having my first year teaching Um, and yeah, just loved it. And I did, oh, you know what? I messed up my entire timeline, 2010 I started teaching gymnastics. That's nice, yeah, cool. I am not like a gymnast. I'm very tall. I'm like almost six feet, and I I love gymnastics, but I'm not very good at it. So I taught little kids and and, yeah, so that was where I started teaching. Then I was a para, then I was a teacher, and then moving had me switching my job a couple of times, and I ended up in the deaf blind field, where I was working as an education specialist for California Deaf Blind Services. And then Helen Keller National Center, and I really loved that. But then I moved to Washington, and I couldn't bring my job with me, and then I was like, I'll just start my own inclusion consulting business. 


Lily Jones  

Yeah. Well, it seems amazing, and I'm curious, just going back to what you said about when you first started thinking about, or maybe not thinking about, being a teacher, and think and reflecting on like, Oh, I've been doing this, and that feels like me. Did it feel like you when you actually were in the classroom? Like, did that feel natural to you? 


Kayla Coburn  

Yeah, I do feel like it made a lot of sense. And even like, at the beginning, like, my first year teaching, I loved it. Like, I think as a para, I was struggling not being the teacher. And so I did. I did really enjoy it, but I what made me leave the classroom at the end was just, like, the unfairness with, like, district stuff, or like the common like, if you're a good teacher, they like, give you more students, but you're like, asking for support, and they're not doing that. So that was, like, there was just some barriers that I was getting really frustrated with. And I was like, You know what? I'm going to find a different way to go about this. So, and then I had kids that also put me at home. So I'm at home now, doing the inclusion starts now thing whenever I can. And then I like, substitute teach if you know there's a free day.


Lily Jones  

So probably rarely, I know what it's like to have young kids, very rare, but that's great. I mean, I think having that connection to the classroom is always a good thing. And I love what you're doing at inclusion starts now. So can you tell us a little bit about it, what you offer? You talked about how you started it, you know, after a move and having kids and any other kind of thoughts behind the impetus of it.


Kayla Coburn  

Yeah, um, so it actually all started when I was a teacher and I made some random Instagram account that, you know, yeah, great everybody did years ago. Yeah, and so my Instagram account has been on, I don't know, for years, because it was like I was teaching, and then I stopped caring about it, and then I was teaching again, so I would show some pictures, and then I stopped, and then, and then, I think it must have been like during COVID Or after having one of my kids, I was like, I'm going to start posting more stuff. Because, like, now all these fun trends, whatever it was, and then the more I started posting, the more people I had reaching out to me that were like, Oh my gosh, our school needs help with this. Like, how can you help us? And so it really just started showing me, like, how many educators and parents were struggling, including all different types of learners in the classroom. And so then it's been like a pretty rocky road of trying to figure out what people need or like want to pay for. But it's it's been like an array of things. What I kind of say is like, inclusion looks different on everybody. So my my support is going to look different on everybody, because it depends on, like, what you need and where you are, with supporting your students. So it can look very different. I've done like a wide range of things. So I've done like virtual, I've done like virtual professional developments or trainings, and they can tell me whatever time, like, if I made one for paras, and it was like 310 minute videos that they could watch on their own time. But they don't have a lot of extra time to watch things, so I had to, like, create a whole lesson in like, a very short amount of time. And then sometimes, like, if I go in and I support, I've been, like, asked to come in present on like, different types of techniques. But now that I have kids, I've kind of been focusing on, like, raising inclusive kids, because it does take everyone to, you know, take the time to educate people on disability awareness and different ways of communicating and just regulated behavior and all that.


Lily Jones  

That's great. And I totally relate to after having kids, how it kind of shifts your perspective sometimes on education, like I know I had taught kindergarten and first grade, and then had my daughter, who's now 12, and I have a nine year old too, and it just changed my whole perspective on things, of being like, Oh, I knew that learning happened before kindergarten, but not firsthand. So really, thinking about all the little steps that go into making humans who they are, I think it's just an interesting way to shift it a little bit.


Kayla Coburn  

Yeah, I think. And I, what I tell a lot of people is, like, what I learned getting a credential in special education? Well, first I say, what I learned about working in the deaf, blind field is really helpful for like, all, like, a lot of learners, but a lot of learners with disabilities. And then just like everything I learned as a special ed teacher, I feel like is really beneficial just to like, again, all kids, and yeah, there's just so much learning to be had. And I definitely it's funny to think back as like, being a teacher without kids, and I remember just being like, like, I don't know, why is it so hard to bring a jacket every day and now I'm here? Yeah, it is really don't want to wear their darn jackets,


Lily Jones  

Absolutely. Mine neither, or their shoes.


Kayla Coburn  

Oh my gosh. We have this rule where I'm like, please get your shoes out of the car. You can take them off, but you just have to bring them into the house. Please.


