Inclusion Matters by Shane's Inspiration

10/20/2026

TEAM FOOTLOOSE NEEDS YOUR VOTES TONIGHT!

We're cheering on Paralympic champion Ezra Frech (Team Ezra) and his dancing partner, Daniella Karagach, on Dancing With The Stars!

Ezra is also the Co-Founder of our fellow nonprofit, Angel City Sports, an organization dedicated to providing year-round adaptive sports opportunities for children, adults, and veterans with physical disabilities.

At Inclusion Matters by Shane's Inspiration, we share their belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to participate, discover their abilities, and pursue their passions. Whether on the playground, the playing field, or the dance floor, inclusion means breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for ALL abilities!

Learn more about Angel City Sports: angelcitysports.org

WATCH DANCING WITH THE STARS!

Tune in Tuesdays at 8:00 PM on ABC or stream live on Disney+. You can also catch the episodes the following day on Hulu!

Let's help keep dancing!

Here's how to cast up to 20 votes TONIGHT:

- TEXT: Send EZRA to 21523 (up to 10 votes).
- ONLINE: Visit dwtsvote.abc.com (up to 10 votes).

Voting opens at 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET and closes when the live episode ends. West Coast friends, remember to vote during the live East Coast broadcast!

Want to catch up on Team Footloose's incredible journey? Watch their performances from each week!

Week 1 – Tango: "Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson
youtube.com/watch?v=2Qe8zRSm4qc

Week 2 – Cha Cha: "Low" by Flo Rida
youtu.be/SDgU_nxnfsk

Week 3 – Foxtrot: "Just the Two of Us" by Grover Washington Jr. ft. Bill Withers
youtu.be/ZNPYztRttF4

Week 4 – Rumba: "Anytime You Need a Friend" by Mariah Carey
youtu.be/SElcB_V_JlQ

Week 5 – Salsa: "Hot in Herre" by Nelly
youtu.be/v5wvzFpd43s

Let's show Ezra some love and keep Team Footloose on the dance floor!

"

10/19/2026

What Inclusion Means to Me: Meet Sunshine!

Sometimes, the most powerful messages about inclusion come from our youngest voices!

This Sunday, we're shining the spotlight on Sunshine, who shares her perspective on what inclusion means to her.

At Inclusion Matters by Shane's Inspiration, we believe children have so much to teach us about acceptance, kindness, and belonging. When we listen to their voices, we're reminded that building a more inclusive world begins with how we treat one another.

Thank you, Sunshine, for helping us spread the message that everyone deserves to feel included!

What does inclusion mean to YOU? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

10/17/2026

We're bringing GOALBALL to Play Without Limits!

Have you ever heard of goalball? This exciting Paralympic sport was designed specifically for athletes who are blind or visually impaired. Players wear eyeshades to ensure everyone competes equally and use their hearing to track a ball with bells inside, rolling it toward the opposing team's goal while defenders try to block it with their bodies!

Check out this great video from Perkins School for the Blind to see goalball in action:\
[https://youtube.com/shorts/m047jO_BG6I](https://youtube.com/shorts/m047jO_BG6I)

We are thrilled to offer this unique experience for both our sighted and visually impaired kiddos at My PlayClub: Play Without Limits! It's a wonderful opportunity for children of ALL abilities to try something new and experience the power of inclusive sports.

Mark your calendars!

Sunday, December 6, 2026
10:00am–2:00pm
Aidan's Place at Westwood Recreation Center

Join us for a FREE day of adaptive sports, inclusive play, creative activities, and opportunities to meet Olympians and Paralympians!

RSVP for FREE: bit.ly/playwithoutlimits

Play Without Limits is co-presented by Inclusion Matters by Shane's Inspiration, Ready, Set, Gold!, Foundation Fighting Blindness, and Paralympian Isaac Jean-Paul.

Special thanks to our generous sponsors, FOX ABLE and Ability Central!

10/16/2026

Our very own Ana Sharp is headed to the BIG SCREEN!

We couldn't be prouder of Ana, a longtime member of our Inclusion Matters Youth Choir, who stars in the new feature film Rise and Shine alongside Rachel Bay Jones and Danny Burstein!

Inspired by a true story, Rise and Shine follows Terri, a teenager with cerebral palsy and developmental disabilities who dreams of experiencing high school like any other teen—making friends, finding independence, and attending prom. With the unwavering love of her mother, Janice, Terri navigates challenges, discovers new possibilities, and reminds us that everyone deserves the opportunity to participate and belong.

Ana, who also has cerebral palsy and a developmental disability, brings authentic representation to the screen alongside other neurodivergent and disabled cast members. It's a powerful reminder of why disability representation matters, both on screen and behind the scenes.

See Rise and Shine on the big screen!

October 23–28, 2026
AMC Thousand Oaks 14 at The Oaks Mall
166 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Showtimes: 4:40 PM and 7:20 PM
Get tickets: https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/rise-and-shine-85132

Meet Ana! Ana and her family will be at both screenings opening day on Friday, October 23rd, along with our SVP, Outreach & Events, Marci Moran. Please join us!

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/qDJzJ18v-Jw

We hope our Inclusion Matters family will come out to support Ana and this beautiful story about courage, friendship, and belonging.

We're cheering you on, Ana! Your Inclusion Matters family is so proud of you!

