Where we are located

The PDA Center in Maryland is part of the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education, Inc. MCIE is a nonprofit organization founded in 1988 by advocates and professionals seeking to promote the inclusion of students with disabilities in their neighborhood schools.

MCIE has vision of a society where neighborhood schools welcome all students, engage them in learning, and form the foundation for inclusive communities. We strive to promote practices in neighborhood schools so that students with disabilities will benefit from effective instruction, have friends, and be full members of their school communities. The mission of MCIE is to be the catalyst for meaningful and successful participation of all students in their neighborhood schools. MCIE’s offers the following services:

• State- and District-level strategic planning: Through a three-day institute, MCIE uses a structured planning process to facilitate leadership teams as they define their vision, identify barriers and resources, and establish strategic actions toward goals. Pre-institute and post-institute training prepares the teams and supports implementation.

• Inclusive education systems change project: MCIE works with districts teams using an action planning process to increase and improve inclusive education practices at the district, school, and student level. This multi-level process is implemented over multiple years to increase student participation and achievement in their neighborhood school.

• District-level action planning to increase and improve inclusive practices: Over one school year, MCIE supports the development and implementation of a plan that focus on improving services for specific populations or schools.

• Professional development: Workshops and courses are designed and offered to teachers, paraeducators, parents, and administrators on current topics ranging from literacy for students with significant disabilities to social skills instruction for students with autism, to methods for modifying the general education curriculum for students with various disabilities.

• Consultation and team development: Technical assistance and training is available for teams in schools who are challenged by a student who is included and for whom the staff struggles to design successful supports.

• Product development: MCIE staff develops resource guides and other materials for parents and professionals.

• Presentations: Various topics related to inclusive education are available to university classes, parent organizations, advocacy groups, and professional organizations, across the State and nationally.

Services for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

A variety of training opportunities are offered through MCIE. These include technical assistance to schools, families and communities who are interested in providing high quality educational programs in inclusive settings. The following support and training opportunities are available through MCIE.

Professional Development Opportunities

A variety of training opportunities are offered through MCIE. These include technical assistance to schools, families and communities who are interested in providing high quality educational programs in inclusive settings. The following support and training opportunities are available through MCIE.

• Systemic planning with school systems: working with local school district teams to identify and implement strategies to promote multi-level change across the system.
• Demonstration site development: working with school teams to develop and implement plans to bring all students back to their neighborhood school and increase inclusive practices within the school.
• Inservice training: instruction to teachers, para-educators, and administrators through single workshops or courses.
• Consultation and team development: technical assistance and training for teams in schools who are challenged by a student who is included and for whom faculty are struggling to design successful supports.
• Product development: design and production of booklets, manuals, and pamphlets describing strategies for including students with disabilities.
• Annual conferences: at least once or twice a year, a statewide conference or institute is offered for parents and professionals seeking information on current practices in inclusion.
• Presentations: on various topics to university classes, parent organizations, advocacy groups, professional organizations, across the State and nationally.

Advocacy Services:

MCIE collaborates with other advocacy and professional organizations within Maryland and nationally to promote the inclusion of students with disabilities in general education settings. Opportunities for families in Maryland to receive legal support to acquire or maintain less restrictive placements are also available. Services include:

• Individual Advocacy: for families seeking less restrictive and more inclusive placements for their child.
• Administrative Advocacy: actions to promote inclusive policies, procedures, and practices of the federal, state, and local governments.
• Training and support: to families seeking strategies for working through their Individual Education Program process or for working with their school system or with other parents to make a difference in the education of their child and others in their local jurisdiction.