Lily Jones  

Yes, please, please, absolutely. And so kind of thinking about both sides of it, of being in the classroom and supporting teachers and educators and being a parent. I would love to see if you have any advice on raising inclusive kids and promoting inclusion in schools. Yeah,


Kayla Coburn  

I am very leading. Leading by example, is like, really the best way to go with and I feel like the most important area is like, our language that we use, and that means, like, even behind closed doors, when you're like, just with your partner or just with your closest friends, that like, your language needs To continue to stay, like, inclusive and helpful. And that's something my partner and I didn't change until we had kids that could hear us, and basically, or could hear us, could copy us. Then they started copying things we said, and we were like, Oh, I don't really like that. You're saying the B word. Like, I guess I didn't realize I was saying it so much so that is, like, a great place to start, and that I'm like, and I don't think people always think about different situations where, like, like, if a kid is having a big meltdown, and to turn around and be like, Oh, glad that's not you guys. Or like, I'm happy I'm not in that place or, you know, and even. In our head. I feel like there was this great video where this girl, this teacher, was talking to her students, and she was like, if you have something that you said in your mind and it's not nice, like, that's okay, but try again and like, keep trying until you get to that nice thing that you're going to say. Because, yeah, I feel like that that is definitely something that has benefited us, because it it like kind of makes their mindset more inclusive and understanding, and then having representation in the house, I think is so important. I'm white, my husband is white. Both of our kids are white. I mean, we are like a cisgender, straight, white family, and so we and as of now, none of us have disabilities, so we are very we make a lot of effort to have toys that don't look like us, and watch TV shows where the main character is not a white person. And we just tried. And it's not that we don't ever watch shows with white people. It's just that it's so easy to find us represented in places. So it's like, we do take the effort to be like, you know, we are going to do this. And I also look for inclusive stuff, like inclusive playgrounds or places for kids that say that they're inclusive. Because I'm like, Yeah, I want to be around like a variety of people. So those are probably my few biggest tips.


Lily Jones  

Those are great, yeah, and it's so important for kids, the environments that they grow up in and what they're exposed to from the very beginning. So I love those tips, particularly about like, what you can add to your house to increase the diversity even within your own house, and environments that you can bring your kids to that might be more inclusive or look differently than your own home. 


Kayla Coburn  

Yeah, it's so yeah, because, and I mean, already I can see, like, my four year old is like, we'll be out, and she can, I mean, I don't know if I totally like that. She does this right now, but whenever she sees someone, like, using a wheelchair or a walker or something, she'll be like, Look, they have a disability, and they can do what we're doing. Like, she tries to make it like, I can see where she's coming from, but I'm like, okay, you don't you don't always have to, like, call it out. You could just, like, just be normal, be here together, but, but, yeah, but I do. I think it's so important that, because I just feel like there's a lot of like, internalized or there's just a lot of ableism that people don't even really see, that they have. And yeah, so I'm just trying really hard to be like, you know, kind of normalizing everybody's differences for my kids, and then, I don't know, I guess we'll see how they turn out. 


Lily Jones  

I bet they'll be great. And then having the conversation, like kids notice all sorts of differences, right? So having the conversation so that you can be at the forefront of whatever they're thinking, you know, and talk about it together, rather than kind of like you're reflecting on the language you may have been using, you know, unintentionally, like kids pick up all these unintentional messages so that they might get if they're not explicit. And so I think having those explicit conversations can be so important.


Kayla Coburn  

yeah, and it's it's also, like, so important to have those conversations like, before they experience it for like, I think it also, like, prepares the parent, and then it gives you language to, like, fall back on. So if you're like, you know, they've already seen people with limb differences or using wheelchairs or AC devices in our house. So then when we go out and they see it, they're like, oh, that's like, the character, my book, cool. I should go say hi. Like, it's, it's not like this fear of the unknown. They're like, they know about it, and they're like, cool, another friend, which is great. And then if they do talk about it, I'm also more prepared, because I'm like, oh, it's like, our character.


Lily Jones  

Yeah, you have this tool, yes, totally common language. Like, one thing to draw up over connect to. And I think literature can be such a huge part of that too. Like, that's such a great way to bring all these different experiences into your own houses. And I know that you've written some books. So can you tell us about those and how that came about?


