Inclusive Fall 2017 by All Belong Center for Inclusive Education

FALL 2017 | Vol. 26, No. 2

P U B L I S H E D

S E M I A N N U A L L Y

B Y

T H E

C L C

N E T W O R K

A D V A N C E M E N T

O F F I C E

The Timpe family, from left: Maggie, Kevin, Emmaline, Allison, and Jameson

Welcomed into Community “It was a challenge to put down my sword when we came here,” recalls Kevin Timpe. “For most of our life in Idaho, I had become really good at fighting for Jameson’s inclusion in the public school. Any ideas, creative solutions, and holding the school accountable for his education came from me.” When Kevin and Allison and their family moved to Grand Rapids last year, they were expecting to use those skills again. Their kids had never gone to Christian schools, because all nearby Christian schools turned away Jameson, claiming they could not serve him due to his disabilities. But in the process of visiting potential Christian schools in West Michigan, they were happily impressed. “It’s not just an inclusive mentality, there is a history of inclusion in West Michigan thanks to faithful CLC Network advocates and partners,” Kevin reflects. “There is a strong commitment to accessibility, and people are very friendly and talk with Jameson. We have been super impressed with this region overall.” The Timpe family chose to attend Grand Rapids Christian Elementary school. Principal Mark Krommendyk “actively pursued our family. They wanted Jameson at their school, and reassured us that they have been doing inclusion for a very long time.” The

school’s cooperative model stuck out as a strong contrast to the family’s previous school experiences. “It has been amazing,” Allison shares. “Sometimes I cry happy tears about the sweetest stories. It’s obvious Jameson is a full member of the community; he is valued, and students and teachers go out of their way to include him.”

“Sometimes I cry happy tears about the sweetest stories. It’s obvious Jameson is a full member of the community; he is valued, and students and teachers go out of their way to include him.”

This year, Kevin also joined the board of CLC Network, where he helps spread this inclusive mentality to communities outside of West Michigan. As the Jellema Chair of Philosophy at Calvin College, he also researches disability attitudes and approaches as his life’s work. “Since moving to Michigan and having our children enrolled in a CLC Network partner, we’ve seen just how good a robust inclusion program is for all the students at that school,” said Kevin.

Christian Educators Empowered to Create Inclusive Communities

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Nearly 100 attendees representing thirty Christian schools were encouraged and equipped to move their schools “beyond special education” to create an inclusive community at the August Beyond Special Education: Inclusion in the Christian School conference, hosted in partnership with Christian Schools International (CSI). This conference was made possible by the support of CLC Network donors, CSI, and the sponsorships of the Calvin College Graduate Studies in Education Department and Western Theological Seminary. We are grateful for your financial gifts to CLC Network which made the following transformations possible:

I used to think an inclusive Christian school was an impossible dream. But now I think it is possible. It is right. It is God-honoring. It is one more way Christians can be counter-cultural.

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I used to think inclusion was the best thing for students with disabilities. But now I think it’s the best thing for ALL students.

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Focusing on Community Dear Friends: Creating community with persons of all abilities is central to CLC Network’s mission. This was a resounding theme from a summer strategic planning session, consisting of CLC Network advocates, Board, and staff. As we gathered to review the organization’s official documents, the group quickly came to the conclusion that we want to ensure communities are whole, welcoming, inclusive places of belonging for people at any level of ability. Our new mission and belief statements reflect this desire for making communities more whole through the inclusion of persons with differing abilities. In September, 2017 the Board of Directors adopted a new mission statement: CLC Network equips congregations and schools to glorify God with purposeful, innovative inclusion of persons with varied abilities. I smile every time I read or say that sentence. It is the next stage, the evolution of ways in which CLC Network will continue to serve individuals and communities. It is consistent with our history and our present reality.

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Nearly 100 attendees from Christian schools across North America learned about the Biblical calling for including students with varying abilities through presentations from CLC Network staff and guest speaker, Dr. Scot Danforth.

I used to think we should think about whether to accept students dependent on their disability. But now I think we should accept and figure it out.

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I used to to think private schools weren’t interested in inclusion. But now I think CLC Network is attempting to help others realize inclusion is part of God’s Word.

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Guest speaker Dr. Scot Danforth shared the difference between medical and social models of disability in his presentation, sponsored by the Calvin College Graduate Studies in Education Department.

