In her TEDx talk, special needs teacher Ashley Parker shares how teaching inclusion starts with modeling empathy and respect from a young age. She explains how simple, everyday interactions can help children understand and embrace differences. Drawing from her classroom experiences, Ashley shows how inclusive education benefits all students, not just those with special needs. Her message is clear: when we teach kids to value every voice, we build a kinder, more understanding world. Ashley Parker is an Intervention aide at the school. In this role, she provides support to students who need extra assistance with educational and life skills. She has been in this career field for 10 years, with 6 of those years spent in the Olentangy school district. Ashley is fortunate to have not only graduated from Liberty High School but also to have returned as a teacher. Throughout the years, she has gained valuable insights both as a student and as a teacher, and she is excited to share what she has learned. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 4:59Lego in the Classroom | Henry Sullivan | TEDxRiverfield Country Day SchoolHenry Sullivan makes a compelling case for bringing Lego into classrooms, showing how these small bricks can unlock big learning in math, history, science, and engineering—one stud at a time. Henry Sullivan is the son of Shane and Lindy Sullivan of Jenks, Oklahoma. Henry Sullivan is a fourth-grade student at Riverfield Country Day School. In his free time, he enjoys reading, Lego, playing with his dog, and playing video games.For this year’s TEDx event, Henry Sullivan is speaking about Lego, exploring the ways they could be incorporated into the classroom. He is excited to share his ideas and inspire others through his presentation. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 3:35The Movement of Art | Elliot Tait | TEDxRiverfield Country Day SchoolThis talk invites listeners to see art not just as paintings or sculptures, but as a universal language found in everyday life. Through personal experiences, Elliot Tait explores how art can challenge us, move us, and help us heal—revealing that art is not always simple, but always meaningful. Elliot Tait is the daughter of Amber, a teacher, and Nicholas Tait, a lawyer, and is the sister of McKinley. A 4th grade student at Riverfield Country Day School, Elliot has been passionate about art and creative writing from her earliest days. She also enjoys playing basketball, gaming, her two dogs, and entertaining the fantasy of having her own cat.For this year’s TEDX event, Elliot is presenting a message about the power of art. Specifically, she will discuss how art has incited her own passion and the potential for art to inspire others. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
