Wrightsville Elementary highlights inclusion project with Mikaela's Voice

Wrightsville Elementary leaders told the Eastern York SD board that a partnership with the Pennsylvania nonprofit Mikaela's Voice has helped the school expand inclusion for students with disabilities.

Principal Nate Pride (identified in the record) said the program began with a schoolwide assembly on Nov. 17 and included a collaborative art project that paired 12 students with disabilities and 12 general-education students. The project used a wheelchair footprint motif tied to Mikaela’s story; individual canvases will be combined into a permanent display scheduled for unveiling in the spring.

Pride said two copies of books related to Mikaela’s work were provided to Wrightsville Elementary and staff are developing a sign-out system for teachers. He described the initiative as funded by a grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and credited special-education staff for pursuing the opportunity.

The presentation stressed that inclusion benefits both students with disabilities and their peers and that the program has statewide examples of positive long-term outcomes. Pride invited board members to attend the unveiling once a date is set and noted the district will publicize the event.