You can view additional photos and highlights from the event on our Facebook page (facebook.com/CLCNetwork). 2

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Our core beliefs have not changed, but we decided to become bolder in how we proclaim them. Directed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and relying on the Holy Spirit, we believe: - Diversity of ability is necessary for complete community - We experience God’s love through belonging in community - We bring glory to God when we live, learn, serve, and worship together in interdependent community Please join us in proclaiming these beliefs in your school and church and through your support of CLC Network. I look forward to the ways your partnership will amplify these beliefs and our mission in the coming months and years! Blessings,

Elizabeth Lucas Dombrowski Executive Director

D O N O R

P R O F I L E :

Sid and Patricia Helder

Sid and Patricia Helder have a long history of involvement and support for CLC Network. What began as a relationship through the Helder family business, Franklin Press Inc., nearly twenty years ago developed into a passion for CLC Network’s mission. “I’ve always had a heart for kids with challenges,” said Sid, “I just figured I’d do whatever I could to help with the mission.” Over the years, helping with the mission has taken the form of faithful support of CLC Network, frequenting the Auction and Golf Outing, and sharing their passion for inclusive communities with friends and family. “When CLC Network events come up, we invite people to join us. When guests comment on Auction purchases in our home, I tell them where the item is from and about the work of CLC Network,” said Patricia. “Those conversation starters create opportunities to share about inclusion and the ways we have been impacted by persons with disabilities.” Sid’s experiences volunteering and worshipping with people with disabilities have opened his eyes to the diversity of gifts across God’s kingdom. “We are all children of God, each of us have unique gifts. Sometimes you have to reach out and get involved to find out what those gifts are.”

Patricia understands that it may be hard to approach someone who is different than you — it may require a perspective shift. However, if you initiate including someone, it can be a blessing to everyone. “God does the work if you take the step,” encouraged Patricia. Each year, Sid and Patricia serve on the CLC Network Auction Committee. They give countless hours asking individuals and businesses for Auction support, contributing their own treasures (Patricia’s fudge is legendary!), planning and helping at the event, and bringing friends along. The Helders encourage anyone with an interest in supporting children and adults with disabilities within an inclusive community to attend the annual Auction on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at Calvary Christian Reformed Church (Wyoming, MI).

“We are all children of God, each of us have unique gifts. Sometimes you have to reach out and get involved to find out what those gifts are.”

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C R E A T I N G

I N C L U S I V E

C H U R C H

C O M M U N I T I E S

Introductions Our Church Services team is often introduced to a congregation because of a difficult experience. Often, the church struggles to include a member who does not fit traditional molds. One such introduction happened at a West Michigan congregation. Their challenge became a vessel for God’s grace and love to flow to a whole body of believers within and outside the church. CLC Network was introduced to the church to assist in including a child with a disability in worship. However, over time, the congregation discovered their own efforts toward inclusion were an introduction to a richer understanding of the body of Christ. Today, this congregation thinks differently about including persons with disabilities in faith communities. They think of it as an introduction. This church knew their experience of inclusion was too good to keep to themselves — they desired for other communities to experience an introduction to the fullness of the body of Christ and the rich blessings of receiving persons with varied abilities. The church responded by making a commitment to support CLC Network as a missionary cause. This congregation is blessing other congregations and communities through their ongoing financial support! Over the past few months, we have received more than twentyfive requests from churches across North America seeking assistance to include people with a variety of disabilities in their

church communities! Because of faithful CLC Network donors, we are able to respond to these requests. What begins as a simple introduction becomes an instrument for community transformation as congregations envelop the gifts of persons with varied abilities. It is a large mission field! Thanks to donor contributions, we provide assessments, resources, training, and consultation and serve as an instrument for community transformation. Your support introduces hope, possibilities, and growth to churches who desire a more complete community that receives and celebrates each person’s gifts. Thank you!

WAYS TO SUPPORT INCLUSION INTRODUCTIONS IN YOUR CONGREGATION: • Provide a variety of tools (e.g. worship streamers, sound blockers, and fidgets) during worship so everyone can engage in the conversation with God • When describing a person with a disability, use person first language to honor the image of God in each person. Example: Joe, who has autism spectrum disorder, …

“The congregation discovered their own efforts toward inclusion were an introduction into a richer understanding of the body of Christ.” 4

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• Provide resources in your church library that help your community learn more about different areas of disability • Join the “mission field” by adding CLC Network to your church’s missionary causes • Add CLC Network to your church’s offering schedule • Faithfully pray that communities that are receptive to inclusion introductions Access tips, resources, and giving options at clcnetwork.org

Donors Create Communities of Belonging for Students Becky Tubergen, CLC Network director of school services “I’ve never been to a sleepover at someone’s house because I’ve never been invited,” Andrew told his friends and me. Andrew’s Circle of Friends — a network of student volunteers who commit to surround and support a student with a disability — immediately became quiet, thinking about what their friend just said. Though Andrew’s Circle had covered many topics during their sixthgrade year — such as conversation starters to use while walking between classes, appropriate responses when a peer pushes you by mistake, rules for new games introduced in P.E., and previews of fieldtrips and schedule changes — they had overlooked asking Andrew to participate in after-school activities. His friends needed to be reminded to intentionally include Andrew outside of the school walls.

