We developed a mission statement for Mark at the beginning of our attempts to integrate Mark into the regular classroom setting and shared it with teachers, administrators, aides, and others. We wanted them to understand our goals and the underlying principles of our advocacy, hoping they would adopt the approach and spirit we were sharing with them.

Mission Statement

As parents and guardians for Mark, the following are inherent aspects of our advocacy on his behalf.

Mark is a special child entrusted to us by a loving God to bless our lives and those around him. He has unique needs but also unique gifts. To honor that trust and responsibility we have for him, we pledge that until the day he returns home to his Heavenly Father, we will seek out those, whether young or old:

• who respect him as a person

• who desire the best for him

• who perceive within him the capacity to enlarge

• who realize that he too can contribute

• who recognize his weaknesses but have the gift to teach him, such that his weaknesses become strengths

Mark will become a meaningful member of society, contributing in ways that only he can, which gift will be recognized by those who have the eyes to see.

As a primary teacher with Mark in my classroom, I have always felt that we learned as much from Mark as he learned from us. I include teachers, students, and administrators in that group. 

We had many meetings to discuss Mark and his progress. I appreciated your expectations for Mark, as it helped me set the tone for the classroom and others.