This document captures the essence of the 1993 Diversity & Inclusion Gathering held in Toronto, a groundbreaking event focused on fostering inclusion and diversity in education and community. Using the innovative “Learning Marketplace” format, participants co-created the agenda, exploring the central question: “How do we make education and community for...
This document captures the essence of the Diversity Gathering held in Toronto, Canada, from August 14-16, 1993. It serves as a heartfelt exploration of inclusion, diversity, and community-building, featuring unedited session notes, participant reflections, and actionable ideas. The gathering brought together advocates, educators, families, and individuals from diverse backgrounds...
Welcome to Explorations in Inclusion, a dynamic collection of ideas, stories, and strategies from the 1993 McGill Summer Institute on Integrated Education and Community. This document is a heartfelt guide to creating inclusive spaces where everyone—regardless of ability—can thrive. With contributions from 80 passionate participants worldwide, it covers everything from...
Becky Belongs: Voices Raised in Support of Integration This heartfelt document is a powerful compilation of voices advocating for inclusive education, centered around Becky Till, a 13-year-old Canadian girl with a disability who has been denied access to her neighborhood school. Through quotes from educators, parents, students, and...
This document, submitted by the Integration Action Group (I.A.G.) in 1986, advocates for reforming Ontario’s Education Act to align with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It highlights the need for inclusive education, emphasizing that all children, regardless of disabilities, deserve to learn in their local schools...
This document is a comprehensive exploration of integrating children with mental handicaps into regular school systems, offering insights, real-life examples, and actionable strategies. Authored by Marsha Forest and contributors, it highlights the transformative power of inclusive education, where children of all abilities learn and grow together. Through stories...
Discover the Power of Inclusion and Relationships Welcome to It’s About Relationships, a heartfelt and thought-provoking essay by Marsha Forest, republished to celebrate the 25th Summer Institute on Inclusion, Community, and Diversity. This inspiring piece takes you on a journey through the transformative power of inclusion, love, and...
“It’s About Learning” by Marsha Forest and Bruce Kappel explores Frontier College’s innovative Student-Centered Individualized Learning (SCIL) approach to adult education. This method prioritizes the learner’s unique needs, interests, and goals, fostering meaningful relationships between tutors and students. Through real-life stories, the book highlights how SCIL empowers individuals...
It’s About Relationships by Marsha Forest is a heartfelt exploration of inclusion, community, and the transformative power of relationships. Republished to honor the 25th Summer Institute on Inclusion, Community, and Diversity, this essay reflects Marsha’s passionate advocacy for creating a just society where everyone belongs. Through personal stories,...
About Teaching by Marsha Forest is a heartfelt and practical guide for educators, tutors, and anyone passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences. Rooted in Frontier College’s philosophy of inclusion and literacy for all, this booklet challenges traditional teaching methods, advocating for a student-centered approach that values individuality, trust, and collaboration....
5 Valued Experiences & the 5 Accomplishments – John O’Brien & Connie Lyle O’Brien 12,064 views Apr 4, 2019John O’Brien and Connie Lyle-O’Brien have spent a lifetime moving our thinking about how people with developmental disabilities can be supported, shifting from institution and program centered life, to the person centered life of...
This document dives into the transformative journey of inclusion and community-building, highlighting key lessons from history. It explores how workshops like PASS (Program Analysis of Service Systems) served as a catalyst for raising consciousness and inspiring action. Led by Jack Pealer, these five-day workshops introduced the principle of...
Step into the inspiring world of The Safeguards Letter Collection, a heartfelt archive chronicling decades of advocacy for Ohio citizens with developmental disabilities. Created by Jack Pealer, Sandy Landis, and their dedicated team, this collection spans from 1986 to 2021, offering a rich tapestry of newsletters, articles, and policy...
The Community Living Paper is a heartfelt exploration of how Ohio’s communities can better include people with developmental disabilities as valued neighbors, co-workers, and citizens. It reflects on the early efforts of families in the 1950s and 60s who fought for better opportunities for their loved ones, creating schools,...
The Community Living Paper explores the journey of integrating people with developmental disabilities into Ohio’s communities, highlighting past efforts, current challenges, and future possibilities. It reflects on the determination of families in the 1950s and 60s to create inclusive supports when none existed, emphasizing the importance of community collaboration....
The transcript does not contain the information required to answer the question directly, as it is not a PDF document but rather a meeting transcript. However, based on the content provided, here is a brief summary: Discover Supported Decision Making: A Path to Empowerment This engaging transcript from Audrey Cole’s...
