{"product_id":"the-blind-advantage-how-going-blind-made-me-a-stronger-principal-and-how-including-children-with-disabilities-made-our-school-better-for-e-paperback","title":"The Blind Advantage: How Going Blind Made Me a Stronger Principal and How Including Children with Disabilities Made Our School Better for Everyone - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eBill Henderson\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Blind Advantage\u003c\/i\u003e provides insight into the challenges, possibilities, and practicalities of including students with disabilities--and into the mind and heart of an inspired and determined leader.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"You should get out of education.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThat was the advice first-year teacher Bill Henderson received when he discovered he was gradually losing his vision. Instead, Henderson persevered and became principal of the Patrick O'Hearn Elementary School in Boston, an ethnically and economically diverse school where about a third of the students have mild, moderate, or significant disabilities. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe Blind Advantage, \u003c\/i\u003e Henderson describes how the journey into blindness helped him develop key qualities--determination, vision, sensitivity, organization, collaboration, and humor--that made him a more effective principal. At the same time, he shows how the inclusionary policies and practices at the O'Hearn School (now renamed the William W. Henderson Inclusion Elementary School) elicited and developed these qualities in others. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAn audio version of this book is available for purchase. This audio version was created in collaboration with the Perkins Braille \u0026amp; Talking Book Library.\u003ch3\u003eFront Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eYou should get out of education. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e That was the advice first-year teacher Bill Henderson received when he discovered he was gradually losing his vision. Instead, Henderson persevered and became principal of the Patrick O'Hearn Elementary School in Boston, an ethnically and economically diverse school where about a third of the students have mild, moderate, or significant disabilities. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In \u003ci\u003eThe Blind Advantage\u003c\/i\u003e, Henderson describes how the journey into blindness helped him develop key qualities--determination, vision, sensitivity, organization, collaboration, and humor--that made him a more effective principal. At the same time, he shows how the inclusionary policies and practices at the O'Hearn School (now renamed the William W. Henderson Inclusion Elementary School) elicited and developed these qualities in others. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Blind Advantage\u003c\/i\u003e provides insight into the challenges, possibilities, and practicalities of including students with disabilities--and into the mind and heart of an inspired and determined leader. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"In an age when the word 'hero' is overused, Bill Henderson clearly deserves the title. Long before most educators embraced the concept of inclusion, Bill built a school that became a model of equity and excellence. This book offers a rare glimpse of a highly effective school leader.\" -- \u003cb\u003eThomas Hehir\u003c\/b\u003e, professor of practice, Harvard Graduate School of Education \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Bill Henderson, a pioneer in inclusive urban school leadership, provides an honest, practical, and joyful guide to what it takes to make inclusion work organizationally and instructionally. A must-read for educators and parents!\" -- \u003cb\u003eDavid P. Riley\u003c\/b\u003e, executive director, Urban Special Education Leadership Collaborative \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Henderson provides an honest, heartfelt account of his experiences coping with vision loss and his leadership in the inclusive education movement. He offers practical advice and guidance for parents and educators. \u003ci\u003eThe Blind Advantage\u003c\/i\u003e should be a required acquisition for public, academic, and special library collections.\" -- \u003cb\u003eKim Charlson\u003c\/b\u003e, library director, Braille \u0026amp; Talking Book Library, Perkins School for the Blind \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Bill Henderson's book artfully blends his personal narrative about gradually becoming blind, the counterintuitive effect this had on his work as a principal, and his school's success in including children with severe special needs in regular classrooms. The heart of Bill's book is a series of case studies that show how inclusion can be transformational for students--and for the adults who serve them.\" -- \u003cb\u003eKim Marshall\u003c\/b\u003e, former Boston Public School principal and editor of the Marshall Memo \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eBill Henderson\u003c\/b\u003e was an educator in the Boston Public Schools for 36 years. He was appointed principal of the Patrick O'Hearn Elementary School in 1989 with a mandate to develop an inclusive program, and he remained its leader for twenty years.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBill Henderson\u003c\/b\u003e was an educator in the Boston Public Schools for thirty-six years. He started in 1973 as a middle-school teacher and later served as a staff trainer and curriculum developer before becoming an assistant principal at a K-8 school. In 1989, Bill was appointed principal of the Patrick O'Hearn Elementary School with a mandate to include students with significant disabilities, and he remained its leader for twenty years. The school gained widespread recognition for inclusion, academic progress, the arts, technology, and family involvement. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBill earned a BA from Yale University, an MA from Goddard College, and an EdD from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Upon his retirement from the Boston Public Schools in June 2009, the O'Hearn was renamed the Dr. William W. Henderson Inclusion Elementary School. Bill continues to advocate for inclusion through consulting and by presenting at universities and conferences. He also enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially with his grandchildren. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eReaders can contact Bill Henderson by e-mail at whenderson50@comcast.net.\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 200\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.5 x 8.9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 01, 2011\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42156607996039,"sku":"9781612501093","price":48.6,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/2623\/2711\/files\/8e3e4557340a7dbddf597a6627b654a1.webp?v=1733244888","url":"https:\/\/booksby.splitshops.com\/products\/the-blind-advantage-how-going-blind-made-me-a-stronger-principal-and-how-including-children-with-disabilities-made-our-school-better-for-e-paperback","provider":"Books by splitShops","version":"1.0","type":"link"}