NBACL Celebrates “National Inclusive Education Week 2010” with Awards Ceremony

NBACL held their 2010 inclusive education award ceremony at Government House in Fredericton on Wednesday, February 17, 2010. Lt. Governor Graydon Nicholas welcome more than 100 parents, educators and officials to the event.

Special guests were Minister of Education Roland Haché and NB Premier Shawn Graham.

One of the awards was presented to a school in the northern NB town of Belledune. The school staff and principal Ellen Lee were recognized for their efforts to make inclusion work on a daily basis in their school.

In her nomination of the school, Mrs. Audrey Donnelly paid tribute to the team approach that is taken at Belledune School to ensure that her son has the proper supports necessary to be successful. This following is from the nomination letter:

Parents with children entering a new school sometimes have a sense of apprehension. Will my child’s needs be met? Will he or she feel valued and accepted? Will there be opportunities to participate with his or her classmates in activities during class, as a true member of the school community?

Audrey Frenette Donnelly, whose son Shannon has a disability and was about to enter Belledune School, had these concerns. She needn’t have worried, though, because Shannon was welcomed in Belledune School with open arms from day one. That’s why Mrs. Donnelly nominated Shannon’s school for a National Inclusive Education Achievement Award.

“Each year we have a meeting, which is held at the school, for all of Shannon’s support workers,” she wrote in her nomination. “At this meeting we come together to pool ideas and share information to help Shannon.”

Mrs. Donnelly also pointed out that all of the students at Belledune School have been included in Shannon’s routine and share in his success. For example, if Shannon acquires a new skill, there is a sense of excitement among his classmates and teachers. Mrs. Donnelly says, “Shannon, is so well included that if he is absent, the students are sure to inquire about him.”

It takes a great team to make inclusive education work, but it takes a great leader to unite a team so that everyone feels involved and recognizes their valuable role in ensuring success. Ellen Lee, the Principal of Belledune School, is such a leader.

• Here is a LINK to an article in the Saint John Telegraph Journal - http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/actualites/article/958066

Newfoundland Minister of Education Issues Inclusive Education Week Statement - February 16, 2010 - St. John’s NFLD

The Association for Community living in Newfoundland and Labrador has been actively promoting inclusive education in the province in the last few years by using “National Inclusive Education Week”. This year started off on a positive note with the signing of a statement by Education Minister Darin King. Community Inclusion coordinator Donna Willis says “we are very pleased that the Minister and senior officials in the Department are supporting our efforts. Dan Goodyear and his team are following up by supporting our Summer Institute on inclusive education in August. We want to move ahead as partners.”

The minister’s statement included the following: “The Department of Education promotes students attending schools with their peers, and receiving appropriate, quality programming in inclusive school environments,” said Minister King. “Such inclusive education involves more than student placement. It embraces all students, not just those with identified exceptionalities, and involves everything that happens within the school community including its culture, policies, and practices.”

To better support inclusive education policies, the Department of Education has begun a pilot project in 30 schools throughout the province, which will expand to an additional 35 schools in the 2010-11 school year. Teachers in these schools are receiving professional development on inclusion, including learning how to use different teaching methods based on students’ needs, as well as how to share responsibilities in instruction delivery to meet the diverse needs of learners.

The Provincial Government has made significant investments in recent years to support inclusive education and implement the recommendations of the 2007 ISSP/Pathways report, including $1.65 million in Budget 2009. Since 2007, a position was created in the department solely responsible for inclusive education. In addition, the department has consulted with special education stakeholders on the development of an inclusive education policy. This policy will help guide teachers and administrators in helping make their schools fully inclusive for all students.

“Inclusive Education week is a time to recognize our progress in inclusion within our provincial school system, as well as highlight the many benefits to embracing an inclusive education system,” said Debbie Howell, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living. “Research now shows that including students with special needs in regular classrooms benefits all students both academically and socially. Inclusion works when all students are not just able to attend their neighbourhood schools, but are welcomed and supported to learn.”