“Andrew enthusiastically learned how to play Spoons, confession opened and his peers learned an Andrew’s the door for me to talk with important life lesson: Andrew and his peers about the games kids play at home. friendship is intentional.” Andrew had never heard

of the crazy game called “Spoons”. What began as a sobering conversation about afterschool activities turned into a learning opportunity for all. Andrew enthusiastically learned how to play Spoons, and his peers learned an important life lesson: friendship is intentional. Andrew is not alone in his experience of friendship. From my conversations with teachers, I have discovered that while students may be nice, helpful, or friendly to students with disabilities, parents often express a desire for their child to be more fully known – a participant in reciprocal, meaningful friendships beyond the classroom. Intentionality on everyone’s part is necessary to create environments where belonging and mutuality can take place.

Thanks to the faithful support of donors like you, my CLC Network colleagues and I can come alongside Christian and Catholic schools to ask the tough questions and hold individuals and schools accountable to creating communities where each student — regardless of their ability — is known, celebrated, and loved. As we head into a new school year of service to sixty-five schools in nine states, our team is excited about the meaningful friendships that could develop among students with varying abilities and their peers through Circle of Friends and similar groups. Fueled by your gifts, we are eager to come alongside more groups like Andrew’s to help them grow in their understanding, knowledge, and love for one another. Ultimately , we seek to help them grow more like Christ within the community God calls us to in 1 Corinthians 12:27: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Intentional, social inclusion reflects our faith. • Social inclusion gives students the opportunity to show Christ-like love to others. • Social inclusion helps kids understand that they have more similarities than differences. We are all children of God and each experience a need to belong.

• Social inclusion promotes the growth of everyone’s self-image as students better understand their own strengths and challenges and how they can help one another.

• Even if students do not become “best friends”, intentional friendships allow students to become more comfortable as they grow in their understanding of each other’s needs and desires.

• God created us for interdependent community. Because this often does not happen naturally for persons with disabilities (and some with out), we must be intentional about relationships.

• Social inclusion impacts a community of believers. The interactions students have with persons who are different from themselves will impact their futures as they become neighbors, church members, business owners, and government officials.

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Golf Outing 2017: A Record-breaking Success! It was a privilege to have nearly eighty golfers and dozens of volunteers at the beautiful Pilgrim’s Run Golf Club (Pierson, MI) on June 15, 2017! We are grateful to everyone who supported this fun event.

With the participation of golfers and generous sponsors, more than $35,000 was raised to equip schools and congregations to glorify God through purposeful, innovative inclusion of persons with varied abilities. THANK YOU!

The day’s winners! Left to right: Luke Berkey, CLC Network Board member Kyle Heys, Dan Post, and Mike Worst

From left: Ron Karelse, Don Dykstra, Ron Ritsema, and Marv Dice

From left: Steve Schaap, Leslie Drahos, Chris Bouwer, and CLC Network Board member Vivian Minnema

From left: Brian Kuipers, Roger Kuipers, Bob Kloosterman, and Ben Kloosterman

From left: Dick Lenger, Loren VanWyk, Glen VanAndel, From left: Jim VanKampen, Harv Potter, Rick Ophoff, and Fred Bergsma and Dale Siebelink

Many Thanks to our Sponsors Event Sponsors: MTM Recognition, Nyenhuis Collision Center Lunch Sponsor: Heritage Life Story Funeral Home Cart Sponsors: Critter Control, Tuff-Cover, Rottman Family Charitable Foundation Breakfast Sponsors: Anonymous (2), Kloosterman Landscaping, Postma Power, TerHorst & Rinzema Construction Co.

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Thursday, June 14, 2018 Pilgrim’s Run Golf Club (Pierson, MI)

New Partners in Service

Thanks to donor support, we are assisting six additional schools this year to help them welcome students with varying abilities!