This document dives into the critical conversation around guardianship laws in Canada and their impact on people with disabilities. It highlights how traditional substitute decision-making practices strip individuals with severe intellectual or developmental disabilities of their legal rights, reducing them to “legal nonentities.” Rooted in outdated British law,...
Preserving the Right to Self-Determination: Supported Decision-Making as an Alternative to Guardianship,” explores empowering individuals to make their own choices while receiving support from trusted relationships. It highlights the importance of self-determination, emphasizing that humans have feelings, preferences, and rights. The text contrasts the “human person,” who...
This insightful document by Audrey D. Cole explores the principle of “First, do no harm” in the context of disability rights and decision-making. Drawing inspiration from Ira Glasser’s cautionary principle in Doing Good: The Limits of Benevolence, Cole emphasizes evaluating programs for their potential harm rather than solely their...
This document explores Supported Decision Making (SDM) as an empowering alternative to guardianship for individuals with intellectual disabilities in Ontario. Authored by Audrey D. Cole, a seasoned advocate in disability rights, it delves into the historical, legal, and social context of guardianship laws, highlighting their discriminatory impact on people...
This document, titled Podium, explores the transformative power of inclusive education through real-life stories of integrating children with special needs into mainstream classrooms. Authored by Marsha Forest and Jack Pearpoint, it emphasizes the philosophy that “All means all,” advocating for the inclusion of every child, regardless of their challenges. The...
This document explores the transformative philosophy of inclusive education, emphasizing that “everyone belongs.” It highlights the movement in Canada to integrate children with special needs, including those with severe disabilities, into regular classrooms alongside their peers. Through a detailed case study of Carla, a 12-year-old with significant challenges,...
This document highlights the success of York University’s groundbreaking “Saturday-Get-Together” mainstreaming project, where children with disabilities and their “normal” peers learn together in a supportive, inclusive environment. Spearheaded by special education professor Marsha Forest and her team, the program emphasizes individual potential over labels, fostering self-confidence, leadership, and a...
This insightful report, written by Linda Shaw for the Centre for Studies on Integration in Education (CSIE), explores the groundbreaking inclusive education practices in Hamilton and Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. These Catholic school boards have embraced “full inclusion,” ensuring all children, regardless of disabilities or learning difficulties, learn together in...
This document explores the transformative power of inclusion in education through two innovative strategies: MAPS (Making Action Plans) and Circles of Friends. Written by Marsha Forest and Jack Pearpoint, it highlights the importance of integrating students with diverse needs into regular classrooms, emphasizing that segregation is harmful and outdated....
This document, authored by Gary Bunch, explores the transformative power of inclusive education for students with disabilities. It highlights the shift from segregated special education to inclusive classrooms, where all students learn together, fostering acceptance, equity, and stronger communities. Drawing on global perspectives, research, and personal experiences, the...
Discover the transformative power of PlayFair Teams, a school-based initiative promoting inclusion, social justice, and equity for students with disabilities. This document dives into how PlayFair Teams create opportunities for students to lead, connect, and advocate for change. By blending students with and without disabilities, these teams foster...
This document outlines a collaborative initiative between Canada and South-Eastern European (SEE) nations to promote inclusive education for individuals with disabilities. Spearheaded by the Marsha Forest Centre (MFC) in Toronto, the initiative aims to transition from segregated “special education” systems to inclusive education models in countries like Croatia, Slovenia,...
This study explores student attitudes toward peers with disabilities in inclusive and special education schools, focusing on friendship, advocacy, abusive behavior, and acceptance of educational models. Conducted in Ontario, Canada, it compares 31 students from special education schools and 21 from inclusive schools. Findings reveal that inclusive schools...
This document dives into the challenges faced by deaf children in learning English morphology and explores the effectiveness of teaching methods. It highlights how deaf children struggle to internalize linguistic rules compared to their hearing peers, often relying on visual aids like sign language, speech-reading, and writing. Two...
This document dives into the ongoing debate between special education and inclusive education approaches for students with disabilities. Special education involves segregated placements based on students’ needs, ranging from regular classrooms to specialized schools. In contrast, inclusive education advocates for all learners to be educated in regular classrooms...
This document explores the benefits of inclusive education for students with and without disabilities, presenting insights from global research, parent organizations, and student perspectives. It highlights how inclusive schools foster a sense of belonging, respect, and community, while promoting academic, social, and emotional growth for all students. Key...
Discover how families and teachers can better collaborate to support students with disabilities transitioning from secondary school to adult life in the community. This insightful document, based on a study by the Marsha Forest Centre, highlights the challenges and misunderstandings often faced during transition planning. It reveals that...
