A tribute to Micheline Mason

Dear ALLFIE Members and supporters,

It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the passing of ALLFIE’s Founder and lifelong friend, Micheline Mason. In particular at this time, our thoughts and love go out to Micheline’s family.

This is also a huge loss to the inclusive education movement, the Alliance for Inclusive Education which honors Micheline as its founding member, and the wider Disabled People’s Movement.

Micheline was a remarkable activist who dedicated her life to campaigning for inclusive education and the rights of all Disabled people to be educated in mainstream settings. As a Disabled mother of a Disabled child, Micheline was determined that her daughter, Lucy, now an adult, would attend her local mainstream school rather than be segregated from society, as this was her own experience within the education system.

In this video, filmed for ALLFIE’s 30th Anniversary in 2020, Micheline explains how she formed ALLFIE around her kitchen table, alongside a group of parents determined to ensure their children were educated equally, and formed the pivotal inclusive education group, Parents for Inclusion:

“I started the Alliance for Inclusive Education 30 years ago now. At the time I was a parent of a Disabled child who was 4. Who was coming up to school age. Having been educated myself for 14 years at home on the sofa and then 3 years in a special boarding school which brought great problems to me when I left. I was so determined as a mother that my daughter wasn’t gonna follow the same path as me. And ever feel excluded from her local community. I felt she deserved to have all the same opportunities as any other child, possibly even more because she needed, she would have limited choices because of her impairments.”

All her life, Micheline, alongside other activists, drove forward the inclusive education movement, it is now a global campaign that remains one of the most powerful tools in combating societal inequalities and discriminatory practices. Micheline played a crucial role in supporting other parents of Disabled children in advocating for their child’s right to attend a mainstream school. She was instrumental in introducing national policy changes and reshaping the language around inclusive education.

Micheline was not only a passionate campaigner but also a talented poet and author, with several published works. The legacy of her work will undoubtedly continue to influence and guide the Disabled People’s Movement globally and other social justice movements. Her contributions will be celebrated and cherished as we continue to carry forward the work she began.

Let us take a moment to remember and honour Micheline Mason’s extraordinary contributions. We will continue to gather Micheline’s work and dedicate ourselves to the power she brought to this movement, with care and love for everyone.

With love and solidarity, ALLFIE Team

Please send us your tributes to Micheline, which we will add to this page.

