A community where friendship thrives and everyone belongs.
The idea for this high school inclusion project began in the year 2000 when I saw my son Paul walking down the hall of his high school. He was hanging off the arm of an Educational Assistant and another student from his class was hanging off her other arm. Paul was behaving well below his level of ability. As I watched him, I thought to myself: “If another student asked you to walk with them to the cafeteria, you would straighten up and walk down the hall just like every other student.”
That was the beginning. I realized that we needed to tap into the wonderful resource within our high schools: other students. I believed if students in mainstream classes got to know their peers in LLS classes, they could become the agents for change.
Heads Up for Inclusion fosters the development of relationships between people of diverse abilities which increases opportunities for young people with intellectual disabilities to belong to their school and their community.
Inclusion is more than physical proximity. The Amigos program intentionally promotes connections between young people with and without disabilities in order to share common interests, engage in meaningful activities and develop friendships.
The research is clear. Relationships contribute to happiness, healthfulness and longevity. The more friends a person has the better their life is in terms of jobs, housing, health, transportation and opportunities. (A. Condeluci)
Relationships are formed on the basis of equality and with the understanding that Amigos learn from one another. Amigos are not referred to as volunteers.
Amigos find out what makes their partner ‘shine’ and build relationships based on interests, strengths, abilities and capacity which strengthens everyone’s skills. Amigos participate in age appropriate activities and celebrate regularly.
We believe a person with an intellectual disability is to be included in any conversation concerning them and in the adage: “Nothing about me without me”.
Our high schools and communities become stronger when a person with a disability is invited ‘in’ and included in a social group, educational opportunity, community group or leisure activity where their gifts can be appreciated.
Heads Up for Inclusion believes in the power of relationships to change the lives of young people with intellectual disabilities and the lives of those they touch.
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