When the team at Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration launched Inclusive Schools Week with the LA Unified School District in 2023, the goal was to give every school a voice and to equip educators and parents with tools to celebrate the inclusion of students with developmental or physical differences, according to Marnie Norris, senior vice president of programs at Inclusion Matters. This week highlights the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population.
As we approach Inclusive Schools Week, set for Dec 2-6 this year, Norris shares that they hope to have more than 90 schools have signed on to take part in the program, which is a partnership through the LAUSD Division of Special Education. Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration has selected two schools for larger scale programs: Limerick Avenue Elementary School in Winnetka will have program that connects students through music, sensory play and inclusive play, and Theodore Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles will be supported through inclusive dance, photography/art and more.
Inclusive Schools Week is a partnership with the LAUSD and is a nationwide initiative of the Inclusive Schools Network. If you are connected to a school or district and would like to get involved, contact Blanca Villareal, the Education Program Manager at Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration, at blanca@inclusionmatters.org or 818-988-5676.
