News and Events

Check out our new "Resources and Community Events" page - resources for deeper understanding of inclusion and info about upcoming inclusive education events

 For links to Alberta Education's "Action on Inclusion" items visit our "Resources and Community Events" and "Presentation Series Resources" pages.

Presentation Series: When possible, we will now feature links to information and documents discussed at our presentations. Look for the link listed with each presentation's details. 
 
ERC was invited to visit Ukraine to lead Inclusve Education workshops in Lviv and Simferopol. Pictures and detailed report on "Advocacy" page. 

ERC History

ERC has its roots in 1998 when small groups of committed individuals met to discuss the state of inclusive education in the Edmonton area. It became clear that some basic goals and principals were common to all. Out of this early work, reaching out into the community, and consultation with parents, several major points stood out:
  • membership criteria would simply be a commitment to the principles of inclusion and to stand by and support any agreed-upon activities of ERC
  • a need existed for coordinated activity amongst local organizations with a sole purpose to look at issues pertaining to inclusion
  • create a safe place for the discussion of issues pertaining to inclusion and to organize activities or advocacy actions to advance inclusive education
  • create a place for Individual members to gain knowledge and strength and became stronger voices for inclusion within their own associations
  • parents wanted education so they could have a better understanding of what inclusive education entailed
  • families wanted to learn how to develop the leadership skills to do systemic advocacy with local school boards and the provincial department of education
ERC's structure was formalized in 2000, with four core committees: Inclusive Education Awards, Advocacy, SRV, and Parent-to-Parent Workshops (now known as our Presentation Series).
 
For the text of a March 2005 presentation given by Paul Kohl, one of ERC's founders, at the Inclusive and Supportive Education Conference, International Special Education Conference in Glasgow, Scotland: http://www.isec2005.org/isec/abstracts/papers_k/kohl_p.shtml