Kayla Coburn  

I probably should have had. As you can see, this is where they live. These are all my boxes behind me, and then they're poorly displayed all the way back there. But yeah, I think the first one started out very, more like therapeutic for myself. I wrote it I don't like years ago, and then I never really knew what I was going to do with it, which I feel like is a lot of people that I've now met who have, like, been self published authors, because you just, like, have this idea that you like haven't seen, so you write it down, and then I had to find an illustrator, because I attempted to draw it, and it was terrible. It was so bad. I was like, I don't know why I thought I could easily do this. Yes, and then kind of just figured out the whole process, which took a while, and but yeah, so the first one is called Tyler the snake. And Tyler is deaf blind, and he's just bringing the reader through his day at school, or getting to school, and you meet some of his friends, and some of them, just like, have different kinds of needs, of like, you know, they want to run around right before school starts because they have so much energy. But then there's others that, like, one of them is blind and uses a white cane, and so it just like, kind of gives the language for parents to also educate themselves while they're, like, reading this book. And then the next one was Dallas, the dog. And Dallas has a cerebral palsy, but I don't think I ever say that she uses a wheelchair, um, because that's the barrier that is talked about for trick or treating. But it's all about how to make trick or treating inclusive. And they have a friend who celebrates Dia de los Muertos. And then I also have two dads in that book. Oh, and I have a like, a boy character dressed as a girl, like as Wonder Woman, because, you know, trying to just throw in any sort of inclusive outlook that I can. And then the third one is Miguel the chameleon, and he is a new student. He is a lily difference, and he goes into the classroom and learns about all the different holidays people celebrate during December. I shouldn't say people. They're all animals, and then, yeah, and not all of them have disabilities, because that's the whole point of like an inclusive setting, is that it's not like a segregated special education classroom. And then some of their needs are needs that are just like, like, running around before you're about to sit for an hour. I mean, yeah, how many people do, like, that's so there's not, like, a clear diagnosis or disability for every character, but it just talks about, like, all the different needs and ways of communicating and our preferences and that we all still want to be friends and support each other.


Lily Jones  

That's so cool. And I love just the process of creating these books, and, like you said, having an idea and then putting it out there in the world, and being able to also use your expertise to create these different story lines, I just think is an interesting way to kind of influence different settings.


Kayla Coburn  

 Yeah, yeah. It definitely was like, I just, you know, wanted people and I they are kind of long I didn't mean for them to be so wordy. I mean, they're not like that wordy, but I, but I also just didn't want parents to not know, like, how to have the conversation about disabilities like I wanted it to be, like you don't have to have a reflection question ready, like you could just go through the book and everyone will probably learn something. That's the teacher in me, I guess,


Lily Jones  

Absolutely a great conversation starter, yeah. And so shifting gears a little bit to your own experience growing inclusion starts now. I'd love to hear what you've learned through the process.


Kayla Coburn  

Oh, man, well, I learned that I know nothing about business. I knew nothing about that. So, like, I had to learn about funnels and like, and I'm a huge consumer. Like, I definitely have like, a shopping problem, so I it was, like, interesting to learn about how people get you to, like, feel like you need something, but I also don't like being sneaky about any of it. Like, I try to be very honest with my price. I also try to be very like, negotiable, like, if it doesn't work, like, I'm willing to find it a way for it to work. And so there's just, like, a I guess I was very blown away by how different so many people do business in the world. So that has definitely been a learning curve, and the paperwork and, like, taxes every year, those were things that I mean, thankfully, my partner is a tax lawyer, so that, like, right, we get to, like, sit down and do it together, which is really nice. He has, like, some sort of understanding, but it's still, like, I wish I could be making enough money to, like, have someone else to do all those things that I find boring. 


Lily Jones  

I think it's really hard at the beginning too. Like, I remember when I first started my business being in the same boat of, like, I don't know how to do this. And then I. Kind of learn how to do that, like, those things, and then I was able to outsource it to people. So it's like, you'll get there eventually. But I think the in between is really hard, and it's also really good, because, like, yeah, like, now I have a bookkeeper, but I kind of know a little bit about what she's doing, like, enough to know if she's doing it well or, like, what questions to ask. So I do think it's helpful, but also super overwhelming at the beginning. 


Kayla Coburn  

Yeah. How, when did you start your business?


Lily Jones  

Um, to I mean, I feel like I've started various things over the years. I left the classroom when my daughter was born, 12 years ago, and then I started consulting and writing curriculum, and then I started educator forever, probably 2017 or so, 2018 and so, yeah, I guess seven or eight years ago. 


Kayla Coburn  

Okay, well, that feels promising. Then you'll get there a year, year and a half in, kind of. 


Lily Jones  

Totally, yes, yes, you'll get there. And I think that it's just like, it's interesting hearing you reflect on that there are so many different ways to do business. I think that's true. There's not really, like best practices that people talk about in the same way as education, right? Where we're like, Yeah, this is like, research based, and it's best practice. And like, great, we know it works. And then in business, it's kind of like Wild West situation sometimes, like, Who do you believe? And like, what do they really know what they're talking about? And like, what is best practice? So I think it's a little bit more all over the place. 


