Testimonial – Supporter

“The iCARE program has had a profoundly positive impact on our autistic daughter’s experience within the Mansfield public school system. From her earliest kindergarten years right through to high school, she has had the widespread support, encouragement and friendship of her classmates who were among the first students to benefit from the iCARE program’s stories and open classroom discussions about the challenges faced by their peers with disabilities.

From participating in school plays, to singing with the school choir, to being a member of the cheerleading squad, to being voted to the Homecoming Queen’s Court by her classmates, our daughter has been able to enjoy the full “high school experience” due to the compassion and understanding of the kids she has grown up with in the Mansfield school system.

The benefits of the iCARE program in the community extend beyond the school day. Our experience has been that the same compassion and understanding exhibited by our daughter’s classmates during the school day carry over to their various activities and interactions outside of school.  The kids who have participated in the ICARE classroom activities use that experience to become peer leaders when it comes to helping those in our community who are dealing with a disability.

We would strongly encourage any school system that is looking to start a disabled peer acceptance program to follow the iCARE model.”

Dave and Joyce McDonnell, iCARE Supporters