“You Are Welcome”
“You Are Capable”
“You are Appreciated”
These were just a few of the signs teachers held as they greeted students entering the Cuyahoga Heights Schools on Thursday, March 7. The teachers’ greetings kicked off the district’s all-day celebration of World Inclusion Day 2024.
The day is celebrated around the world by advocates for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who join together to “Spread the Word” about the power of inclusion within our schools and communities. In the Cuyahoga Heights Schools, staff and students vowed to “Take Inclusion to New Heights.”
“You Are Worthy”
“You Are Strong”
“You Are Valued”
As a show of support, each staff member wore a specially designed t-shirt with the words “To the Heights of Inclusion” and greeted students entering the building beginning at 7 a.m. Students were invited to sign a large banner that the cheerleaders made to pledge to be inclusive of their peers. Students were also presented with inspirational stickers.
High school students in the creative productions class and students from the Middle/High School Resource Room produced a video in which staff members shared how they help their students “reach new heights” and reflected on why they chose to work at Cuyahoga Heights. The video was shared with all students and staff in the high school auditorium to get them motivated for the school day.
“You Are Smart”
“You Are Brave”
“You Are Resilient”
The recently renovated Resource Room was also made available to view the recent improvements. The district used Career Technical Education grant funds provided by the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center which some Cuyahoga Heights students attend, to remodel the former classroom into a life skills learning space for middle and high school students with intellectual disabilities. The room features a bed, washer and dryer, oven, dishwasher, and other appliances that are used to help students learn practical daily living skills to prepare them for independent living after graduation.
“We are excited to join together to show our support for World Inclusion Day and we look forward to continuing what we do best - helping all of our students reach new heights,” said Superintendent Tom Evans. “It was a great opportunity to show our students how much we care about them and want them to be successful in school and beyond.”
In partnership with Special Olympics and Best Buddies, “Spread the Word” is a global engagement campaign dedicated to people being respectful in the words and actions taken towards people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They help empower grassroots leaders to change their communities, schools, and workplaces through a call to their peers to take action for inclusion.
You can watch the student-produced World Inclusion Day/Reaching New Heights video here:
https://youtu.be/LeZAdEGJ4sQ?si=kSz2seYqU7LD8d-e