There is a ripple effect that happens when a Catholic school chooses to prioritize inclusion. When teachers and administrators actively make persons with disabilities seen and welcomed in a community, everyone benefits.
Everyone learns more than academics when persons with and without disabilities are educated alongside one another. All learners grow in compassion, understanding, and knowledge that God created every person uniquely. The fact that someone learns differently or has an extra chromosome does not in any way lessen one’s humanity.
Cohorts also learn empathy – which differs from pity or sympathy. In her bestselling book Coaching for Equity, Elena Aguilar writes:
“Empathy closes the gap between the other person and you. Empathy connects us, because even when someone’s situation is very different from our own, even when we’ve never been in it, we connect with another person’s humanity–we recognize the common need, desires and emotions that are part of being a human being” (59).
Empathy offers learners the chance to connect with their peers’ humanity. Fear and anxiety is replaced with understanding and respect.
Educational experiences and knowledge acquired extends far beyond the school calendar. Inclusive learning environments help to form the mindset of future doctors, architects, clergy, engineers, and countless other professionals and citizens alike. As youth become adults they will have developed a natural comfort level for living with people that have different strengths and weaknesses than they do.
A future physician might recognize that her patient needs more time for language processing or word retrieval. Because of her experience growing up in an inclusive school, she knows that her patient is capable of sharing their concerns, but they require additional time to process information or communicate a response.
A future architect may recall the time when a classmate with a physical disability wasn't able to access a certain part of the school because they used a wheelchair. They may take that memory and decide that the minimum ADA requirement is simply not good enough, inspiring them to make the buildings of tomorrow more fully accessible.
A future priest might be aware from having a childhood friend with autism that when a person starts rocking or flapping their hands, this is a self-soothing response and not a threat or aggressive action. Recognizing this could lead to a positive pastoral response such as implementing a sensory-friendly space or Mass at a parish.
These are just a few examples of the ripple effect that can happen when a Catholic school is inclusive. This does not apply only to the individuals who were educated with persons with disabilities, but beyond them as well. The impact is long-lasting, affecting persons we will never meet or know.
The ripple effect never stops. Catholic schools are also educating future employers. Like the professionals mentioned above, they may recall their experiences and know that because someone has a disability it does not mean that they are incapable of employment. They may be open to hiring someone with a disability and paying them a living wage! And persons with disabilities who work alongside peers who don’t have a disability have better outcomes learning soft skills and age-appropriate behaviors. This helps prepare diverse learners that may find social interactions challenging. Being with others who know and follow social rules and norms, leads persons who struggle socially to adapt and adjust their behaviors for the same reason we all do so—to fit in.
But the opposite is also true. Being in an inclusive environment leads neurotypical peers to understand that some behaviors though seemingly not "socially appropriate" are part of the human condition and not something that needs fixed. This has a long-term impact because understanding social norms and also understanding that some people might not follow those, are foundational for mutual respect, successful employment, and relationships in general.
The ripple effect of inclusion in Catholic schools goes so much further than a single blog post. When we build inclusive faith communities and schools, we are ultimately creating a more loving, compassionate, and caring human family and that impact can never be measured.
Written by Mary Desmarais, M.E.d., Founder of Catholic Inclusion, LLC.
Reference:
Aguilar, Elena. Coaching for Equity: Conversations That Change Practice. Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, John, 2020.
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© The National Catholic Partnership on Disability 2022.