Tributes

• Micheline you let me be who I am and loved me for that. You have enriched my life more than I can express. Thank you. Your love will be forever with us. (Maresa Mackeith)
• Micheline and I go way back. I was a member of Parents for Inclusion when my daughter Chloe was very young. She has Down’s Syndrome and I knew I would need support for her to go to an ordinary neighbourhood school. So I met Micheline through that organisation and was present at the initial conference introducing the Alliance for Inclusive Education. The energy, passion, and positivity of that day furthered my resolve that my daughter would not go to a segregated special school. I also attended that historical launch of Micheline and Richard Reiser’s book written for the ILEA, “DisabilityEquality in the Classroom: A Human Rights Issue. This further helped to totally convince me about the real possibilities, and advantages of a mainstream education, not only as Chloe’s Mum, but also as a nursery teacher. I very quickly became a member of Allfie, and laterally was on the trustee board for many years.
  At that time I began to learn about the disability rights movement, the history of disabled people, the social and medical models, as well as the importance of being an ally. I was then connected to so many resources and organisations to inform my own practise, but also to strengthen my support for Chloe at her mainstream school. We joined many marches, conferences and demonstrations which all were incredibly memorable; like when Young and Powerful delivered a letter to Tony Blair insisting on inclusive education for all disabled learners. And on another occasion burning statements at Lewisham Town Hall, and then delivering a petition to the DFEE; as was chasing Micheline over Westminster Bridge one night as we posted “Reverse the Bias Towards Segregation” stickers along Westminster Bridge in preparation for a march to Parliament the following day.
  When Lewisham LEA refused to allow Chloe to carry on into mainstream schooling for her Secondary education, Micheline spoke up for her at the original appeal at the Town Hall. This was the 1990’s before the Tribunal system was in place. After an unsuccessful appeal to the Secretary of State for Education, Micheline hatched a plan for a campaign to highlight and publicize the backward policies that discriminated against Chloe’s right to an inclusive secondary education. “The Friends of Chloe McCollum” was formed. And with Micheline’s support, Richard Reiser from World of Inclusion , Jo Cameron from PI and many others, we strove to enlighten the local LEA with information, explanation, to hopefully change their policy and practise. We started with a sit down in the Town Hall and had many many meetings with all those involved in decision making. Although we were only offered a dual placement after a very long battle, subsequently many more disabled pupils were included in secondary school, and we do feel we helped to pave the way for that.
  That experience certainly gave me the determination as a Nursery School teacher, Deputy Head and Senco that no local child would be discriminated against and not able to join our Nursery School no matter the level of their impairments. My school’s Headteacher was on the same wave length and working hard with the whole school community we were able to make this a reality for many disabled children, even gaining an Inclusive Education Chartermark for our work.
  On Micheline’s recommendation I joined the Re-Evaluating Community for a bit. Certainly enjoying many of the workshops led by Micheline. Although these were sometimes challenging, certainly they furthered my learning and helped me to gain greater awareness of the importance of being an ally and a greater understanding about the social model and barriers. Indeed when Micheline retired from being the Director of ALLFIE and I from teaching, we gained a stronger friendship and renewed partnership working on training workshops like Planning Positive Futures with Parents for Inclusion. As well as supporting parents to complete an accredited Inclusion Pathway course. I also sort of became a bit of a Micheline ” groupie”, trying to keep up with her many projects and plans supporting others to work towards positive change through the skills of being a good listener. A skill I’m continuing to work on today.
  I have so much to thank Micheline for. We shared so many fun times together and so much laughter; from our trips to Wisley, lunches at Tooting Common Cafe, around her dining table, and in her fabulous garden. I’m so pleased that I joined her, Lucy and her close friends at the Tate’s “Women in Revolt” exhibition to celebrate her 43d birthday. It was also fabulous to organise a successful launch of one of her latest books “An Ordinary Baby: Tales of Childhood Resistance” at my local library introducing Micheline to my local community. As always everyone was blown away by her warmth, humour, thinking and creativity.
  So many have been touched, enriched and supported by you Micheline. We will miss you so; but you will somehow always be with us and your legacy will live on and on. Rest in power and peace.
  Much much love, Zelda McCollum
• I met Micheline in the late 1990s, when through a conversation with Richard Reiser at the teacher’s union (NUT) conference I became committed to full educational inclusion and Disability Rights and joined Allfie. Meeting Micheline and attending Allfie meetings was an inspirational and rich experience. Micheline was always kind but her incisive intelligence kept me thinking about my responsibility as an Ally.
  So, before I retired, because I was a local authority educational psychologist, I realised that the origins of Educational Psychology, and much cotemporary practice, created barriers to inclusion. So, I formed “Educational Psychologists for Inclusion, holding more than a dozen national seminars, attended by between 10 and 60 EPs. The aim of EPs for Inclusion was to develop ways of supporting disabled children and their families into inclusive mainstream schools and have an impact on local and national policy.
  Micheline advised me all along the way and, as a re evaluation co counsellor, challenged me to make inclusion meaningful in my own life and work. There is no doubt that Micheline’s encouragement kept me going over more than a decade. The last time I saw Micheline was at the final EPs for Inclusion Seminar, when she braved the sometimes patronising comments of some of the EPs (they can be an arrogant lot!) then went for a meal with my wife (Chrissie) and me. The Italian Restaurant, seeing Micheline’s wheelchair, helpfully moved the tables around then asked Micheline her food choices, speaking over her head, to Chrissie in “Does she take sugar?” fashion! She coped. One of the best brains in the Universe, and “Wheelchair equates with Stupid”.
  It seems to me sad and poignant that Micheline passed away on 7th September because, on that day, now as a person with Parkinson’s (PwP), I attended (and helped organise) a Seminar run by Parkinson’s people on research into Living Well. We, PwP, follow the Disability Rights approach and organise ourselves, with allies.
  For me, Micheline was an inspiration and a mentor. I shall miss her. (Keith Venables, Convenor, EPs for Inclusion)
• Micheline, your friendship changed my life. I owe you so much and feel so privileged to have been around your power, love and wisdom. I will miss you.
  (Caroline MacKeith)
• Micheline Mason was one of the architects of inclusive education in the UK, passionate and powerful in changing attitudes, helping to dismantle outdated structures and opening the doors for disabled children to join mainstream education. This was no mean feat. Micheline did this with genuine love for disabled children, political understanding, and personal experience of the harm that segregation inflicts on all. Her influence was world-wide through her talks, books, training and engagement with people – those who held power and those who didn’t. It is a huge loss to society that she is no more. My thoughts are with her daughter Lucy, her wider family, and the community of disabled people.As a parent of a disabled daughter Zahrah who was being directed to a special school in the 1990s, Micheline tirelessly accompanied us on meetings and spoke eloquently at the tribunal which we won but then had to fight all over again – this was the mindless bureaucracy we faced. Micheline was always bristling with energy, she had an infectious laugh and it’s hard to believe only few weeks ago she wrote to encourage me on my writing some of the history of the inclusion battle. She was a true friend to many. She taught me so much about what it means to be truly human. Long may her legacy live on! (Preethi Manuel)
