An Innovative Pilot Project
In gathering materials for this website we were stuck by the commitment of teachers and school boards across Canada who are helping their students with and without disabilities to develop meaningful social relationships. You may know stories of particular boards or teachers. Please contribute them to our Forum. We highlight here the Toronto Catholic District School Board because the initiatives of several of its educators came to our attention. You will find these gathered together lower down on this page.
An Innovative Project
Linda Alonzi has worked with other educators to develop an innovative transitional experiential program called “ A Place of Belonging.” It helps graduating students with intellectual disabilities establish valued relationships that continue after they graduate. In their final years of high school, students with intellectual disabilities are assigned to experiential placements assisting teachers and educational assistants (teaching assistants) at an elementary school near where they live. If the placement is successful, the plan is that the student retains the position as a regular volunteer after graduation. The students become known and form relationships in their placements while they still have support from their high school. Because the schools are selected to be near where they live, the students may actually be remembered from their elementary years by some of the staff. In this project Principal Alonzi was inspired by Kim, who is a full-time volunteer in a kindergarten class. The experiences of Kim and of some of the educators who have worked with Principal Alonzi to develop this project are related in the videos and stories lower down on this page.
Linda Alonzi, Principal, Toronto Catholic District School Board
A Teacher on Opportunities for Youth with Special Needs
Secondary school teacher Liam Cameron feels some youth with disabiliteis lack opportunity to give their gifts once they leave school. Networking can help, but parents can’t always afford programs. He supports a project for some graduating students to find a place of contribution and belonging working in the local schools.
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Definitions of Curriculum that Encourage Inclusion
Dr. Carmen Shields has been an important member of the committee developing the Toronto Catholic District School Board pilot project “A Place of Belonging.” She is a past Chair of Graduate Studies in Education at Nipissing University and has helped to situate the project in terms of curriculum theory.
She notes,
“Unfortunately most of the school definitions of curriculum these days leave out the specific individuals we are talking about in this project. Curriculum is defined today in Ontario as subject matter – literacy and numeracy at the moment–but there are many definitions of curriculum.”
To read Dr. Shield’s full statement about this project and two very inclusive definitions of ‘curriculum,’ visit: http://www.ibelong.ca/uploads/ED_Definitions_of_Curriculum_that_Foster_Inclusion1.pdf
Kim’s Experience - A Place of Belonging
Kim loves her job helping in a kindergarten classroom. She encourages other young people with special needs to believe that they also can have an interesting job. The teacher, who is from another school, confirms that adult volunteers such as Kim are much appreciated by the staff and are loved by the children.
Download TranscriptKim - Inspiration for a School Board Pilot Project
Kim has a full time volunteer job working in the kindergarten of an elementary school. It is a job rich in relationships. Kim, her mother, and the school principal describe her success. Kim is very happy. She is the model for a pilot co-op project to find long-term elementary school positions for graduating students with intellectual disablitiles.
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