Community Living Ontario

Students thrive when included by their peers, say re:Action4Inclusion members
Monday May 9, 2011 -- Deron Hamel

High school students Znak Ovenden and Alex Moniz say the cornerstone of inclusive schools is interaction between all students in all grades, and students and teachers must work to create this model in order to push society forward.

Ovenden, a student at Notre Dame College School in Welland, says that while his school is not 100 per cent inclusive students involved with re:Action4Inclusion — including himself — are working to change this.

One of the things he and others involved with re:Action4Inclusion at his school have been working on is bridging the gap between students in different grades.

“That would be a big push because, right now, each grade has its own family but having people coming together through interconnection would be huge,” he says, adding that one way students and teachers foster inclusion is through student activities and events.

Moniz, a Grade 12 student at Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School in Cambridge, agrees.

“I think for a real social change to happen in our school, we need to break down the barriers between people and let people realize that we are all people at the core,” he says.

“I want more programs . . . to try to speak that message. Interaction between peer groups, in between grades (is important).”

Moniz, a member of re:Action4Inclusion at his school, says inclusion helps “grow society,” and by creating inclusive schools creates inclusive societies.

“They say that people can’t function without having social interaction with others, and it’s our responsibility and our call to include other people so they can learn, thrive and grow to the fullest,” he says.

One thing students involved with re:Action4Inclusion at Moniz’s school have done to promote inclusion is invite renowned disability advocate Norman Kunc to speak at an assembly last November.

Kunc spoke to students about the importance of inclusion and the event was well received by students, he says.

“My school, because it has responded positively, teachers and students alike, they’ve said that they want (Kunc) to come back next year,” says Moniz.

Ovenden notes that inclusion goes beyond being an important aspect of functioning society — it’s also a human right.

“Being not included is straight-up criminal, in my opinion,” he says.

Re:action4Inclusion is an initiative which nurtures youth, encouraging them to make changes in their communities so that they are welcoming to all citizens.

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