A group of four males, including a priest, standing in a kitchen with wooden cabinets and a red tile backsplash. They are smiling and posing behind a kitchen counter with a tray of food and cooking utensils.

Why Inclusion:
For Clergy

“We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
- Romans 8:28

A central theme for communities who have embraced inclusion for students with disabilities is increased faith. Integral to this process are well-equipped pastors to shepherd their community towards true belonging for students of all abilities.

“Including students with disabilities is just part of our culture at Mary Queen of Peace. If all schools had an inclusion program, we’d all be so seamlessly blessed. These children bring joy and love to our community, enriching every aspect of our school and parish.”

- Fr. Craig Holway, Pastor of Mary Queen of Peace

A young girl with glasses poses in front of a white statue of Jesus Christ outdoors, surrounded by green foliage and flowering plants.

Young girl praying with hands pressed together inside a church, surrounded by adults.

Why Inclusion

Inclusion of students with disabilities and learning differences in faith-based education is consistent with Catholic social teaching on the dignity of every human life. Catholic tradition upholds that every human life is sacred and worthy of respect as the bedrock of a just society. This is not a passive teaching; it is a call to create communities and social systems that reflect the underlying love and divinity of each person.

In 1978, the USCCB released its Pastoral Statement on Persons with Disabilities. This letter calls “the Church to recognize, defend, and fully include persons with disabilities in spiritual, social, educational, and civic life.” The letter asks pastors to recognize persons with disabilities role as equal agents of the Gospel, to ensure access to sacrament preparation, and to avoid segregation.

In short? The Church calls on us to include all learners in our Catholic schools.

One Classroom’s collaborative ecosystem alleviates the pain points of limited human and fiscal resources in Catholic schools, while realizing the value of placing students with disabilities alongside their peers at Catholic schools.

A young boy with a backpack reaching out to touch a religious statue of Jesus Christ, displayed on a wooden stand in a school hallway.

By optimizing existing school infrastructure, One Classroom provides:

A Catholic education for students of all abilities;
Support of Catholic school enrollment by enabling families of children with disabilities to send all of their children to the same school;
Easily accessible and personalized professional development for administrators, teachers, support staff, and pastors to facilitate meaningful inclusion;
A fresh perspective on long-held beliefs that inclusive education only benefits children with disabilities, that a child’s diagnosis defines his/her identity, and that schools lack the resources to include all learners;

An environment that reduces the stigma experienced by individuals with disabilities who are academically, socially, emotionally, and physically segregated; and

The promotion of a more just, equitable, and inclusive society, increased empathy and acceptance of individual disabilities by breaking down barriers among peers.

Where to Begin

One Classroom has a proven track record of helping clergy and pastors implement meaningful inclusion within their Catholic communities. Our goal is to keep the process simple and provide you with the resources you need to be successful.

These include:

On-site training for you and your school administrators/teachers

Best practices on welcoming students with varying disabilities including Down syndrome, ADHD, autism, audio/visual impairment, etc.
Access to financial resources through One Classroom grants and self-sustaining fundraising models
Opportunities to connect with experienced clergy and pastors who understand the process and the impact on their communities