BDACI believes that all education should be inclusive. That people should not be segregated, and they instead should be accepted in all their diversity to learn together with and from each other.

Brockville and District Association for Community Involvement has an education committee that is made up of members from BDACI’s association and from time to time, representatives from the community. This team works together to promote inclusive education by offering workshops, dinner series, resources, literacy material, links to podcasts and much more. The Education Committee sets out a larger project for themselves each year to offer to the families within our organization and community. In these projects the committee invites advocates from the Education field to explore inclusion in schools. The Education Committee works to partner with educators from the local school boards within our community around inclusive education practices. Currently this committee is pursuing new ways to support students and families in the ever-changing sphere of education. If you are interested in being a part of the Education Committee, please contact the office for further details.

BDACI currently has a member residing on the Special Education Advisory Committee. The role of this committee (SEAC) is to collaborate and offer advice to local school boards regarding the special education budget and the Special Education Plan for the board. SEAC is made up of representatives from local Provincial organizations and Community Living Ontario has a seat on each SEAC board. Their purpose is to further the interests and well-being of exceptional students within the education system. SEAC members gather monthly and can participate in making recommendations to their local school board regarding any matter that may have an impact or effect on the establishment, development and delivery of special education programs and services for exceptional students. As a member of Community Living Ontario, BDACI can request Community Living Ontario’s support in advocating at SEAC meetings

Post Secondary Connections

BDACI has assisted in helping create two books by people we know through the association. These books are currently part of a college program at Loyalist College.

Loyalist College uses Never Going Back as a required textbook for a course called “Evolution of Developmental Services” and Rachel’s Story for “Supporting Families”. Both are used to help students learn from the personal experiences of people with disabilities and their families. Students are required to read the textbook and have various forms of related assessment.