How We Started
How the Vision Began and Evolved
Pathways for Exceptional was founded in January 2002 as a small parent support group. It began with a few phone calls and conversations Melinda Jennis made trying to recruit other parents, that wanted to improve inclusion and services their children with disabilities were receiving. In July 2002, the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education reported that “the unemployment rates for working aged adults with disabilities have hovered at the 70% level for at least the past 12 years.” In November 2002, this parent group, as a result of being forced to face this sobering reality, became a nonprofit. Their mission focused on developing programs that placed special emphasis on ensuring that children with disabilities were included in their communities and had the access to the early intervention and continuum of support required to achieve fullest potential upon graduation from high school. Pathways developed an array of over 38 integrated and comprehensive programs for children ages 3-21 that have become known for the unique way they: a) promote inclusion of diversity, b) explore passions and increase confidence, c) build on skills and strengths necessary to maximize individual potential, d) teach about community service and adding value to others, and e) empower children of all ability levels to aspire to become remarkable leaders and catalysts for change in their schools and communities. Pathways will always place an emphasis on including children with special needs in our programs and teaching others to do the same. However our vision and mission have grown to empower "children of all abilities" to work together to challenge old paradigms, create innovative solutions, and redefine the world around them. Children hold the keys to the future and will be the next generation to inherit the world. Empowering them to collectively lead both themselves and others to greater heights has become our biggest priority. Pathways offers an array of training programs that can teach a basic sensitivity toward disabilities to the "Include ME!" program that offers a full sequence of programs that model Pathways. Each of the programs can be tailored to the needs of individual schools and/or communities.
