Inclusion Matters by Shane's Inspiration

09/04/2026

Music Connects Us.

Music has a way of bringing kids together—no words required.

From chimes and bells to drums and rhythm panels, musical play gives children of all abilities another way to express themselves, explore cause and effect, and connect with the kids around them. One child can start a beat, another can answer, and suddenly they’re making music together.

For children who communicate differently, music can be especially powerful. There’s no right way to participate—you can tap, listen, imitate, create, or simply feel the rhythm.

That’s why musical elements are such an important part of our inclusive playgrounds. They invite children to interact, respond to one another, and discover a shared language through play.

**Different rhythms. Different abilities. One playground. Music connects us.**

09/03/2026

A royal THANK YOU to Wells Fargo, our Presenting Sponsor of the 29th Annual Once Upon a Run, Walk & Roll! 👑

We are incredibly grateful for their generous support and commitment to helping us create a more inclusive world for children with disabilities. Special thanks to our Board Vice President, Kurt Marsden, for championing our mission and helping secure this wonderful gift!

Want to join Wells Fargo in helping us write the next chapter of inclusion? Become a sponsor and help bring the magic of play to children of ALL abilities.

Join us Sunday, September 27, at Shane’s Inspiration Playground in Griffith Park.

🏰 Become part of our story: bit.ly/rwr2026

09/01/2026

WHY WE WALK: TEAM HUDSON 💙

For Melissa Leadley and her family, the Run, Walk & Roll is personal. They walk for Hudson — and for a world where every child has a place to play, belong, and be included.

We are so grateful to have Team Hudson as part of our story year after year. Now, they’re inviting YOU to walk alongside them!

Join Team Hudson: bit.ly/TEAMHUDSON26
Or create a team of your own: bit.ly/rwr2026

Can’t join us? You can still be part of the story! Make a donation of any size to Team Hudson or another participant. Every gift helps move our mission forward.

Come be part of our 29th Annual Once Upon a Run, Walk & Roll, presented by Wells Fargo, on Sunday, September 27, at Shane’s Inspiration Playground in Griffith Park.

Who do YOU walk for?

08/31/2026

MONDAY MORNING LEADERBOARD!

The race to the top of the kingdom continues! Our fundraisers and teams are rallying their crews, spreading the word, and raising funds for our 29th Annual Once Upon a Run, Walk & Roll!

🏆 TOP 10 INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISERS

1. Valerie Hambas
2. Marci Moran
3. Mark Demos
4. Candace Weisz
5. Steve Bloom
6. Scott Williams
7. Robert Zagon/The Floor Center
8. Rachael Clark
9. Carol Kurz
10. Noah Chavez

🏰 TOP 10 FUNDRAISING TEAMS

1. The Hambones
2. Medieval Morans
3. Wagon Wheel Walkers
4. The Crowe That Laid the Golden Egg
5. Team Adina
6. Frandzel’s Court
7. Preferred Bank
8. Team NCIS
9. Inclusion Ever After
10. Helen’s Inclusion Heroes

But this story is far from over! There’s still time to start your own team, rally your kingdom, and make your way onto next week’s leaderboard.

⚔️ THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE: Start a team and raise your first $250 by next Monday! Ask 10 friends for $25, and you’re there!

Every dollar raised helps us create more opportunities for children of ALL abilities to play together and belong.

Will YOUR name make the leaderboard next week?

Join the story today: bit.ly/rwr2026

08/31/2026

I Am Included.

There’s always room for one more!

The OmniSpin® Spinner brings kids of different abilities together for a shared play experience filled with movement, laughter, and connection.

This joyful moment was captured during one of our Together, We Are Able® field trips with students from Notre Dame High School’s Immersion Program—where inclusive play creates opportunities for students to get to know one another, discover common ground, and build genuine connections.

Because inclusive play isn’t about watching from the sidelines. It’s about being right there in the middle of the fun.

I Am Included.

08/30/2026

🏆⚽ From Inspiration Award recipient to MVP.

In 2008, when Nico Calabria was just 13 years old, Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration honored him with our Inspiration Award after he set out to climb Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for wheelchairs for people in need — ultimately raising nearly $100,000 for mobility.

That spirit of determination and generosity has never stopped.

In 2021, Nico brought adaptive soccer to the launch of PlayLA, helping introduce adaptive sports to the City of Los Angeles. Today, at 31, he is Captain of the U.S. Amputee Soccer Team — and now, the 2026 Most Valuable Player of the . 🏆👑

We are so proud to know Nico, cheer him on, and watch him continue to inspire on and off the pitch.

Congratulations, Nico! Your will, leadership, and heart continue to inspire us. ❤️⚽

Now go show our MVP some love on the original post! 👇🔥

2026 Most Valuable Player! 🏆⚽👑

Massive congratulations to Nico Calabria of Revolution Amputee Soccer on taking home the MVP award at the !

His relentless leadership, skill, and presence on the pitch propelled Revolution all the way to lifting their second U.S. Cup trophy in club history.

Drop a 🏆 in the comments to congratulate the MVP! 👏🔥

08/28/2026

30 DAYS TO GO!

The countdown is officially on for our 29th Annual Once Upon a Run, Walk & Roll, presented by Wells Fargo, on Sunday, September 27, at Shane’s Inspiration Playground in Griffith Park!

NOW is the time to sign up, rally your family, friends, and colleagues, and become part of our story. There are so many ways to get involved:

Be a Sponsor. Be an Exhibitor — only 3 spots left! Become a Team Captain. Run, Walk or Roll. Volunteer. Donate.

There is a way for every BODY to be involved!

Give a little of your time or treasure to support Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration and help us create a more inclusive world for children with disabilities. Every person who shows up, every dollar raised, and every act of support helps move our mission forward.

You can make a difference. Our kingdom needs YOU!

Sign up today: bit.ly/rwr2026

08/27/2026

Inclusive Schools Week 2026 is coming!

December 7–11, 2026

Celebrated around the world, Inclusive Schools Week recognizes the practices and relationships that create school communities where students of ALL abilities, backgrounds, and cultures are welcomed, valued, and supported.

This year’s theme:

Together We Learn
Learning Grows Stronger When We Learn Together

True inclusion is more than sharing the same space. It’s learning side by side, building meaningful relationships, and recognizing that every student has something valuable to contribute.

When students learn together, they build empathy, mutual respect, and a greater understanding of one another—lessons that extend far beyond the classroom.

Ready to make a difference on your campus?

Register your school for Inclusive Schools Week 2026! We’ll send you creative ideas and simple ways to bring inclusion to life at your school. Plus, every registered school will automatically be entered into our special opportunity drawing for a chance to win a great prize!

Start today: Pair a general education and special education classroom for a shared recess activity and give students an opportunity to connect through play.

Register today: inclusionmatters.org/launified/

Together We Learn. Together We Belong.

08/26/2026

Happy National Dog Day!

At Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration, inclusion means creating a world where everyone has the support they need to participate fully—and sometimes that support comes on four paws.

Service dogs and guide dogs can provide greater independence, confidence, safety, and connection for people with disabilities. We’re proud to have welcomed some terrific nonprofit partners to our events over the years, including PUPS at LAX (Pets Unstressing Passengers), Canine Companions, and Canine Angels Service Team.

And did you know your dog is welcome at our 29th Annual Once Upon a Run, Walk & Roll? Bring your canine companion along for the fun—we’ll have water bowls available for our four-legged participants!

Sunday, September 27, 2026
Shane’s Inspiration Playground, Griffith Park

Join us: [bit.ly/rwr2026](https://bit.ly/rwr2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com)