Inclusive Catholic Education is an approach in which all children, regardless of ability, learn together in the same school. Special support is available to ensure optimal learning for students with special learning needs. FIRE Foundation of Northeast Iowa makes grants to partner schools to enhance their inclusive Catholic Education environment. Students with special needs achieve their individual academic objectives while learning alongside their peers.
The benefits of inclusive education are numerous for both students with and without special needs. Inclusion also gives Catholic learning communities a unique opportunity to live our faith by modeling Christ’s love for others.
Benefits of Inclusion for Students With Disabilities:
- Friendships
- Increased social initiations, relationships and networks
- Peer role models for academic, social and behavior skills
- Increased achievement of academic goals
- Increased opportunities to grow spiritually
- Opportunities to participate in sacramental development
- Greater access to general curriculum
- Enhanced skill acquisition and generalization
- Increased inclusion in future environments
- Greater opportunities for social interactions
- Higher expectations
- Increased school-staff-family collaboration
- Increased parent participation
- Families are more integrated into community
Benefits of Inclusion for Typical Students (without significant special needs):
- Meaningful friendships
- Increased appreciation and acceptance of individual differences
- Increased understanding and acceptance of diversity
- Respect for all people
- Opportunities to live the Catholic faith
- Prepares all students for adult life in an inclusive society
- Opportunities to master activities by practicing and teaching others
- Greater academic outcomes
- All students needs are better met when there are greater resources for all
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