Inclusive Schools Week
2023 Resource Guide Curated by the CAC
Ventura County SELPA
A collaborative partnership of
school districts, staff, students, parents/families, and community agencies
Supporting Equitable Learning, Programs and Access
for ALL students.
What is the CAC?
The Ventura County SELPA has a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that facilitates communication between districts and families, has regular meetings to discuss issues with
SELPA leadership, and provides parent trainings on topics such as the IEP process, behavior strategies, life after high school and social skills. The CAC promotes services and resources for special education students and their families.
Join us in celebrating Inclusive Schools Week December 4–8, 2023!
Inclusive Schools Week is an annual event sponsored by the Inclusive Schools Network (ISN) and Stetson & Associates, Inc., which is held each year during the first full week in December. Since its inception in 2001, Inclusive Schools Week has celebrated the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students who are marginalized due to disability, gender, socio-economic status, cultural heritage, language preference, and other factors. The Week also provides an important opportunity for educators, students and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure that their schools continue to improve their ability to successfully educate all children.
This year, the Inclusive Schools Week’s theme is "Draw Me In!".
Join us as we celebrate Inclusive Schools Week December 4-8, 2023!
Why do we need Inclusive Schools Week?
Inclusive Schools Week advances an international dialogue on the importance of building inclusive schools and communities, where all students have full access to educational opportunities.
- Celebrating is important because it creates an awareness of the benefits and challenges inclusive schools face.
- It brings the school community together in good spirit for a common purpose.
- It provides us a pause in our busy lives to reflect on where we are and where we are going.
- But celebrating is only the beginning...
- Reflection, planning and action are the elements necessary to understand the potential of inclusive education and realize its promise.
What are the goals of Inclusive Schools Week?
Celebrate the progress of schools in educating an increasingly diverse student population
Acknowledge the hard work and commitment of schools, families and communities in creating inclusive opportunities for all children regardless of disability, gender, ethnicity, language, health status, etc.
Encourage reflection on how culture, policies and practices in schools can promote inclusive education
Promote action to increase the capacity of schools and communities to meet the needs of all learners
Guiding Principles
In order to get the most out of your Inclusive Schools Week Celebration, we suggest developing a set of guiding principles to help focus your planning efforts.
Here are some suggestions:
- Involve families, school faculty and students in the planning of Inclusive Schools Week activities.
- Make certain Inclusive Schools Week activities are inclusive and accessible to all.
- Reaffirm your school’s commitment to providing a quality education to all children.
Getting Started
There are many ways to get your school involved in Inclusive Schools Week.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Convene a planning team of faculty, students and family members. See the Planning Materials in the Celebration Activities & Lessons section for ideas.
Create excitement by hosting poster and essay contests or hanging a banner in your school lobby.
Promote the week in your school and community by sending out a press release, announcing your celebration in local media outlets, posting updates on your school website, etc. See the Media Kit in the Celebration Basics Download section for examples.
Utilize the following resources and materials to support your celebration and continuous efforts to promote and develop practices in your community.
Why is celebrating Inclusive Schools Week important?
Celebrating Inclusive Schools Week:
Sends a message to the community that your school is serious about inclusive education.
Jump starts plans for initiating or improving inclusive educational practices in your school.
Makes a positive impact on the overall environment in the school, including more tolerance and acceptance of differences.
Propels your school to new levels of inclusion.
Solidifies your commitment to quality education for all students.
- Highlights your schools accomplishments and plans for the future.
Inclusive Celebrations
Inclusive Schools Week offers a remarkable opportunity to spread the word about the benefits of inclusive schools. As you prepare for district, school, and classroom celebrations, it is important to ensure that the materials and activities are accessible to all members of the school and community. You may want to encourage faculty members trained in special education and/or bilingual education to participate in the planning process to help make suggestions for providing access and accommodations.
A successful Inclusive Schools Week can motivate your school community. Faculty, families and students should feel empowered by their role in supporting the participation of all students in schooling.
Examples of adapting materials and events include:
Interpreter services for programs and events
Printed material available in languages spoken in the community and in Braille
Wheelchair accessibility to all events
Assistive technology devices available
About the 2023 Inclusive Schools Week theme
As far back as the days of cave drawings, art has been a way for humans to express themselves. Many children begin to communicate through the language of art even before using words. We’ve often heard, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
Our theme for Inclusive Schools Week 2023 is Draw Me In! Participating in art provides a pathway to self-discovery, and sharing art opens doors to understanding and respecting different ways of thinking. Do we see the faces of all children and youth drawn into the canvas of our schools and society today?
The need to belong is a basic need of all students and an integral component of effective inclusive schools. To be inclusive implies a fundamental commitment to building relationships among students, families, educators, and the community to support safe and positive learning environments.
Artist and muralist, Kyle Holbrook, founder of Moving the Lives of Kids, has joined us at the Inclusive Schools Network to share his vision and knowledge of public art as a way to reach and include all kids. As we celebrate Inclusive Schools Week 2023, let us respond—Draw Me In!
2023 Inclusive Schools Week Resources
Includas Publishing 2023 Arts and Crafts Activities
Thanks to Includas Publishing for sharing arts and crafts activities to support #ISW2023, Draw Me In!
Googly-Eye Pet Rocks
In The Biggest Gift of All, one of Tasha and Sam’s favorite things to do is make sparkly googly-eyed pet rocks. You can try it too! It’s time to get creative (and maybe a little messy) with paints, glitter, googly eyes, and more! Once you’re done, you’ll have a new friend to play with. Crafting is always fun with friends, too: invite some of your friends to make sparkly googly-eye rocks with you!
