Convene an event Planning Committee made of diverse members.

Members could include building administrators, educators, staff, youth with and without disabilities, parents, and community disability organization partners if appropriate. It is important that this group be inclusive of diverse individuals who are interested in inclusion and disability awareness.

Heads up! Planning an Inclusion Project event can take months so it is best to start early!

Inclusion Project Planning Committees should consider:

• Who should serve on the Inclusion Project Planning Committee?
• Is there a ‘champion’ who will make sure the Inclusion Project event happens?
• Do all potential members of the Inclusion Project Planning Committee have the information they need to plan the event?
• What process will be used to ensure everyone has input into decisions regarding the Inclusion Project?
• Who will facilitate and record different parts of the planning meetings?
• Who will keep track of the tasks in order to have a successful event?
• When will the Inclusion Project Planning Committee meet to ensure full participation by all members?
• Is the Inclusion Project Planning Committee meeting location accessible?

Inclusion Project Planning Committee should set a general goal and vision for the Inclusion Project. This will ensure that all team members have a common understanding for the event that can be communicated to the entire school body and/or community.

One way to develop a vision statement is to ask the Inclusion Project Planning Committee:

• What do you believe is the purpose of the Inclusion Project?
• What is the message students, teachers, and people in the building (and/or community) will walk away with at the end of the day?

Sample Vision Statement:

"Students will gain a greater understanding of what it means to belong to a school that welcomes all people."

• Will the event(s) be held during part of a school day, a whole day, over a week, or over one month, such as October which is Disability History and Awareness Month?
• Double check those calendars!
• Avoid scheduling Inclusion Project Events during
• School holidays
• Religious observances 
• Sporting Events
• Got your date? Good! Now, how long will the event(s) run? Time to start drafting an agenda.

Once an agenda has been drafted, the Inclusion Project Planning Committee should develop a task list to be completed by whom and when. Remember! You want the whole school to participate in the Inclusion Project. 

Tasks may include but are not limited to:

• Meetings with administrators
• Sharing plans at staff meetings
• Setting agendas
• Marketing the event
• Acquiring needed materials
• Organizing collaborators and guests
• Clarifying roles and responsibilities of all during the events
• Have fun!!