The committee has produced a handbook with administrative advice for schools. OACS also offers a master resource teacher as a consultant. But Vanasselt says that the drive toward inclusive special education is slowed by several obstacles, including the fact that the Ontario Christian schools are spread out over a wide area and many are small. Smaller schools cannot afford the high cost of special education programs, but larger schools in populous communities, such as Calvin Christian in Hamilton, have thriving programs. But even in areas like western Michigan where CLC operates, Christian schools have not been able to become fully inclusive.
Cost is a barrier there as well.
It's a small percentage of students, but it grieves us that the inability to serve all God's kids comes down to economics and not volition and knowledge. We're pleased that an agency like Elim Christian Services is there to work with students whom the local Christian school communities are unable to serve. Elim also offers an adult work services program and has recently expanded its Discovery Center program to include schools outside the Chicago area. This outreach program offers in- school services to students with less severe impairments for whom inclusive education is beneficial. The severely impaired thrive in our environment.