About Incluas Publishing
The goal of Includas Publishing is to bring disability, diversity, and inclusivity into book publishing and the world through the authentic representation of authors, illustrators, and staff. To learn more, check out their goals and mission!
Kids Included Together & Changing Perspectives 2023 Activity Guide
For educators seeking practical guidance and a wealth of inclusive classroom activities, we invite you to explore the 2023 Inclusive Schools Week Activity Guide, a collaborative effort by Kids Included Together (KIT) & Changing Perspectives.
This comprehensive guide, centered around five disability inclusive themes, offers learning intentions, educator resources, student activities, and reflection questions for each day of the week.
This activity guide is more than just a resource; it’s a roadmap for fostering a truly inclusive environment where every student is reflected. Access our guide and equip your staff with the tools to champion disability inclusion in your classroom.
Here is a link to more info on their website, and this is the direct link to the educator activity guide.
Draw Me In! Booklist
Art has the incredible power to transcend boundaries, communicate emotions, and provide a voice to those who might otherwise go unheard. Finding My Way Books has curated this inclusive nonfiction booklist to introduce readers to artists who draw or paint. Each artist’s contribution has made our world a more beautiful place.
With this booklist, Finding My Way Books celebrates diversity in art and representation in books. These captivating stories about artists with disabilities empower young readers to view challenges as opportunities for growth and creativity. Through the pages of these books, children can learn the importance of empathy, perseverance, and embracing their individuality, all while exploring the colorful world of art.
Inclusive Schools Week 2023 Mural Project
Artist and muralist, Kyle Holbrook, founder of Moving the Lives of Kids, has joined with the Inclusive Schools Network to share his vision and knowledge of public art as a way to reach and include all kids.
This five-activity mural project can be drawn on individual canvases or painted on a wall in your school, classroom, or community. The project is designed for all ages, skill levels, and interests. There are no right or wrong answers; the intent of the mural project is to create a visual representation of the 2023 theme for Inclusive Schools Week, Draw Me In!
How to Celebrate Inclusive Schools Week
You care about the dignity of all children — those with disabilities and those from diverse backgrounds — and you know that your school and community can do a better job of meeting their needs through the use of inclusive educational practices.
We encourage you to take the lead in coordinating Inclusive Schools Week in your school, school district, or community.
Thousands of teachers, family members, and school administrators, local, state, and national organizations and advocacy groups, and entire school districts have enthusiastically stepped up to this task and have found this experience to be extremely rewarding in terms of its impact on children and youth.
Videos and Books About Inclusion of Students with Disabilities
All Are Welcome: https://youtu.be/rJDKgo4arIs
Discover a school where ALL young children have a place and feel loved and appreciated for who they are. (Ages 4-8)
All the Way to the Top: https://youtu.be/dSdtomrJnco
The true story of lifelong disability activist Jennifer Keenan-Chaffins and her participation in the Capitol Crawl as an eight-year-old. (Ages 7-10)
Just Ask: https://youtu.be/q4sGcaA6bFk
Written by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, this book encourages caring and curiosity about the differences that make us unique. (Ages 6-10)
The Invisible Boy: https://youtu.be/cNHc2XCultQ
A story about a boy who feels invisible until his outreach to a new kid at school helps him to become seen and included. (Ages 5-10)
Include with Sesame Street and Mila Kunis: Mila Kunis explains the word “include” with the help of her friends from Sesame Street. (Ages 4-7)
A boy with cerebral palsy wants to make friends on the playground, but he finds that accessibility, discrimination and bullying are barriers. His determination inspires other kids to accept his differences and reach out to include him.
A simple greeting is all it takes to change lives.
A light-hearted video with a deep message about the term “special needs.”
Connect With The Ventura County SELPA!
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The Ventura County SELPA is dedicated to providing information and support to families and caregivers of students with disabilities so that they can be informed partners in the educational process of their children. There are numerous activities and resources that are provided to fulfill that mission.
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Ventura County SELPA
The Ventura County SELPA office is responsible for the implementation of the Ventura County Special Education Local Plan, and for ensuring a free appropriate public education to all students with identified disabilities according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Email: vcselpa@vcoe.org
Website: www.vcselpa.org
Location: 5100 Adolfo Road, Camarillo, CA, USA
Phone: 805-437-1560
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vcselpa
Twitter: @VenturaCOE
SELPA Leadership
Associate Superintendent
Sarah Fontenot - Administrative Assistant III
Local Plan Implementation
Interagency Coordination, Policies & Procedures
SELPA Office Operations
Related Services Staff: Residential Placement Consultants
Regina Reed - Director of Personnel Development
Anabel Lopez-Penny - Administrative Assistant II
Ana Teran - Administrative Assistant II
Program & Personnel Development
Early Start
Related Services Staff: Adapted PE Teachers, Assistive Technology Assessment Center,
Orientation & Mobility Specialists, DHH Teachers
Joanna V. Della Gatta - Director of Technical Support and Transition
Vacant - Administrative Assistant II
SIRAS Support, Forms & Instructions
Private Schools
Pattern of Strengths & Weaknesses Model
WorkAbility Program
Transition
Related Services Staff: WorkAbility Specialists
Jeanine Murphy - Director, Family & School Collaboration
Alexandra Ibarra - Administrative Assistant II
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Services
Nick Vlahos - Director
ERSES Program & COEDS
Behavior
Related Services Staff: Social/Emotional Services Specialists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists
Ruben Ramirez - Program Specialist
Peter Aguirre - Program Specialist