Decker, students advocate for inclusion in Hanover

Donning a shirt that called for inclusion, Decker requested the Town Board recognize the month of March as a month for acceptance for those with developmental disabilities. March is recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month by the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities.

Decker — a finalist in the 2024 Reader’s Digest contest to name America’s Favorite Teacher — came prepared with a statement of her own, as well as several statements prepared by students involved with the school’s Youth Advisory Committee and the Silver Creek-Forestville Unified Sports program. Decker is the Unified Bowling coach and Youth Advisory Committee advisor.

“Today, I stand before you asking to make the inclusion movement move beyond the walls of our schools and into our communities,” Decker said.

While addressing the Board, Decker stated that a year ago, the Resource Center in Dunkirk asked the City of Dunkirk to recognize the month of March as a month dedicated to inclusion. Decker said to her knowledge, Dunkirk was the first community in the region to take such a measure.

Troy Cooper smiles after taking a shot during a Silver Creek-Forestville Unified Basketball game last season.

Now Decker hopes Hanover will do the same.

“This year, the students and staff from two schools are asking you to join with Dunkirk by declaring March ‘Choose to Include Month’ in the town of Hanover,” Decker said.

Three student leaders of the Youth Advisory Committee prepared statements for the Board. Among them was Co-President Molly Shaw, a sophomore at Silver Creek High School, who stated, “Practicing inclusion is one of the most important things a community can do. It has been proven time and time again that a community that practices inclusion is healthier. Every day, our community is growing with the common goal in mind of going in the right direction and making positive change.”

Under the guidance of Special Olympics, Unified Sports programming began at Silver Creek in 2020. The program recently expanded to include Forestville as part of a combined program, with bowling and basketball among the most established of sports. Unified bocce and football programs have also begun throughout the region as well.

Special Olympics promotes inclusion through the Choose to Include movement, in which individuals are encouraged to pledge to be inclusive in their everyday lives.

“Becoming part of the movement has been the best decision I, personally, have ever made,” Decker said.

Silver Creek Central School offers pledge cards to students and staff to show the district’s dedication to support inclusion. The pledge cards were hung in the school lobby a year ago, along with a banner that was also displayed at the school. Decker provided pledge cards to the Town of Hanover to share however the Town sees fit.

“Our goal is to make inclusion and acceptance a way of life, something that just exists,” Decker said. “Hopefully, in years to come, these pledge cards will no longer be needed. We will just live in a world where everyone feels welcome and can participate no matter their background, ability, or differences.”

Town of Hanover Supervisor Lou Pelletter expressed interest in the Town issuing a proclamation in support of the inclusion efforts in the Town’s two school districts and beyond. The Town Board meets next on Feb. 10, and again on Feb. 24 prior to the month of March.