This document explores the concept of full inclusion for students with challenging needs, emphasizing the integration of all learners into regular classrooms alongside their peers. It highlights the collaboration between parents, educators, and school staff to create tailored social and academic programs that address individual abilities. The study...
This document dives into practical strategies for building inclusive education across India, focusing on creating supportive infrastructures at individual schools, school systems, and national levels. It emphasizes the importance of empowering schools to directly support students with disabilities through dedicated roles like Inclusion Facilitators, in-school teams, and streamlined record-keeping....
In Canada, the policies on inclusive education vary across provinces and territories. Some regions, such as New Brunswick and the three northern territories, have adopted inclusive education policies and invested in inclusive practices. These areas are recognized for their progress in implementing inclusive education. However, most Canadian jurisdictions...
This insightful document explores the profound importance of belonging and its impact on emotional and physical well-being, particularly for individuals with disabilities. It highlights how family, friends, and community connections foster a sense of belonging, while loneliness and isolation can lead to devastating consequences. The text critiques traditional...
This document dives into the basics of Inclusive Education, offering a clear and thoughtful introduction to its philosophy and practice. It explains how Inclusive Education differs from the traditional Special Education Model, emphasizing the importance of educating students with and without disabilities together in regular classrooms. The concept...
This insightful document, “Students with Disabilities and Global Education” by Gary Bunch and Angela Valeo, explores the intersection of global education and inclusive education for students with disabilities. It highlights the philosophy of global education, which emphasizes unity, diversity, and human rights, and its alignment with the principles of...
Discover the transformative power of PlayFair Teams, an innovative, evidence-based strategy promoting disability awareness, social justice, and inclusion in schools. Developed by the Marsha Forest Centre, this all-student program empowers young leaders to create equitable communities by addressing issues of disability and inclusion through engaging activities like skits and...
This document is a heartfelt nomination letter by John McKnight, CoFounder of the Asset Based Community Development Institute, advocating for Judith Snow’s induction into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame. McKnight highlights his 30-year relationship with Snow, emphasizing her unparalleled influence in the disability field, particularly in the United...
This heartfelt and eye-opening document by Marsha Forest, titled “Out of the Mouths of Babes: A Warning to Us All”, recounts her observation of a Grade 1 classroom in a prestigious Canadian school. The focus is on Tommy, a six-year-old boy with developmental delays, who struggles to find acceptance...
“Conversations on Citizenship & Person-Centered Work” is a thought-provoking exploration of person-centered practices, leadership, and community building, edited by John O’Brien and Carol Blessing. Featuring insights from experts like Beth Mount, Diana Whitney, Michael Smull, Denise Bissonnette, and Jack Pearpoint, this volume dives into topics such as citizenship, disability...
Discover the Power of Person-Centered Learning: A 15-Week Journey This guide invites you on a transformative 15-week learning journey focused on person-centered practices, citizenship, and community inclusion. Rooted in empathy and collaboration, the course encourages participants to deepen their understanding of supporting individuals with disabilities in meaningful ways....
Discover the Learning Partner Guide: A Journey to Inclusion and Citizenship Welcome to a transformative 15-week learning journey designed to deepen your understanding of person-centered practices, citizenship, and community inclusion. This guide is your roadmap to creating meaningful partnerships and fostering authentic connections with individuals living with disabilities....
This document, A Framework for Planning Personal Workbook, is a creative and thoughtful guide designed to help individuals discover meaningful pathways to community connection and citizenship. Developed by Carol Blessing and Connie Ferrell, the workbook uses the metaphor of a journey to empower individuals to take charge of their...
, “Dissent from Consensus,” offers a thoughtful critique of the National Quality Forum’s (NQF) Interim Report on Person-Centered Planning & Practice. Authored by seasoned advocates and practitioners in the field of developmental disabilities, it challenges the report’s approach to defining and implementing person-centered planning. The authors argue that...
his document explores the transformative concept of Citizen-Centered Leadership, emphasizing the importance of shifting from system-centered approaches to community-driven inclusion for people with disabilities. It challenges traditional disability and consumer models, advocating for authentic citizenship as a universal principle to unite all people. Through reflections on Mayer Shevin’s poem The...
khis field guide, created by the Northeast Arc Transition Collaborative, is a practical resource for educators, service providers, and families aiming to support youth with disabilities in their transition from school to adult life. It emphasizes person-centered planning, a student-driven approach that focuses on individual strengths, interests, and goals....