Why Inclusion: For Clergy

A central theme for communities who have embraced inclusion for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is increased faith. Central to this process are well-equipped pastors to shepherd their community towards true belonging for students of all abilities.

“Including students with disabilities is just part of our culture at Mary Queen of Peace. If all schools had an inclusion program, we’d all be so seamlessly blessed. These children bring joy and love to our community, enriching every aspect of our school and parish.”

- Fr. Craig Holway, Pastor of Mary Queen of Peace

A young girl with glasses dressed in a blue dress with a white collar and red trim, standing in front of a white statue of Jesus Christ. She is sticking out her tongue slightly and posing outdoors among green trees and plants.

Inclusion of students with IDD in faith-based education is consistent with Catholic social teaching on the dignity of every human life. Catholic tradition upholds that every human life is sacred and worthy of respect as the bedrock of a just society. This is not a passive teaching; it is a call to create communities and social systems that reflect the underlying love and divinity of each person. 

In the 1940’s, the Archdiocese of St. Louis pioneered Catholic education for children with disabilities by implementing the nation’s first “special school district” of separate elementary, secondary, and technical schools. While this was a positive step, a decline in Catholic school enrollment and subsequent financial pressure prevented long-term sustainability.

Further, educational research over the course of 40 years began to show higher academic performance, better social-emotional development, and more positive long-term benefits for all students in an academically inclusive environment.

In short? All students benefit from an inclusive education.

Why Inclusion?

A boy in a blue jacket reaches out to touch a statue of Jesus Christ in a school hallway.

One Classroom’s collaborative ecosystem alleviates the pain points of limited human and fiscal resources in Catholic schools, while realizing the value of placing students with special needs alongside their peers at Catholic schools.

By optimizing existing school infrastructure, One Classroom programs provide:

  • A faith-based education for students of all abilities with on-site therapies and services;

  • Support of faith-based school enrollment by enabling families of students with disabilities to send all of their children to the same school; 

  • Easily accessible and personalized training for administrators, educators and pastors/clergy to facilitate program integration;

  • A fresh perspective on long-held beliefs that inclusive education only benefits students with disabilities, that a child’s disability defines his/her identity, and that schools lack the resources to accommodate these children;

  • An environment that reduces the stigma experienced by individuals with disabilities who are academically, socially, emotionally and physically segregated; and 

  • The promotion of a more just, equitable and inclusive society, increased empathy and acceptance of individual disabilities by breaking down barriers among peers.

     

Where to Begin 

One Classroom has a proven track record of helping clergy and pastors implement inclusion programs within their Catholic or faith-based communities. Our goal is to keep the process simple and provide you with the resources you need to be successful.

These include:

  • On-site training for you and your school administrators/teachers

  • Best practices on welcoming students with varying disabilities including Down Syndrome, ADHD, autism and audio/visual impairment

  • Access to financial resources through One Classroom grants and self-sustaining fundraising models

  • Opportunities to connect with experienced clergy and pastors who understand the process and the impact on their communities

Additional Resources

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Want to Bring Inclusion to Your Parish School?

Let’s get in touch and make it happen!