“In a truly inclusive school, teachers are effective and students have enhanced well-being,” said Minister King. “Everyone wins in an inclusive school because everyone feels that they belong, realize their potential, and contribute to the life of the school. During Inclusive Education Week, I encourage everyone in the school system to think about ways to make schools more inclusive and then make that happen every day. Real inclusion is about actions, not just words.”

A resource kit that will allow provincial and territorial Associations for Community Living to conduct their own Inclusive Education week has just been released by the National Action Plan committee on Inclusive Education. This kit features ideas and activities that any individual –school, teacher, parent, etc.- can use to raise awareness about the benefits of an inclusive education.

The Resource Kit contains a manual with a detailed suggested timeline to organising the Inclusive Education Awards and a list of ideas for other activities that can be done during the week. Furthermore, examples of all the needed sheets and spreadsheets that will help in organising the Inclusive Education Awards are provided in a format that can be easily adapted to any province/territory (please contact us). Let us know what you think!

National Inclusive Education Week Takes a Spin in Toronto


“Normal is just a setting on the washing machine” is just one of the conclusions that students came to after a thought provoking discussion of Spinclusion. Grade 8 students at King Edward public school in Toronto played the game during National Inclusive Education Week.

For the 2nd year Community Living Toronto celebrated National Inclusive Education week by taking Spinclusion to schools across Toronto. This year participating schools included the Metropolitan Toronto School for the Deaf, Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School as well as various schools throughout the TDSB, TCDSB.
At the end of the week over 1,000 students in 49 classes had an opportunity to spin the wheel and give some thought to how to include all people regardless of their differences and abilities. It was a huge success.

At Essex-Hawthorne school, children in the primary grades with varying abilities were having fun together and participating with enthusiasm. At the end of the game, one little girl approached the facilitator and declared maturely “Thank you very much. I had a wonderful time.”
When asked “Why would someone with a disability want to come to your school” the grade 4’s at St. Ambrose catholic school were able to provide a long list, including “At our school, we are taught to respect all people”. They were also able to identify some of the school’s challenges, including being a 2 storey building without an elevator that makes the 2nd floor inaccessible to people with physical disabilities.

Spinclusion gave the children an opportunity to think about how their actions can affect people’s feelings as well as come up with the solutions to various issues including physical adversities, intellectual disabilities and bullying.



Spinclusion is an interactive board game which promotes acceptance and respect for people with different needs and abilities. It will soon be added to the Toronto District School Board’s ASPIRE database, which means that all teachers will be able to access the game to help teach inclusion and diversity in classrooms all over the city.

For further information about Spinclusion please contact:
Mia McGowan at 416-225-7166 ext 226
or spinclusion@cltoronto.ca

www.communitylivingtoronto.ca click on “youth”

INTERMEDIATE EDUCATION AWARD RECIPIENT
Laura Huffaker
Teacher and Band Leader
Lewisville Middle School, Riverview

An Efforts toward Inclusive Education Award in the intermediate education category was presented to Laura Huffaker. She was nominated by her co-worker, methods and resource teacher Sandra Smith.

Laura Huffaker is the music teacher at Lewisville Middle School in Riverview. She is also the middle school band teacher and runs the school’s beginner band program. According to her nominator, Ms. Huffaker “Works tirelessly to create and implement lesson plans that are inclusive to every child in her class, regardless of ability.”

Ms. Huffaker extends the same consideration in her band program. As Ms. Smith wrote: “You don’t often see students who require teacher’s aides attending extra-curricular clubs and activities, but several attend Ms. Huffaker’s beginner band.

“She recognizes the importance of music in a child’s life and does not feel that a physical, emotional or intellectual disability should interfere with that relationship. . . . She demonstrates enormous patience by providing any and all additional instruction and practice time that her students require to fully participate in beginner band. It is a pleasure to see such an inclusive extra-curricular activity at our school.”

