WILMINGTON, MA — Director of Student Services Jennifer Mahon recently presented the Wilmington School Committee with an update on the work of the district’s Inclusion Task Force.
Task Force’s Mission
The task force’s mission is “to identify steps for schools to successfully implement inclusion through improves in school culture, general education practices and service delivery.”
Members will “define ‘inclusion’ and ‘inclusive schools’ with a set of standards and indicators that are measurable, reasonable, concise, and flexible.”
The group will “develop the capacity of all staff through professional development, which will shift the culture.”
The task force will ensure that Wilmington’s “youngest students with disabilities begin their educational journey in quality inclusive classrooms and continue to be supported inclusively through graduation.”
Task Force’s Membership
Mahon, who Co-Chairs the Task Force with Special Education Director Mary Houde, then introduced the task force members, which includes: Mary DeLai, Chris Reiger, Eleanor Blake, Shelia Burke, Erin King, Suzanne Krull, Bonnie Gorrasi, Suzanne Garbarino, Nicole Loveland, Kate O’Malley, Lisa Murphy, Eileen McKenna, Krystn Forcina, Terry Sheehan, Marissa Mulligan, Kathryn Zaitz, Dennis Mahoney, and Jeff Straznick.
Task Force’s 2015-2016 Accomplishments
Mahon quickly summarized the Task Force’s accomplishments in its first year, including:
- held monthly meetings
- read and discussed a variety of articles on inclusion
- researched inclusive practice models
- arrived at the following best practices: (1) Universal Design of Learning, (2) Positive Behavioral Interventions of Support, and (3) Social Emotional Learning.
Task Force’s 2016-2017 Plans
Mahon then previewed the Task Force’s goals for its second year, including:
- making recommendations of inclusive practices to adopt in Wilmington Schools
- conducting site visits to area districts with identified inclusive practices
- sharing inclusive practice guides with all Wilmington educators
- continuing with monthly meetings
Mahon ended the presentation with a short video clip of the power inclusionary practices can have on young students with disabilities.
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