Dr. Ryan Allen, president of the FIRE Foundation of Northwest Iowa, joins the Catholic Morning Show to share how his daughter Sawyer's birth with Down syndrome sparked a mission to welcome students with disabilities into Catholic schools. He explains how FIRE — Families for Inclusive Religious Education — funds interventionists, paraprofessionals, adaptive technology, and teacher training across the Diocese of Sioux City through major and micro-grants. Ryan also previews the 6th Annual Ignite the Fire fundraiser and shares why inclusive education benefits every student, not just those it was designed for.
Dr. Ryan Allen, president of the FIRE Foundation of Northwest Iowa (Families for Inclusive Religious Education), joins Bo Bonner to talk about Ignite the Fire's mission to champion the inclusion of students with disabilities in Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Sioux City. Ryan traces the foundation's roots to the birth of his daughter Sawyer, who was born with Down syndrome nearly 12 years ago without a prenatal diagnosis, and to the small group of Sioux City–area families who began meeting to imagine what inclusive Catholic education could look like.
Ryan breaks down how schools can apply for support: a major grant program (applications due each mid-January) that funds larger needs like interventionist and special-education resource-teacher positions, and micro-grants of up to $1,500, available year-round, that have funded curriculum, adaptive technology, and staff training — including the popular "Teach to Heal" program for educators. He also shares how the foundation's work has shaped a culture of belonging across every Diocese of Sioux City school, from peer-mentoring programs to milestone moments like his daughter's First Communion.
Now in its sixth year, the Ignite the Fire fundraiser moves to a new venue — the Sioux City Distilling Company — on Wednesday, September 16, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The FIRE Foundation is entirely volunteer-run, and 100% of funds raised go directly back into diocesan classrooms. Tickets, sponsorship information, and ways to support the mission are at FIRE Foundation of NW Iowa.
Heard on the Catholic Morning Show, weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio. More at IowaCatholicRadio.com.
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