A story recounted by parent Kim Daborn in her letter of support for Ms. Huffaker’s nomination captures just how this wonderful teacher has changed at least one family’s life.

Mrs. Daborn wrote:
“My 12-year-old son, Brent, is in Grade 7 at Lewisville Middle School in Moncton. Brent has cerebral palsy, is confined to a wheelchair and has limited motor skills. Aside from that, Brent is a very bright and verbal young man. His biggest struggles in life are being able to do things ‘like my friends do.’”

Her letter went on to recount how every year Brent would ask to sign up for various extracurricular activities like sports, drama and so on, and how disappointed he would be when he would learn that he could not.

“Since a very young age Brent has had a love for music and has shown great interest in musical instruments,” the boy’s mom wrote.

“Once again this year, he came home very excited. It was time for kids to sign up for band and he wanted me to sign the permission form, literally begging me to. . . .

“My heart broke once again to see the disappointment in his eyes when I tried to explain to him that I didn’t think this would be possible. So, I wrote to Ms. Huffaker asking if there was any way that Brent could be part of the LMS band. Ms. Huffaker had no hesitation in replying ‘yes, we will find something for him to play and make it work.’

“Today Brent is a very proud member of the LMS school band playing the tambourine and attending band practice once a week…

Mrs. Daborn concluded her letter by saying:
“Ms. Huffaker has made a difference in a child’s life by overlooking the disability and removing the barriers.”

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AWARD RECIPIENT
Richard Corey
Former Executive-Director
New Brunswick Community College

Postsecondary education for people who have a disability is important for the same reasons as it is for non-disabled people; it helps to fulfill personal goals, allows for effective competition in the job market and contributes to independence and financial security. In fact, a college education is more important for people who have a disability.

That’s a quote from a leader in inclusive education at the college level, Catherine Fichten of the Adaptech Project at Dawson College in Quebec.

It’s also the philosophy upon which NBCC’s inclusion program was built. One of the architects of that program is Richard Corey. Corey, former Executive Director of the New Brunswick Community College system, was honoured for his work in establishing and encouraging inclusive education in the province’s English community colleges.

According to his nominator and colleague, Hélène L. Martin, “Richard Corey believes that students with disabilities should be afforded an opportunity to learn and grow as individuals and as competent and worthwhile employees in the workplace.”

It is this belief that drove Richard to participate in a working group that recommended inclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities in community college. That was in 1996. By 2001, NBCC Connections, a pilot project to provide job training for persons with intellectual disabilities, had been implemented in three community colleges across the province. Richard Corey was part of the Management Team of the College when this pilot project was implemented.

In 2005, when the Connections pilot project was completed, Mr. Corey took inclusion to the next step and was instrumental in the establishment of a Disability Unit for NBCC. The first mandate of that Unit was to incorporate Connections into the College’s regular business processes. The result was the development of Special Admissions. In September 2008, 19 students were accepted under Special Admissions to six NBCC campuses.

Richard Corey believes that NBCC needs to build capacity within the organization in order to establish long lasting inclusion. His vision is based on training and professional development opportunities for all staff. So, to assure the ongoing success of inclusive practices, NBCC, under Richard Corey’s leadership, has succeeded in securing multi-year funding to support the work of the Disability Unit.

EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDHOOD AWARD
The Preschool Centre
Windsor St., Fredericton

The Efforts toward Inclusive Education Award in the early learning and childhood sector is presented to The Preschool Centre on Windsor Street in Fredericton. The Preschool Centre is a child care facility for children from six months to 12 years of age.

As nominator Marlene Munn put it, “The Centre is doing an excellent job of fostering a sense of family and belonging, not only with the children in the Centre, but also with the families.” Mrs. Munn’s 10-year-old daughter Aimee has been attending the Centre since March 2008.

