Toronto Catholic District School Board

In gathering stories 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. One board that stood out is the Toronto Catholic District School Board. You may have stories of other boards or teachers. Please contribute them to our Forum.

Here are some good practices of the TCDSB:

Strong student leadership for Inclusion:

The TCDSB student trustee’s Voices that Challenge report for 2010-2011 is a statement of priorities that student leaders throughout the Board named.

The Report recommends that:

1) “each school promote and facilitate the ‘Best Buddy’ system where students without an intellectual disability take part in activities along side a student with intellectual disabilities, such as eating lunch, attending class together, going on excursions and participating in extra-curricular events together.”

2) “the Board proclaim a week in the month of September called ‘Inclusion and Belonging Week’ …accompanied by activities and events that reflect the message of Jean Vanier”

Educators who take initiative

Several short pieces by or about TCDSB educators can be found on this website.

An Innovative Pilot Project – ‘A Place of Belonging’

Practicing Inclusion in a Leadership Class

The Experience of an Educational Assistant

The Transformative Effect of Integrated Groups

Other Supports:

The TCDSB offers a number of supports for students who have intellectual disabilities. Its “Buddy’s B.U.D.S.” program builds on “Best Buddies” to link students of differing abilities within a school. Its “Angel Foundation” assists students financially who have difficulty paying for educational trips or paying for a support person to accompany them on these.