Rise and Shine follows Terri, a young woman with cerebral palsy, as...

10/16/2026

Every BOO-dy Has a Voice at My PlayClub: Goblin Gathering!

Join us for a spook-tacular Halloween celebration where children of ALL abilities can enjoy festive activities, make new friends, and discover that every voice matters!

This year, we're proud to bring the spirit of LA2050's Party at the Polls initiative to Goblin Gathering with our own “Every BOO-dy Has a Voice: An Inclusive Party at the Polls!”

Kids can cast their votes for their favorite Halloween dance song, playground equipment, and Halloween treat at our accessible Kids' Polling Place. We'll announce the winners and put their choices into action, showing children that their voices count!

We're also excited to welcome the City of Los Angeles Office of the City Clerk's Election Division, which will share information about Same-Day Voter Registration for parents and caregivers.

Plus, enjoy pumpkin decorating, face painting, our Sensory Spook Tent, a Halloween Costume Parade, treats, and plenty of inclusive playground fun!

Hosted by Universal Studios Hollywood.

Saturday, October 24, 2026
10:30 AM–1:00 PM
Solano Canyon Playground, Elysian Park
835 Academy Road, Los Angeles, CA 90012

FREE EVENT! RSVP today:
inclusionmatters.org/my-playclub

Because every BOO-dy belongs, and every voice matters!

10/15/2026

Talent has no limits, and every voice deserves to be heard!

We're excited to share LIMITLESS LIVE!, a special evening presented by Autism Theater Project celebrating the incredible talents of autistic and neurodivergent artists!

The evening features a screening of the award-winning series ""The Voice Inside"", inspired by real stories of autistic performers who challenged expectations and pursued their dreams of becoming professional artists.

Following the screening, enjoy a live concert featuring Autism Theater Project founder Gena Sims, talented ATP artists, and composers and pianists Michael Gaspari and Noah Azarashvelli.

At Inclusion Matters by Shane's Inspiration, we believe in creating opportunities for people of ALL abilities to share their talents, express themselves, and shine. We're proud to help spread the word about this celebration of authentic representation and artistic achievement!

Friday, October 23, 2026 | 7:30 PM

Hudson Theatre
6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles

Event details and tickets: zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/limitless-live-in-los-angeles

10/15/2026

A Playground Is More Than a Place to Play.

Think about everything children learn on a playground that can't be taught from a textbook.

How to invite someone into a game. How to communicate without words. How to take turns, solve problems, and discover that someone who seems different might actually have a lot in common with them.

Now imagine what happens when children with disabilities are excluded from those experiences.

At Inclusion Matters by Shane's Inspiration, we believe inclusive playgrounds are essential spaces for learning about one another. When children of ALL abilities play together, differences become familiar, barriers begin to disappear, and genuine friendships have room to grow.

We're not just building playgrounds. We're helping shape a generation that sees inclusion as a natural part of everyday life.

10/14/2026

10/13/2026

At Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration, we believe in the power of connection. It's why we bring children of ALL abilities together through play—to build friendships, encourage understanding, and break down barriers.

That's why we're excited to share Disconnected, a new film produced by our friends Kevin Sizemore and Gina Lombardi!

Exploring the impact of technology on human relationships and the harm caused by cyberbullying, Disconnected delivers an important reminder: sometimes we need to disconnect from our screens to reconnect with one another.

With a cast featuring Kayla Ewell, Terrence Little Gardenhigh, Gunnar Sizemore, Tim Johnson Jr., Cassidy Naber, Kevin Sizemore, and Brian Dietzen, this film shines a light on issues that resonate with our mission of fostering kindness, empathy, and inclusion.

Watch the trailer: https://fb.watch/KeuIwbCFFA/

Watch the full film online this week only! For $16.50, you can stream Disconnected as part of the Heartland Film Festival.

https://watch.eventive.org/heartlandfilmfestival/play/6a8caa0c26f98166f0238c36

Let's celebrate stories that remind us how important it is to look up, reach out, and truly connect.

Follows a family as they navigate personal loss and online manipulation in a tech-reliant school system, where they and courageous students challenge a corrupt administration.

10/13/2026

It takes a village - or in our case, a KINGDOM!

We were so fortunate to have nearly 200 incredible volunteers help bring our 29th Annual Once Upon a Run, Walk & Roll to life! From setting up before sunrise to cheering on our participants and helping with every detail throughout the morning, we truly couldn't have done it without YOU!

A special thank you to our amazing volunteer groups:

Disney VoluntEARS, Universal Studios Hollywood, West Coast University Department of Graduate Studies, Pepperdine University, National Charity League Los Angeles, National League of Young Men, SAGE Magnet at Louis B. Armstrong School, and our Teens for Social Inclusion from Notre Dame High School, Cathedral High School, Daniel Pearl Magnet School, and The Archer School.

And, of course, to all the wonderful individuals and families who generously gave their time!

A HUGE shout-out to NorthStar Moving Company, whose team was instrumental in transporting our supplies from our office to the park and helping set up and break down all those tents, tables, and chairs. We couldn't have pulled it off without you!

From all of us at Inclusion Matters by Shane's Inspiration, THANK YOU for being part of our story and helping make a difference for children of ALL abilities.

Our kingdom is stronger because of YOU!