• The UK Disabled People’s Movement mourns the sad passing of Micheline Mason, disabled activist, author, artist and founder of the Alliance for Inclusive Education -Dave Lupton’s blog post tribute: Crippen remembers Micheline Mason | Crippen Cartoons
• My dear Micheline, you had a great sense of humour.
  You were always positive and a wonderful activist.
  I was lucky to have met and talked to you across the ocean.Thank you very much for the wonderful interview time.
  But I really wanted to talk to you more…I will pass on your words to the people of Japan and the world through my book.
  Please continue to watch over me.
  Rest in power and peace, my dear Micheline.(Nariko Hashida) Nariko included their research paper with contributions from Micheline
• I got to know Micheline after my wife Linda joined the team at Patents for Inclusion. By degrees Linda began working with Micheline training people on the Pathway. They were a close partnership who had huge love and respect for each other, who did some brilliant work together.
  I got to know Micheline better when I joined a support counselling group which she led after Linda died. She was a brilliant counsellor and a humble, straightforward and honest human being who tackled the most difficult challenges with courage, lightheartedness and a great sense of humour.
  Her counselling helped me grow through the issues I dealt with at that time. I will remember her for all that, and her groundbreaking achievements in awakening so many to the enlightenment of inclusive practice.
  But most of all I’ll remember those many moments together when both of us were helpless with laughter.
  Micheline left the world a better place. (Tim Whitehead)
• So so sad. Micheline helped my friends access mainstream education. I met her in person and always thought she had done amazing work. Thank you and RIP. (Sarah Ismail)
• This is very sad news. A huge loss to the movement but Micheline leaves an amazing legacy. Her warmth, humour, passion and determination always shone. Deepest condolences to her family and friends  (Marianne Scobie)
• This is very sad news indeed. Micheline was multi talented – artist, speaker, writer, etc. etc. I can honestly say, had I not met Micheline when she was little, my daughter would probably be barely literate and friendless, rather than having 2 degrees and an interesting social life. And I still use Micheline’s “What’s this got to do with you dear” cartoon to win an argument over disabled people’s involvement in matters that affect them. Condolences to Lucy and I hope you have good people supporting you. (Midge and Kate Caryer)
• So saddened to learn from Tara that we’ve lost the truly wondrous Micheline Mason, who started and led the inclusion movement in the UK and overseas too. I first met Micheline when she and Richard Rieser invited me to one of their very first Disability Equality in Education ‘Training the Trainers’ weekend courses in London in the 90s. Along with the other participants, including Jane Campbell and Christine Wilson we all came away fired up to make education better and truly inclusive for all disabled children. Micheline, together with Richard empowered me to challenge other education ‘professionals’ across Scotland and show the way ahead with Social Model thinking rather than the ‘traditional’, disempowering medical model so beloved by those who excluded. She encouraged and supported me when I was awarded a Churchill Travel Fellowship to look at Inclusive Education from an Equalities and Rights Perspective in North America and when I came back. The world will be much the poorer and never the same without her gentle but hugely powerful wisdom. Micheline was always crystal clear that no disabled child should ever be segregated and separated from their friends and families in a special school setting as so many of us had been. She put me in touch with people here and in North America and encouraged me to apply for a Churchill Fellowship and involved me in so many things over the years.  I remember pinching myself when she asked me to write a chapter for one of her books as she knew the challenges of my school life, the impact on those closest to me and the horrendous adverse professional experiences while teaching. Her writings, videos and speeches are unique and life changing to all who read them or were blessed to be in her company. Thinking especially of Lucy, family and friends, the staff and volunteers at The Alliance for Inclusive Education, her friends and allies in the Disability Movement and all the families and education professionals who realised there is a better way – by right, and worked together to make change happen. God bless you Micheline, rest in peace, With love, respect and much sadness (Wilma Lawrie, Edinburgh)
• I learned about the Social Model through listening to Micheline at workshops and reading her work. It made a massive difference and impacted our battle to get our daughter into mainstream school. She has left a legacy. (Katie Clarke)
• Micheline was hugely influential in my life. I first met her in Reevaluation Counselling where we were building an ‘allies’ movement, trying to create spaces, both physical and with our thinking to include and put disabled people in the centre of things. Also trying to understand about how not to behave oppressively in the way that society is. So for example we built ramps, laid ‘hearing loops’ and tried to think about things differently. We didn’t always get it right but with hers and Christine O’ Mahoney’s advice and thinking we did things. Understanding the ‘Medical model’ and the ‘disabled by society’ model was such a huge and seismic piece of learning from Micheline and others for me. I went on to have a disabled son later on so my work in this area was very important. Through Micheline’s work I found the ‘Inclusive Solutions’ people who helped me help my son in his challenges. I have followed Micheline through reading her books and avidly follow the Allfie emails I get. Micheline’s innovative thinking and goals for a more inclusive world continue to amaze and reset my thinking. Her ideas are hugely relevant today and as a climate activist, putting people before profit is needed now more than ever. Thank you Micheline. I love you, Cath Goldstein
• Micheline was an absolute powerhouse; a force of nature and amazing human being and a massive loss to inclusive education and the disabled people’s movement and to everyone who knows Micheline was such a lovely human being. Condolences to her family and everyone who knew her. Rest in Power Micheline x (Paula Peters)
• Micheline you gave us so much. The countless lives you touched and emboldened, ever so passionately and powerfully. You certainly did that for us. Your legacy will carry on, the fight for an inclusive education for all disabled learners carries on underpinned by your wisdom and creativity. Condolences to Lucy, your family, and your very wide circle of friends. Rest in power and peace. (Zelda McCollum)
• Deepest solidarity. Last year, Micheline asked me to read her latest book before it was published. She said, “You’ll get it,” and she was absolutely right. I connected with it on so many levels. As Bob Marley said, “Never give up the fight,” and this was Micheline she never did – she fought tirelessly for inclusive education. Micheline leaves behind a remarkable legacy. Her work will continue to flow through the very DNA of ALLFIE’s values and practices, driving inclusive education for everyone.
  With abundant love and peace. (Michelle Daley)
• Very sad news to hear, please send our deepest condolences to the family. (Jacqui Byland)