“After seven weeks of trying to get Aimee into another after school program without success, the Preschool Centre was a dream,” Mrs. Munn recounted. “I called on Wednesday and Aimee started on Monday. She was welcomed with open arms. The Centre’s administration even looked after hiring a TA and getting the necessary funding in place. This was a big burden lifted from our shoulders.

“All the teachers and administration at the Preschool Centre work to ensure inclusion for all children. All children are treated with respect and are encouraged to treat each other with respect.”

SCHOOL STAFF AWARD RECIPIENT
Student Services Team
Hartland Community School
Hartland, SD 14

Photo: John Clendenning, Principal of Hartland Community School receives award from NBACL President Marlene Munn

The Hartland Community School was one of three recipients of an Inclusive Education Award in the School Staff category. The school was nominated by Robin Crain, a learning specialist with School District 14.

Robin Crain’s nomination form for the school includes many examples of how the team there supports all students – those with behavioural issues, those with intellectual disabilities, those with physical challenges and those with no major challenges at all. Here’s one of them:

“A student with cognitive challenges was observed one day by the principal, standing on the side of the road twirling a basketball on his finger. [The principal] asked [this student] the next day about it and was treated to a demonstration. The following week at a school spirit assembly the principal announced a surprise challenge. The challenge: to see who could twirl a basketball on the end of a finger the longest. Many students rushed to the stage, including basketball stars. At the end there was one student left standing. Amidst cheers and applause and calls of encouragement this young man smiled proudly as he carried off the prize!”

Another example, again recounted by Robin Crain: “They encourage the entire staff to be involved with the students. An example of this is with three of the children with autism, who have as part of their plan to go to see the secretary each morning to greet her as part of their social skills. The bus driver is written into plans as part of a student’s social interaction goals.”

“This team thinks outside the box,” said Robin Crain in the nomination. “They start from a value base of ‘what does this child need?’ They search for ways to hook students to learning. They do not give up on kids. They truly believe in the collaborative approach. They involve all stakeholders in problem solving around plans for children. They come from a value base of reinforcers, not punishers.

“This school has 11 children with autism plus many others with special needs,” the nomination continued. “The school consistently rises to any challenge and truly believes in an inclusive system. This is not something special they do. It is the way they do business. They truly are a school family.”

Robin Crain concludes in an accompanying letter: “This team exemplifies what we dream of when we speak about inclusion.”

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION AWARD RECIPIENTS - École Sainte-Anne, Fredericton

Photo: Left - Nancy Béland, Right - Chantal Brochu

Chantal Brochu
Teacher’s Aide,
École Sainte-Anne, Fredericton

An Efforts toward Inclusive Education Award in the elementary education category was presented to Chantal Brochu, a teacher’s aide at École Sainte-Anne in Fredericton.

Mme Brochu was recognized for the exceptional work she does with all students, and most particularly with the one for whom she has special responsibility. According to her nominators, Mme Brochu is open to all questions and concerns expressed by the classmates of her student and she involves all classmates in helping to include that student. As a result, Mme Brochu’s student is well accepted and very happy in her school environment.

“It is easy to say that Chantal always gives 100 per cent for her students,” said her nominator, Véronique Arseneault, resource teacher at École Sainte-Anne. “She is a gem of a teacher’s aide!”

Nancy Béland
Physical Education Teacher,
École Sainte-Anne, Fredericton

Nancy Béland also received an Efforts toward Inclusive Education Award in the elementary education category.

A physical education teacher, Mme Béland strives to include all her students at École Sainte-Anne in her class activities. As illustrated by her nominators, who cited many examples of Mme Béland’s concern for all of her students, this requires creativity and flexibility, as well as complete dedication to the philosophy of inclusion.

Some illustrations of Mme Béland’s dedication to inclusion include her request for a paved path to the playground area to make wheelchair passage easier, or a request for permisision to bring a wheelchair onto the soccer pitch.

“Mme Nancy is a leader of inclusive education,” said one of her the nominators, colleague Véronique Arseneault.

