MEADOW LAKE — For the past three years, Inclusion Saskatchewan (INSK) has recognized individuals and groups within the education system who have worked towards including all students, regardless of their capabilities, through the Dr. John Dolan Spirit of Inclusion Award. This year, the Northwest School Division (NWSD) was the recipient of the award.
Brittany Acton, Director of Initiatives with INSK, said the awards committee looks for innovative approaches to complex problems and people who make new pathways towards inclusive education in the province. The NWSD has been able to desegregate all 22 schools in 15 communities within the division, giving students with disabilities the opportunity to learn alongside their peers.
“At all grade levels, teachers may be found teaching regular, modified and functionally integrated curricula within one single classroom, ensuring that kids can stay with friends their own age and still learn in the ways that they need,” said Acton.
Although the desegregation process took some time, the Deputy Director of Education Jennifer Williamson, said there were some major shifts and more planning that took place to get to where they are.
“Moving to inclusive classroom environments required a mind shift and a change of practice, as well as more collaborative planning teams, inclusive professional development for all staff and infrastructure investments. We changed our service delivery model to have more support with educational assistants, occupational therapists and speech and language pathologists. We still have work to do as we continue to learn from our students and their families to improve and meet the needs of everyone,” said Williamson.
Last year, the NWSD altered their ICAN games day from being an extracurricular sports opportunity just for students with disabilities to being truly inclusive, giving all students the chance to join in on all the fun.
“There is immense pride in receiving this honour and for the accomplishments of our teams. Being recognized for this award has sparked excitement and pride among the division and staff, and we are lucky to work with such dedicated, caring and innovative individuals,” added Williamson.
Dr. John Dolan was the founder of INSK, as well as a parent to a child with an intellectual disability who was not allowed to attend school. In 1955, Dolan put an advertisement in the newspaper seeking other parents of children with disabilities who wanted to work together to advocate for their children’s right to attend school. This coalition became what is now known as Inclusion Saskatchewan. The award was created in 2023, with private companies, teachers, educational assistants, team coaches, extracurricular activities and more among the past nominees.
