Photo (left to right): Sandra DeDominicis, Student Achievement Leader | Special Education; Mike McDonald, Director of Education; Stephanie Bergman , Speech and Language Pathologist; Mary Hanhan, Speech and Language Pathologist; Meagan Courneyea, Speech and Language Pathologist; Carol Luciani, Chair of the Board; Phil Wilson, Superintendent of Education.
The Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB) is proud to announce that Speech-Language Pathologists Stephanie Bergman, Meagan Courneyea, and Mary Hanhan have received the 2025 Champions of Inclusion Award.
Presented annually at the Coaching to Inclusion Conference, the award recognizes educators who demonstrate exceptional leadership in inclusive education. Since its inception in 1999, the award has honoured individuals who actively promote environments where all students feel welcomed, valued, and supported.
The trio was recognized for their significant contributions to inclusive practices through staff training, student assessments, consultative support, and innovative resources. Their key initiatives include introducing high-tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices (AAC) devices for students with urgent communication needs, creating the Complex Communicators Guidebook to help staff support AAC users, and implementing the Story Champs Program, which supports early language and literacy development in Kindergarten classrooms.
Board Chair Carol Luciani and Superintendent Phil Wilson praised the clinicians for their dedication, calling their work transformative. For more details and to view the full award presentation, visit the BHNCDSB website. Congratulations to these champions of inclusion.
* AAC devices (Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices) are tools designed to aid or replace speech or writing for those with impairments in the production or comprehension of spoken or written language.
Written by Jeremy Hall