STUDENT AWARD RECIPIENT

Alex Boudreau Grade 6 Student at École Abbey-Landry Memramcook

Sixth grader Alex Boudreau of Abbey-Landry School in Memramcook was recognized with the Student Award at NBACL’s Inclusive Education Awards Ceremony.

He was nominated by his teacher, Tanya Bellefleur, who wrote in his nomination, “Alex is a leader at school. His classmates respect him, and want to be his friend. Among his friends is a student in our class who has special needs. Alex knows this boy well. He takes note of what interests his friend and makes sure he asks him every morning how his evening or weekend was.”

Mme Bellefleur went on to describe the special efforts Alex makes to assure that a particular classmate with an intellectual disability is accommodated and included both inside and outside the classroom. “The way Alex defends and protects this student is most amazing,” she wrote.

According to Mme Bellefleur, Alex makes a special effort to spend time with his friend, inviting him to join his group in class, or joining his friend’s group. He has even passed up on participation in certain activities to spend time with this student.

“And not only does he help out this student,” Mme Bellefeur added, “He also helps another student who has great academic difficulties. He volunteers to help him with academic tasks and defends his rights, as well.

“He is certainly an inspiration and model for our class!”

Awards in New Brunswick
FOREST HILLS SCHOOL in Saint John – District 8 - HONOURED
WITH NATIONAL INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AWARD

SCHOOL STAFF AWARD RECIPIENT
The Teaching and Administrative Staff Forest Hills School, Saint John

Forest Hills School was one of three recipients of an Inclusive Education Award in the School Staff category,

Comments from Marlene Munn, President of NBACL:

* This is a school that has made great strides in inclusion in recent years;

moving from a situation where nine children with autism were taught in a segregated classroom in the basement of the building to the point where now five of those students have returned to the schools in their neighbourhoods while the remaining four, all living in the Forest Hills area, are fully integrated in their classrooms.
* Credit for this great accomplishment goes to the school principal, Tanya Whitney, who took every opportunity to prepare her staff for the transition;
* and to that staff, especially Al Fequet and Vickie Beaulieu-Manuel and the many others who studied and worked hard to be ready to seize the opportunity to make a change
* Tanya Whitney and her team stepped up to the plate and bravely faced the challenges … for the students who they knew in their hearts would benefit from it (inclusion). And that includes not only the students with intellectual disabilities, but all the students in the school . . . and their families.
* This team has embraced NBACL’s changing lives/changing communities philosophy entirely. And they have achieved it. They have changed many students’ and families’ lives and they have changed their school community.

Ontario Award winners focus on what’s working to promote inclusive education

Brockville and District Association for Community Involvement wins Ontario’s CACL Inclusive Education Award
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 -- Camille Jensen


By changing their strategy to focus on the positive steps being made towards inclusive education, the Brockville and District Association for Community Involvement (BDACI) was able to help transform a high school not known for accepting students who have a disability into a successful example and advocate for inclusion.

For these efforts and others, BDACI was named the Ontario recipient of the Canadian Association for Community Living’s (CACL) Inclusive Education Award.

Beth French, BDACI’s executive director, says they are pleased to be recognized and that the acknowledgment offers both encouragement to staff members and enhanced credibility as the association continues their work towards promoting inclusive education. She credits BDACI’s president, Nancy McNamara for her involvement and continued efforts towards inclusion.

While the accolades are a nice pat on the back, French says she wants the award to highlight the larger subject of how best to promote inclusive education.

“It’s very nice for us to be recognized but I think what’s most important is that there be recognition of the issues with respect to inclusion of kids who have an intellectual disability in the school system,” says French.

According to French, their association experienced real progress towards that goal after deciding to change their approach. She says for many years the association was supporting families in their efforts to have their child included in the classroom and found the process “quite discouraging,” noting they made little progress.

“We decided that what we really needed to do was to switch that around a bit and highlight a positive accomplishment and that was when we started to think about the partnership we had with the Upper Canada District school board,” recalls French.

