Inclusion is a philosophy of education that promotes the participation of students with disabilities in ways that are the same as their non-disabled peers.
It makes them an active part of the community and classroom, where they learn and grow next to typically developing classmates and friends.
Currently, fourteen percent of students in public schools have a documented disability and receive some form of special education services, and according to the last numbers compiled by the USCCB in 2002, seven percent of students in Catholic schools have a documented disability.
The kind of resources that the FIRE Foundation of Northeast Iowa provides immediately increases our schools’ capacity to serve those students and enable schools to welcome a significant portion of our potential student population who have not been part of our schools.
When Catholic Schools are able to support students with disabilities or learning challenges, the benefits stretch well beyond the individual child and reach all members of the school, parish and community.
Benefits for the...
Individual
- Access to religion classes, weekly Mass, and sacraments and faith based education
- Strengthens family ties by attending same school as siblings
- A sense of belonging to the church community
- Opportunities for friendship and improved social development
- Access to peer role models
Classmates
- Gain respect for diversity and increase empathy skills
- Accommodations made for students with disabilities benefit all students
- Provides leadership opportunities as role model
- Develop a sense of empowerment to make a difference in the world
- Reduce prejudice against differences and contribute to a more diverse society
Families
- Full acceptance into the parish/school community, reducing isolation
- Continuity between faith values and educational needs
- Reduces stress with fewer schedules and streamlined activities
- Assists families in religious education for the child with Special Needs
School
- Increase diversity and empathy for individual differences
- Opportunities for corporal works of mercy/service
- Improved teaching skills/knowledge/ strategies for teachers that benefit all children
- Enjoy the richness of character of individuals with disabilities
Parish
- Opportunities to evangelize to individuals with disabilities and their families
- Strengthens the parish community through diversity
- Develop empathy within the parish community for individual differences
- Opportunities for corporal works of mercy
- Enjoy the richness of character that individuals with disabilities bring