Kayla Coburn  

I totally agree. And it's like, all about, you know, who's well, I don't even like using all these words, but the whole like finding your target audience and everything. And I'm like, I don't know. Like, I don't really want to target anybody if they like. I just want people to want to learn about it. This is, like, been hard, like, having people tell me that I like, have to be talking to people and getting into their messaging and and I'm like, I don't know. I don't like it, when people even do that to me, I'll, like, block them. So yeah,


Lily Jones  

I mean, I think you do it in a way that feels good to you. I mean, I think it's just like, Yeah, I would never do something that you're like, oh, that doesn't feel good when other people do it to me. Like, I think you have the right inclination. And it's like, that's what people resonate with, and I think particularly now, where it's like, everyone's been hit up for all sorts of crazy businesses online, and so it's like, just being authentic. I think is the best way to go.


Kayla Coburn  

I think so too. And it's always like, someone will comment on a video, and I'm like, Oh, cool. They're engaged, they're learning, and then they're messaging me, like, Hey, I have this opportunity. I'm like, dang it! You hooked me. 


Lily Jones  

Well, I think it definitely takes some experimentation, and also just like, yeah, cutting through to what you feel aligned to, and like, putting out content that people will find helpful, I think, is the best way to go. You know, like, it's like businesses are really about helping people, and sometimes it involves putting ourselves out there, maybe more than we would feel comfortable doing, but we can do it in ways that feel good. 


Kayla Coburn  

Yes, I do have a really hard time, like, selling myself like I wasn't even going to bring up my books when we were talking about books. I probably should. I, like Bucha, yeah.


Lily Jones  

I mean, it's great. And I think that's something that's also hard for teachers, you know, to sell ourselves, or even like, I mean, I think, like, it's a whole system that, like, tells teachers that our experience isn't maybe as valuable as some other people's experiences. And so I think we internalize a lot of that too, of being like, Oh, I'm like, quote, unquote, just a teacher. And so it feels really uncomfortable to talk about our experience. But actually, we are education experts, and people need to hear from us. 


Kayla Coburn  

Yeah, oh yeah. I feel like teachers are just, I mean, oh my god. What we how I try to explain it to my friends. Well, I guess how it starts is, I'm like, what do you do at your job all day? Like, can you really explain? And most of them are like, I send out emails and I wait for people to email me back, and then I do another email. And I'm just like, that's like, so crazy. Because like, I like, I have this visual schedule that I can show you what we're doing all day, and then I could probably just document the amount of times that, like, you know, here's the schedule, like this nice straight line, and the teachers just like the squiggly line going back and forth trying to, like, you know, support the students and support the other like, staff in the classroom and, like, there's just So many juggling parts. But it definitely trained me to be a good mom and good parent. 


Lily Jones  

Yeah, definitely,. And so many things seem easy to me after being a teacher. Well, yeah, like, oh, even I, like, with my two kids, I'm like, oh, there's only two kids here. Cool.


Kayla Coburn  

Sometimes I'm like, maybe I could. Go back to the classroom, like, like, I just feel it's, it was kind of interesting being in it, and then being out of it, and now looking back at it, like, do I want to go back in? I actually have this theory that I really want to try someday where I will go into a classroom for like, two years, I'll be at that school just to make it, like, an inclusive culture in their school, and then I'll bail. Yeah, cool, because I really do feel like it. I feel like that was the best way that I got it to happen, that when I was the teacher in schools, yeah, I was able to connect with everyone, but as a consult, it's like someone else has to have that drive, and then I can just give you all the resources and practices to do, but like, I can't make you do them. Yeah,


Lily Jones  

absolutely. Well, but I feel like there's also a model where you can, like, you could contract with a school for two years and like, yeah, be their coach and like, Go into all the classrooms, and that's the same thing. But it's like, you're on a coach level, so you're like, seeing what the teachers are doing and talking to them and leaving some PD, and that you can still do it for a long term, slash short term, like not forever. 


Kayla Coburn  

That actually is what I did at like, the end... Wait, the end of last year, beginning of this year. I don't even know time. Who knows time, but I did actually do that because I had a principal reach out to me in my area who asked for it, and I've tried to offer. I mean, it's hard when I'm like, saying that it could be done virtually too, but I am in an area where they're trying to increase inclusive practices, so I'm starting to get more involved, like with my school board and everything, and trying to, I mean, my kids aren't even in the public school system yet. They're four and two, so I'm like, the second you guys are in there, get ready because I'm going to be all over that school.


Lily Jones  

That's great, awesome. Well, Kayla, it's been so nice hearing about your experience and inclusion starts now. Can you tell people how they can connect with 


Kayla Coburn  

Um, yeah, you can find me on pretty much every social media platform as inclusion starts now. There are some different things on different platforms. I mean, like, YouTube has, like, some videos that are longer, but yeah, you can do that or email me at Kayla. Inclusion starts now.com.


Lily Jones  

Wonderful. Thanks so much. Kayla, yeah, thank


Kayla Coburn  

you for having me.


Transcribed by https://otter.ai



Lily Jones