Parents find way to get kids with disabilities a Catholic education

Almost $800,000. That’s how much the FIRE Foundation of Denver gave in grants for the school year that is getting under way. Grants for what? To support Catholic school students with disabilities in the Archdiocese of Denver.

Because of FIRE support, many students who may not otherwise have received a Catholic education will be welcomed into Catholic school communities and provided with the assistance they may need to receive a full Catholic education. 

Inclusion of students with disabilities is often a challenge for Catholic schools. Students with disabilities sometimes need extra help, which can imply extra costs in the form of teacher assistants, tutoring, extra evaluations, or specific accommodations. In public schools, much of this is supported by government funds. For Catholic schools, it all becomes a financial challenge.

Since 2021, when the FIRE Foundation of Denver was started, that story – in the Archdiocese of Denver at least – is starting to change.

J.D. Flynn is a Board member of the FIRE Foundation of Denver and the dad of two children who have Down syndrome. (He is also the founder and editor of the Catholic news agency The Pillar.) He and his wife Kate – now the president of the Board – joined the Foundation shortly after its founding by three Catholic moms in the area.

The FIRE Foundation of Denver is an affiliate of the FIRE Foundation in Kansas City which was founded in the 1990s.

This group of parents, Flynn explained, “believed that Catholic schools were the right place for our kids.” After all, Catholic schools “know what a person is, what flourishing is, and what education is for.”

Yet, many Catholic schools are unable to serve children with intellectual disabilities. Flynn said that he has found that the main obstacles for schools are finances and personnel. 

While the FIRE Foundation of Denver is a separate entity from the archdiocese, schools interested in grants first make contact with the Director of Student Support Services at the Archdiocese of Denver, who also forms diocesan policies for inclusion.

Flynn explained, "In most cases, the desire for inclusion starts with a specific person.”

The schools recognize that there is a child who they know will not be able to attend Catholic school unless there are additional supports. The Foundation listens to what the school’s vision is and walks with them to figure out what they need. 

The Foundation has an annual grant cycle and Flynn shared that there are more requests than they can fill. This is something he clearly sees as a good sign: “There is a hunger to do more for more children.”

FIRE stands for “Foundation for Inclusive Religious Education” and integration is a major focus.

Flynn explained that, yes, this is beneficial for the individual students with disabilities, but also for the school communities as a whole. Neurotypical students benefit from learning with and from their classmates with disabilities.

“Fundamentally, what we’re doing is building a culture of life,” said Flynn.

According to a recent press release, “FIRE Denver's School Grants Program focuses on providing resources for staff salaries, professional development, and adaptive technology, all key components in creating successful inclusive classrooms.”

The grant money will go towards different things depending on what individual schools and students need.

The FIRE Foundation of Denver held a fundraising Gala on August 23 and invited Bishop Cozzens, the Bishop of Crookston, to speak.

Bishop Cozzens is best known for his work with the Eucharistic Revival. “We see this mission [of FIRE] as essentially Eucharistic,” Flynn said. “The Eucharist unites us to the Holy Trinity and we are united to one another. This mission is aimed at helping the Church to expand her capacity to welcome and, therefore, is fundamentally connected to the Eucharist.”

At the Gala, three individuals were honored, all of whom have contributed to the FIRE mission in very different ways.

First, Archbishop Aquila of Denver has been an essential part of the FIRE Foundation of Denver’s mission. “He has a genuine heart for people with disabilities and willingness to set a vision for a Church with disabilities. We couldn’t do this without a partnership,” explains Flynn.

Second, Eileen Haniszewski is the Director of Special Education at St. Mary’s School. Flynn said that Haniszewski is being recognized because she was one of the first people who said  “we can really do this, we can be welcoming to everyone.” Flynn calls her a "woman of yes," saying that when schools are starting to look into Special Education, she is a go-to mentor and person to ask advice. 

And finally, Jill Hall is a local florist who jumped into the mission wholeheartedly. She uses her talents as an event planner for the Foundation and “throws the best parties.” 

Flynn commented that one of the fruits of their work is actually bringing people together from many different parts of the Church community, united in mission.

No initiative is without its challenges and Flynn admitted that indeed, getting the FIRE Foundation of Denver off the ground has been an “iterative, learning process.”

There are things that take time to figure out -- like figuring out how many students schools can responsibly serve and finding personnel who not only have a Catholic outlook, but also the skills needed to serve students with disabilities.

Sometimes there are concerns from a teacher or a parent about what inclusivity will mean for their work load or for their own child in a classroom. Sometimes schools aren’t sure how they can serve students with disabilities well.

Flynn commented, "The belief that 'we can’t' has been drummed into us.” The FIRE Foundation of Denver’s hope is that they can help encourage “a greater belief in what is possible,” not only with funding, but by accompanying schools through this process.

His advice to schools considering making this leap to serve more students with disabilities? “Just try. Just start. You can build as you go. Say yes and then let’s work together to build the things that will make it successful.”