Already having good relations with the school board, BDACI focused their attention on the Brockville Collegiate Institute (BCI), which had the reputation as a highly academic school and not welcoming of students who have a disability.

BDACI joined the school’s accessibility committee and worked extensively with the principal, Dave Coombs, who agreed to meet with BDACI families and staff.

“BDACI found ways to teach BCI staff about the high degree of curriculum modification and innovative accommodation needed by students with developmental disabilities. BCI learned to connect this with its board’s efforts for differentiated instruction, character development and school improvement,” said Marilyn Dolmage, inclusive education consultant, in a letter nominating BDACI for the award.

The efforts of BDCAI and the high school also caught the attention of the Ministry of Education, which funded a research project to learn how the high school was able to develop and sustain motivation and strategies for effective inclusion of students who have a disability.

According to Doug Cooper, co-chair of the awards committee and member of Community Living Ontario’s board of directors, BDACI deserves to be recognized for taking a leadership role in proving that inclusions does work in schools.

“I think just the efforts that they put in towards working with the school board and in particular the one collegiate which really didn’t have students who have a developmental disability in their school. . . . other school boards will take that example as well.”

The CACL Inclusive Education Awards highlight National Inclusive Education Week, which runs from Feb. 15-22, by drawing attention to the positive examples of inclusive classrooms and schools across the country. The award recognizes an individual or team who has made contributions to inclusive education in their province or territory.

National Inclusive Education Awards Announced in BC

To highlight National Inclusive Education Week (February 15 - 22), and to bring attention to the many positive examples of inclusive classrooms and schools across the country, the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) has created a national certificate of recognition to be bestowed upon recipients who have made positive contributions to inclusive education in their province or territory.

Three awards were selected in the areas of early childhood education, K-12 education and post-secondary education. Winners were announced during Inclusive Education Week (February 15-22, 2009) and will be honoured at the BCACL Conference and Annual General Meeting in June, 2009.

And the winners are...
• Early Childhood Education - Elaine Kopetski, Megan Kikert, and Echo Hawkridge of Quesnel and District Daycare. Read the news release here.
• Elementary School category - Elaine Fitzpatrick of Parkhill Elementary School in Dawson Creek. Read the news release here.
• Secondary School Category - Curtis Tuininga and Shannon Kumpolt of Centennial Christian School in Terrace. Read the news release here.
• Champion of Inclusive Education in BC - Barbara Laird, of Vancouver. Read the news release here.

President of Canadian Education Association discusses Implications of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities – at Manitoba Event

Carolyn Duhamel, President of the CEA and the Executive Director of the Manitoba Association of School Trustees reviewed the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities for those attending the forum. Although Canada has signed the convention, it has yet to be ratified and adopted by Canada and its provinces and territories.
Carolyn also spoke about the concept of disability. That it is not a medical condition but a result of interaction between social attitudes and barriers with the condition of a particular person. As a result, the term “disability” is not restrictive. It includes long-term and short term physical, mental, intellectual and sensory disabilities.



The UN Convention specifically addresses inclusive education and promotes a number of key concepts including:

* Inclusion at all levels
* Dignity and self-worth
* Access on an equal basis
* Reasonable accommodation
* Effective individualized support measures

A Mantoba Retrospective –
Progress Made Since the Special Education Review, 1998

Joanna Blais, Director of Student Services for Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth, provided an overview of the key areas identified in the Special Education Review. These action areas include:

* Communication
* Policy
* Accountability
* Educational Supports
* Human Resources
* Funding
* Intersectoral Collaboration

Progress in these action areas includes the development and proclamation of the Appropriate Education Act in 2004, followed by the supporting standards and regulations in 2005. In addition, MECY has produced a significant number of policy and support documents that describe appropriate practice in promoting inclusive education at the school division, school and classroom levels.