• What a loss for the disabled community! She was a pioneer in so many ways. Our condolences to Lucy, family and friends. Xx (Toucan Diversity)
• Oh no. Not another amazing disabled champion gone. 💔 Micheline was a powerhouse of passion and intelligence. We all owe her so much. A legacy of positivity and inclusion. (Mik Scarlet)
• An incredible lady who did so much for disabled people and society. She will be truly missed xx (Lucy Fisher)
• So sad. Micheline was a warm, compassionate person and a wise and determined campaigner. (Janet Mearns)
• A great loss. Sincerest condolences. She was a very determined lady. (Jan Nicholas)
• Such a massive loss to disability activism. (Alison Wilde)
• May you rest in perfect peace and power Micheline,🙏🏽💛your legacy has changed countless lives including mine, 🙏🏽💛I will be forever grateful 🕊️🙏🏽💛 (Yewande Akintelu-Omoniyi)
• It is with great sadness to hear that Micheline has passed away. I remember her warmth and enthusiasm in fighting for the inclusive education for her daughter and for many other disabled children. The work that Michelin started will be carried on with that enthusiasm. She will be sorely missed.
  (Anthony Ford-Shubrook)
• I first knew of Micheline when I was learning Re-Evaluation Counselling. I was a school teacher and everyone said I really should meet her.
  In my heart I already knew that inclusion was the way forward for education. Meeting Micheline helped me understand that at such a deeper level.
  I went to Micheline’s workshops and got involved with Allfie as contributor and later as a trustee.
  Micheline’s love of humanity has changed the education of many children and inspired educators across the world. When I was a headteacher I had a photo of Micheline, with Lucy looking out from under her chair, on my wall. My schools were always a hotbed of inclusion thanks to a wonderful teacher.
  Micheline was courageous, indomitable, highly intelligent, kind, loving and generous.
  Micheline will be missed but her energy and legacy will keep on building momentum – we will achieve an inclusive world where all people are valued for their unique contribution.
  (Nigel Utton)

• I was very sad to hear of Micheline’s passing.
  Her powerful spirit and her clarity of purpose, born of experience, really did change the world.
  What a struggle it was – and still is – for voices like hers to be heard.
  Thank you, Micheline, for the inspiration that you brought to others, and to me, as you resolutely pursued your life’s work.
  You will be much missed.
  (Katy Simmons)

• I met Micheline on a few occasions and was immediately struck by her warmth but also steel in challenging the inequality and discrimination that exist in the education system whereby a group of humans are segregated away from other humans just because of their differences. She told me in her gentle voice that campaigning for the inclusion of all Disabled people in mainstream education settings was no longer just about her daughter but more importantly about a complete system and societal change that must involve not only the inclusive education movement but the Disability movement at large. I felt her strength on those occasions and was honoured to be  in the presence of greatness, Rest in power – Ms Mason
  (Iyiola Olafimihan)
• Michelene
  Farewell my friend.
  You who more than any other,
  Taught me the true meaning of disablement
  And the continuing struggle
  For Equality, Justice and our Rights.
  Most unlikely leader,
  Who through your wisdom,
  Built an Inclusion Movement.
  The ripples of which spread out still
  Across the World.Micheline I will always venerate and love you!
  (Richard Rieser)