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Since Jessie has been out of high school he has had some challenges but also some very positive experiences Dale told me when we met recently in Saskatoon. There are two great things we want to let you know about. First, Jessie has been part of a program at the University of Regina called – “Campus for All”. In this program young people with disabilities are able to take part in selected courses at the University in the Saskatchewan capital city. It’s a great program and you can check out more detail on it at this location. You can also see some photos of Jessie there. http://education.uregina.ca/index.php?q=CampusForAll.html Second, Jessie is a member of a band called “The Alcoholic Freaks”. Great name don’t you think? Check out their website – http://www.myspace.com/alcoholicfreaks .
The songs I listened to were “Bowling Problems” and “So Thirsty”. Check them out!
At a recent Forum on Human Rights and Inclusive Education in Saskatchewan, Margaret Kress-White of the University of Saskatchewan described the connection between “ableism” and traditional special education practice. Ms Kress-White, who is also a parent, has put together a compelling analysis of the influence of several concepts and perspectives and how they limit opportunities for students with disabilities. Margaret says: “The impetus to study disability, human rights and inclusive education occurred after witnessing many injustices disabled students encounter in schools. A few areas my research is looking at includes: the invisibility of the disabled student, the barriers/avenues to citizenship for students with disabilities, the deconstruction of special education: correlations between eugenics and the framework of special education, and analysis of the construction of disability and normality through the legitimization of the medical model of disability found in academic discourse, helping teachers understand social and bio-social models of disability.” Margaret also recently presented a paper “The right to belong: Addressing Ableism in Education” on March 15 at an Open House and Celebration of Research, at the College of Education, University of Saskatchewan. You can contact Margaret for more information at email: Margaret Kress White
The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission joined the Saskatchewan Association for Community living (SACL) and the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) to sponsor a forum called – “Human rights and the inclusion of students with disabilities: a dialogue on the way forward.” The session was held in Saskatoon on Friday and Saturday, May 23/24, 2008. Chief Commissioner Marilou McPhedran spoke several times during the forum. She reminded participants of the critical importance of Canada’s commitment to the recently signed United Nations Convention on the Rights of Person’s with Disabilities. Canada signed the Convention on March 30, 2007, one of more than 80 countries to do so on the first day it was possible. While Canada has not yet ratified the Convention, Chief Commissioner McPhedran reminded the group that Article 24 has strong provision for inclusive education and Canada is now under an obligation to act in good faith in connection to the Convention. Zuhy Sayeed, Past President of CACL, and a resident of Lloydminster spoke on the work that was done by NGOs to develop the Convention. She shared some of her experiences working on the effort with other parents and advocates from around the world. If you have not already done so – check out Article 24 of the Convention on the UN website.
Community Living Ontario held a one-day forum on April 30th in Toronto that asked the question – “What Makes Our Schools inclusive?”. Participants included parents, advocates, educators and others from around the province. The forum was part of the association’s strategy through the Community Inclusion Program. One of the key speakers was David Coombs, a secondary school principal from Brockville. David Coombs is principal of the Brockville Collegiate Institute. His has been part of a special project to extend inclusive education practice to high schools in Ontario. The project is lead by Marilyn Dolmage and the Coalition on Inclusive Education. Marilyn has supported schools with training and program development with the financial support of the Ontario Ministry of Education. Mr. Coombs described the strategies he has used to provide leadership in his school and the positive results they have had so far. Pictured are David Coombs and event organizer Kimberley Gavan of Community Living Ontario.
Community Living Manitoba has released a new “Parent Guide” on inclusive education. It is rich resource on the things that a parent needs to know to advocate effectively for their child. While there are aspects particular to Manitoba – most of the topics will be of interest to parents anywhere.
cliquez ici (PDF)
Click HERE for the details (PDF) CACL Inclusive Education Brochure  Check it out!Manitoba Newsletter
Community Living Mantoba has many activities underway. Check them out in their "Parent Update Newsletter". New Parent Guide to Inclusive Education Community Living Manitoba releases new parent guide to inclusive education. It is anticipated the guide will be available on-line at this site soon. Click here for details.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living held a Forum on inclusive education on April 19 & 20, 2007. Discussions focused on issues and possibilities.