Manitoba ACL Makes Awards
Celebration of Exceptional Leadership in Inclusive Education
Community Living Manitoba makes 2 awards.

The Canadian Association for Community Living acknowledge inclusive education leadership across the country with certificates of recognition awarded during inclusive education week. This year in Manitoba, when the call was put out for nominees, two candidates were nominated.
These two leaders work as school principals and provide wonderful examples of the qualities that create a welcoming atmosphere, not just for students who have special needs, but for all students, teachers, educational assistants, support workers and parents with whom they work.
Elaine Lochhead has received many awards for her work as a principal of Ste Anne Collegiate in the Seine River School Division and for her leadership of the Manitoba Council for Exceptional Children. She is inspirational and has boundless energy and enthusiasm for her vocation.
Pam Ball, the principal of Robertson School in Winnipeg School Division, believes in providing information and support to those around her so that they too can become the leaders of the inclusive education movement in her school. She is February’s principal of the month on the national inclusive education website and her story provides a blueprint for how to promote change in a positive and forthright manner.
Congratulations to both Elaine Lochhead and Pam Ball for receiving this national recognition from CACL.

NB Event: Inclusive Education Awards in Fredericton February 19 2009

The New Brunswick Association for Community Living is holding an awards event at Old Government House in Fredericton at 4:00 pm on Thursday, February 19. President Marlene Munn has announced that several individuals and schools will be recognized for their efforts to make inclusive education a reality in provincial schools. Education Minister Lamrock has been invited to attend. Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick Herménégilde Chiasson will host the event.

Click HERE for the details (PDF)

Toronto Forum February 13 at OISE

Click HERE for the details (PDF)

Winnipeg, Manitoba Event February 17/09 – During National Inclusive Education Week

Click HERE for the details (PDF)

Manitoba's Summit on Inclusive Education: A True Celebration! February 20/08 Event

Click HERE for the details (PDF)

Community Living Toronto – Kids Exposed to Inclusion Concepts Through Spinclusion Game

Click HERE for the details (PDF)

Manitoba Inclusive Education Summit - February 20, 2008

Click HERE to download the registration form (PDF)

Click HERE to download the schedule of events (PDF)

National Inclusive Education Week

National Inclusive Education Week is a time for members of the Community Living movement and its many partners to promote and raise awareness about inclusive education.

The purposes of National Inclusive Education Week are:

• To highlight inclusive education – to define what it is and how the development of inclusive schools and inclusive school practices helps provide quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students with an intellectual disability.
• To provide educators, students and parents an opportunity to share ideas on strategies to enhance inclusion and successful school experiences for every child.
• To acknowledge and recognize the commitment and effort of teachers, administrators, students, and families who contribute to successful inclusion of students in schools and classrooms throughout Canada.

Get Involved!
There are many ways that you can celebrate National Inclusive Education Week.

Examples of National Inclusive Education Week Activities:

To highlight National Inclusive Education Week and to bring attention to the many positive examples of inclusive classrooms and schools across the country, CACL has created a national certificate of recognition to be bestowed upon recipients, selected by Provincial/Territorial Associations for Community Living (ACLs), who have made positive contributions to inclusive education in their province or territory.

In partnership with the Alberta government and the Alberta Home and School Association, the Alberta Association for Community developed an inclusive education poster that was distributed to every school in Alberta.

Community Living Ontario presented a series of education stories on its website throughout the week.

The New Brunswick Association for Community Living held a ceremony to present two National Recognition Certificates in Fredericton, Thursday, November 6th in the Prince Edward Room at the Fredericton Inn. The Minister of Education, Madeleine Dubé, took part in the event.

Celebration Kit
The National Institute for Urban School Improvement has created an excellent resource for National Inclusive Education Week - The Celebration Kit: www.inclusiveschools.org/kit.asp. The Kit contains everything you need to plan for the event as well as ideas, lesson plans and materials to promote the Week. For more information about the Week they put on, go to: www.inclusiveschools.org