Inclusion Initiative
The Foundation launched the Inclusion Initiative in 2003, and has since invested more than $2 million in mainstream organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs of America, National 4-H Council, and the Girl Scouts of the USA, to help them fully include youth with disabilities in their programs. MEAF’s investment has been leveraged by an additional $4 million raised by Initiative partners.
As an outgrowth of the Initiative, MEAF and its partners have developed a booklet, Paths to Inclusion, to serve as a resource guide to help youth-serving organizations integrate youth with disabilities into their programs. Click here to download Paths to Inclusion or visit its companion website IncludingAllKids.org. to order a copy and access a variety of other inclusion resources developed by MEAF’s partners.
Learn More...
...about MEAF's inclusion grantmaking.
Inclusion
The Foundation's major program focus is inclusion. Many grant applicants ask,
What is inclusion?
Inclusion is enabling young people with disabilities to have full access to educational, vocational and recreational opportunities and to participate alongside their non-disabled peers.
Inclusion is
- An attitude, not a program.
- A right, not a favor.
- A sense of belonging · being part of a community · and being valued and respected as a contributing member.
- Accepting differences and responding to individual needs.
- Giving children permission to be themselves.
- Facilitating positive interaction.
- Allowing for choices, and giving a sense of freedom.
- Offering opportunities and rewards for children with and without disabilities.
Inclusion means more than just physically being placed with typically developing children. It is not a place or a measured amount of time spent with others. It has a different meaning to different people, but universally, it means belonging.
Reproduced with permission from Kids Included Together, Inc
1560 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 1150
Arlington, VA 22209