Community Living Manitoba has had a useful document on their website for several years. It is called “Preparing for Inclusion” and is intended as a short guide for parents. Autistic pupil allowed back; School apologizes after kicking boy out of JK Joshua Downer likes school. That's significant because after going just four times in September, the four-year-old East City boy with autism couldn't go back. His parents were told he posed safety concerns. But after a story about his plight appeared in The Examiner Saturday, the principal of Immaculate Conception School called Joshua's mother, Ruth-Ann Downer, and invited Joshua back. » Click here for full story National Inclusive Education Achievement Awards NB Association for Community Living Announces Winners (Fredericton) The Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL), a Canada-wide association of family members and others, which works on behalf of persons of all ages who have an intellectual disability, announced the New Brunswick recipients of the National Inclusive Education Achievement Awards at a ceremony held earlier this week at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Fredericton. The Inclusive Education Achievement Awards are presented to an individual or teams who have made a positive contribution to inclusive education in their province or territory. Winners for each province were selected by provincial and territorial Associations for Community Living. » NB Inclusive Education Awards 2006 (doc, 3.5MB) Inclusive Education Award to Marilyn Dolmage Community Living Ontario has presented the “National Inclusive Education Award to Marilyn Dolmage. She has been commended for her long term and committed efforts to assure access to inclusive education for children in her province. » Dolmage Ontario Inclusive Education Award.doc (doc, 22 KB) Special Awards for Significant Service Presented NBACL made two special presentations at the award ceremony on November 26, 2006. Harvey Malmberg, a retired Deputy Minister of Education and Leonard Goguen, a former Professor of Education at the University of Moncton were honored for their contributions to inclusive education in New Brunswick Mr. Malmberg was honored as the Deputy Minister of Education who introduced inclusive education to New Brunswick schools in the mid 1980’s. Mr. Malmberg’s vision, administrative leadership and tenacity were noted. He moved inclusive education to the top of the agenda and made it a reality at the policy level in New Brunswick. His leadership made New Brunswick a leader in Canada and the world. Professor Goguen was a key individual in addressing the movement toward inclusion and in developing training for teachers in New Brunswick. He played a special role in the Francophone sector and created a pre-service and graduate education program at the University of Moncton that prepared teachers for inclusion. In the photo below are: Dr. Michael Bach, EVP of CACL, Mr. Harvey Malmberg, Professor Leonard Goguen and Clarence Box, President of NBACL. 
Manitoba adopts “Appropriate Education Act” The Government of Manitoba has adopted and is implementing a new Education law designed to provide appropriate education for all students. Proclaimed in November of 2005, the amendment to the Public Schools Act – (Bill 13 - Appropriate Education Act) specifically addresses the inclusion and appropriate support of all children within Manitoba Schools. Bill 13 has two fundamental parts, the first addressing placement and programming for children with special needs and the second addressing a formal dispute resolution process to be used when decisions regarding placement and programming are questioned. » Minister's Presentation (doc, 2.1MB) NBACL Agrees With Report on Inclusive Education Wayne MacKay, a Nova Scotia lawyer commissioned by the New Brunswick government to review the inclusive education program in the province has delivered his report. The NB Minister of Education released the report on March 15 in Fredericton. Krista Carr, Executive Director of NBACL said her association was pleased that the report supports inclusive education. "Many of the recommendations MacKay made are consistent with NBACL's submissions", she said. The report has nearly 100 recommendations for legislative, policy and practices. MacKay said there are certainly stresses on the education system and that more money as well as additional training are needed. He also asserted that leadership is needed at all levels of the system to create opportunities for improvement. The Minister of Education invited stakeholders to study the report and to take part in a symposium that will be held on May 28 & 29, 2006. The meeting will assist the ministry to develop an action plan that can be implemented in the 2006-07 school year. The report is available on the New Brunswick Department of Education website at: www.gnb.ca/0000/publications/mackay/mackay-e.asp We will post further information on the Mackay report - watch for details.
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A Parents’ Guide A Parent Guide Inclusive Education: |
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The No-Excuses Campaign for inclusive education has had a great response from the public. It has run on TV stations throughout Canada and has resulted in a great deal of positive feedback. There have also been a few messages from individuals who take exception tom the idea that inclusion is a shoe that fits every foot. This is one of the benefits of a campaign like this. It gets people thinking, talking and reflecting on the issues involved. We know inclusive education is an emotional issue. It is also – at the same time - both a simple and complex issue. Including kids is a simple concept. Developing the attitudes, programs and practices to support the teachers and children to make it a reality is not so simple – it is indeed complex and needs to be worked out through the application of good will, hard work and the persistent commitment to equality for all. 
The young actresses who played the critical roles in the TV ads were recognized at a reception held to thank all the cast and crew of the campaign in early June in Toronto. At the left are “Jessica” and her “Me Too” Classmate.
On May 29, Bruce Rivers, the Executive Director of Community Living Toronto, visited several schools and talked with teachers and education officials in New Brunswick. The visit was facilitated by Gordon Porter, CACL’s Director of Inclusive Education Initiatives who live in NB. CACL, Community Living Toronto and Community Living Ontario have a Tri-level Partnership working to promote inclusive education opportunities in Toronto schools.
The first visit was to the Keswick Valley Memorial School in Burtt’s Corner, just north of Fredericton. The school principal, Wayne Annis, provided a school tour and an update on what the school does to support inclusion. Margie Cummings, a former teacher in the school, now working as a volunteer shared the change process the community experienced in moving from a segregated school to the inclusion model in place today.
The second visit was to the Royal Road Elementary School in Fredericton. School principal, Donald Porter provided access to a number of classrooms where children with significant disabilities are supported and Bruce spoke to classroom teachers, resource teachers, teacher assistants and, of course, the children. Mr. Rivers commented that the school visits were very informative and beneficial. 
Dale and Gwen McGowan have been leaders before. In the 1980’s and 90’s, the Regina couple, worked to get their son Jessie into as inclusionary a school program as they could. They became aware of the issues and startedtheir struggle when Jessie was in elementary school. When he was in high school they were seriously engaged with the school system – not always with the outcome they wanted.
BBB Autism Support Network 
Enabling Education Network (EENET)
Listen Up Web
