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Sunday Times reader Crystal Rowland Anderson recently nominated a change architect she thinks deserves attention. Sunday newspaper. We describe architects of change as great thinkers, leaders and visionaries who move humanity forward. Read on to learn why Crystal nominated this Change Architect.
“My son was born healthy and happy in May 2020, but he was born with Down syndrome. Since then, I have had the privilege of meeting amazing architects of change in the disability community. My friend Anna One of them is Anna Chiles, the mother of a son with Down syndrome.” Sunday newspaper.
Crystal continued, “Anna encountered obstacles in finding inclusive child care options for her children. [her son] Theo. Due to his disability, she was rejected by several kindergartens and day care centers. Determined to create a more inclusive environment for Theo and kids like him, Anna founded Includ(Ed) San Diego. This nonprofit organization advocates for child care for all children, regardless of their developmental abilities. “
As a teacher, Anna Chiles was committed to getting her children started early on their education and school community journeys, but when she set out to find a school for her children, she was surprised and frustrated that she was almost universally rejected of rejection. In countless disturbing phone calls, kindergarten directors told her they lacked the staff, experience and education to welcome children with Down syndrome into their schools. None of the directors asked to meet Theo or asked any questions about his personality, behavior, skills or interests. They just needed to hear his diagnosis to say “no.”
The more Anna connected with parents in the disability community, the more similar stories she heard. In San Diego County, infants and young children with disabilities are often excluded from child care and early education, leaving children underprepared for kindergarten and forcing many parents to leave the workforce to become their primary caregivers.
Like Crystal’s family, many will benefit from the work of Anna Chiles, a true architect of change. “Through her persistence and dedication, Anna has not only changed the lives of children like Theo and my son Thomas, but has challenged social norms and advocated for a more compassionate and inclusive world. I believe in Anna Chiles and Includ (Ed) San Diego embodies the spirit of the Architect of Change. The work is transformative and a beacon of hope and inspiration to others.”
Today, the mission of the San Diego Center for Inclusive Education is to create a fully inclusive school where children with disabilities can learn alongside their typically developing peers.
Please support Include(Ed) by visiting their website or following them on Instagram.
Who is the architect of change in your life? Let us know in the comments below!
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