Beaver Falls, PA

Pease, MN

Fredericksburg, VA

New Berlin, WI

Ann Arbor, MI

Lansing, IL

New Board and Staff Members Please join us in welcoming five passionate individuals to our team! “Inclusion works, it benefits both the student with special needs and fellow classmates. We truly reflect God’s world when we include all.” — Dan Day, Board Member

“I believe that as Christians we are called to create communities that support and celebrate the gifts of persons at all levels of ability.” — Sheryl Jo, Board Member

CLC NETWORK

“I desire to challenge CLC Network partners to daily rely upon the power of God’s Word and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to view everyone as uniquely created by God for specific kingdom purposes.”

“The genuine friendships my daughter, Jessica, has (due to inclusion) are beyond anything I dreamed possible; it’s truly an amazing thing to witness.” — Steve Huisjen, Board Member “Since moving to Michigan and having our children enrolled in a CLC Network partner, we’ve seen just how good a robust inclusion program is for all the students at that school.”

— Brenda Maas, Teacher Consultant

AUCTION 2018 NEW Date: Feb.3 Same Location!

— Kevin Timpe, PhD, Board Member

Nancy Kwasteniet Kevin Timpe, PhD OUR MISSION CLC Network equips congregations and MEMBER SCHOOLS 2017-2018 schools to glorify God through purposeful, ILLINOIS innovative inclusion of persons with Calvin Christian, Faith Christian, Illiana varied abilities. Christian THE INCLUSIVE NEWSLET TER IOWA is published in spring and fall by the Hull Christian, Netherlands Reformed CLC Network Advancement Office. Christian, Orange City Christian, Rock Editors: Katie Barkley, Valley Christian, Western Christian Elizabeth Lucas Dombrowski, MARYLAND Sue Kuyvenhoven Annapolis Area Christian BOARD OF DIRECTORS MICHIGAN Doug Rottman, President Ada Christian, Adams Protestant Vivan Minnema, Vice President Reformed Christian, Allendale Christian, Dan Day, Secretary AnchorPoint Christian, Ann Arbor Kyle Heys, Treasurer Christian, Borculo Christian, Byron Tom Bratt Center Christian, Divine Providence Jennifer Camota Luebke, EdD Academy, Dutton Christian, Father Steve Huisjen Gabriel Richard Catholic, Fremont Christian, Grand Haven Christian, Grand Sheryl Jo

Rapids Christian, Holland Christian, Hudsonville Christian, Jenison Christian, Lamont Christian, Legacy Christian, Living Stones Academy, Moline Christian, Muskegon Christian, New Era Christian, Northpointe Christian, Plymouth Christian, The Potter’s House, Providence Christian, St. John Vianney Catholic, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic, South Christian, Unity Christian, West Highland Christian, West Side Christian, Western Michigan Christian, Zeeland Christian, Zion Christian

Calvary CRC (Wyoming, MI)

WISCONSIN Central Wisconsin Christian, Heritage Christian ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Katie Barkley

Director of Marketing and Communications

Doug Bouman, S.Psy.S.

Director of Evaluation Services

Elizabeth Lucas Dombrowski

Executive Director

Barbara J. Newman

Director of Church Services

Becky Tubergen

MINNESOTA Community Christian

Director of School Services

PENNSYLVANIA Beaver County Christian

Business /Office Manager

VIRGINIA Fredericksburg Christian WASHINGTON Lynden Christian

Sharon Ward

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NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE

PAID

GRAND RAPIDS, MI PERMIT NO. 592

4340 Burlingame Ave. SW Wyoming, MI 49509-3770

Member: Barnabas Foundation, Christian Schools International, Council of Reformed Charities

PL E A S E C O N TAC T U S AT ( 616 ) 24 5 . 8 3 8 8 W I T H A N Y Q U ES T I O N S O R FO R M O R E I N FO R M AT I O N O N G I V I N G M E T H O D S

GIFTS OF STOCK SAVE YOU MONEY!

Consider making a gift of stock before December 31, and you could receive a tax deduction for the fair market value of your gift. Your stock, IRA distributions, and other appreciated assets can be transferred to CLC Network to help create inclusive communities for individuals at all levels of ability. Contact us at (616) 245-8388 to discuss your giving options.

Students Celebrate “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” at Friendship Festival Thanks to donors and volunteers, students from fourteen Grand Rapids area schools celebrated friendships on May 17, 2017 at the annual CLC Network Friendship Festival, hosted this year by Dutton Christian School. Through activities, worship, and games, each participant was reminded of the festival’s theme: “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.”

Students began and ended the day with worship in the sanctuary at Caledonia Christian Reformed Church (Caledonia, MI).

Students enjoyed a variety of outdoor and indoor activities, including bubbles, crafts, floor hockey, parachute, Zumba, the petting zoo, and even fishing!

Kindergarten through eighth grade students look forward to this annual celebratory event.