CEL and The Nora Project Join Forces for Lifelong Inclusion in Education
In a significant step towards enhancing educational inclusivity, the Center for Enriched Living (CEL) has partnered with The Nora Project. This nonprofit alliance will focus on promoting empathy and understanding within school environments, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Established in 1968, CEL has long been a champion for individuals with disabilities, offering comprehensive programs that aim to empower and support a diverse range of individuals. With this new collaboration, CEL expands its commitment by integrating The Nora Project's methodologies into their existing programs.
The Nora Project specializes in developing educational resources that teach empathy, acceptance, and understanding of differences. By providing educators with professional training and curricula informed by Disability Studies, they aim to create environments where students, regardless of ability, feel valued and respected. The new program targets students from PreK through high school, effectively spanning the critical ages for developing social and emotional skills.
CEL’s CEO, Herb Washington, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, noting that together they are creating a world characterized by compassion and connection from childhood through adulthood. He emphasized that The Nora Project's resources are essential tools that enable both students and teachers to embrace diversity and understand the value of inclusivity.
Among the exciting resources developed through this integration are the Standards for Inclusive Schools, which highlight the necessity of welcoming all students as their authentic selves. Traditionally, the education system has not offered specific standards aimed at achieving true inclusion — a gap that this partnership proposes to fill. By establishing a framework that prioritizes respecting differences and empowering students, the initiative sets the stage for a shift in educational practices.
What’s particularly noteworthy about this initiative is its expansive reach; districts, schools, and classrooms across the United States and Canada can adopt these new standards. The programs are designed to bridge theoretical learning with real-world applications, giving students practical opportunities to engage with the content actively.
Washington and Lauren Schrero, co-founder of The Nora Project and a board member of CEL, both agree that this partnership will significantly impact the landscape of education. They envision a future where inclusion is never an afterthought but rather a foundational element of teaching and learning, permeating all aspects of education and social interaction.
The ultimate goal of the partnership is to expand awareness and resources related to disability inclusion, ensuring individuals with disabilities can thrive alongside their peers. By fostering meaningful opportunities for collaboration between disabled and non-disabled students, CEL and The Nora Project are paving the way for a more inclusive society.
For more details about CEL’s offerings, including inclusive education curricula and professional learning resources, interested parties can visit ExperienceCEL.org/TNP or reach out via email. The partnership stands as a model for how educational organizations can work together to foster environments where all students flourish, exemplifying the power of empathy and inclusion in educational settings.