Inclusion Parent Interest Group

Inclusive education is the first choice for all students in Edmonton Catholic Schools. Research continues to prove that all children, including those with special education needs, learn as well or better when they are together with their peers in regular settings.

Inclusive programming consultants with Learning Services – Innovation have had an ongoing dialogue with parents of students with special needs through the Edmonton Catholic School District’s Inclusion Parent Interest Group.

This collaborative group meets regularly to promote, support, and improve inclusive education within the Edmonton Catholic School District community. The group meets to discuss inclusive education practices and the importance of creating and maintaining active parent participation in programming for students with special needs. The district believes in the value of the inclusive approach to education and seeks to highlight the tremendous opportunities for individual growth and social awareness through maintaining diversity in classrooms and school communities.

The Inclusion Parent Interest Group provides support for parents of students with special needs and encourages communication and collaboration through a parent network.

Each child is viewed as a unique gift from God and is deserving of celebration. Children that learn together, learn to live together. The focus of the group is to make that a continued reality in Edmonton Catholic Schools.

You may contact this group through Cory Donald from Learning Services – Innovation at 780-989-3024 or Cory.Donald@ecsd.net.

Published in the Edmonton Journal – Education Pullout ~ Summer, 2008

Inclusion Parent Interest Group Commends District

The Inclusion Parent Interest Group would like to commend the district for the direction that has been taken with regards to inclusive programming for students with mild moderate special needs. On behalf of the group, we are happy to share the following comment from a founding member:

I applaud Edmonton Catholic Schools for moving further in the direction of inclusion. Alberta is moving toward better inclusion c based on our knowledge of good educational practice. It is an important step in the right direction and consistent with our obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (See recent upload) which Canada ratified last month.

It will be a challenge to ensure that the needs of students with mild and moderate disabilities will be well addressed in the new format, particularly at a time of tight budgets. Nevertheless, evidence shows that it is possible to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities as well or better in an inclusive context as in congregated classrooms. This is an important development that constitutes meaningful progress, and it is great to see Edmonton Catholic Schools taking the lead.

Dick Sobsey, Associate Director
JP Das Developmental Disabilities Centre
University of Alberta

Related Documents

• Protocol for Parent Concerns in Special Education
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which Canada Ratified Article 24 - Education

Parent Links

• www.gatewayacl.org - Gateway Association for Community Living
• www.aacl.org - Alberta Association for Community Living
• www.ldedmonton.ca - Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta, Edmonton Chapter
• www.edss.ca – Edmonton Down Syndrome Society

Annual Group Report

• Highlights 2009-2010