Our Lady of Good Counsel School in Vienna was awarded a grant from
Porto Charities Inc., a non-profit that supports individuals with intellectual
and developmental disabilities. The grant enables the school to employ Celeste
Fernandes, who has Down syndrome, as an instructional assistant.
Fernandes graduated from the George Mason University in Fairfax
Learning Into Future Environments (LIFE) program and has worked in child
development centers and elementary schools for the past three years. She is a
parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Vienna.
Porto Charities, in conjunction with Bishop Michael F. Burbidge,
the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools and the George Mason LIFE program, has
created a pilot program where Catholic schools employ adults with intellectual
disabilities. The pilot program supports the larger mission advocated by Bishop
Burbidge for inclusivity in diocesan schools.
© Arlington Catholic Herald 2019