Le Mouvement DISTHEDIS
The DISTHEDIS Movement
Established in 1963, Summit School has been on the forefront of special needs education in Canada.
The story of Summit School began in 1963 (the same year the Beatles released their first album!) At that time, four sets of parents whose children had Down Syndrome decided that a "school" needed to be created to serve their needs. It began as a summer camp, and the next year, Soryl Rosenberg, was hired as the first official teacher and the camp turned into a school. It started with six students, and each year became a little bit bigger. In 1971, with an enrollment of 42, Gloria Cherney was hired to be the principal. Under Gloria’s direction the school grew and developed its student-first educational approach. Gloria served as principal for forty-two years.
In 2013, Herman Erdogmus became the school's Director General. He has continued to oversee the growth of the school while maintaining its student-first philosophy. During his tenure, Summit's focus on unique and innovative teaching methods has led to the establishment of the school's Performing Arts Department, Research Centre and thriving learn-to-work businesses.
The motionball connection
Motionball is a national non-profit that empowers young Canadians to be leaders in their communities, raising funds and awareness for Special Olympics through integrated social and sporting events. We believe that the next generation of Canadians, today’s students and young professionals, are the future of the Special Olympics movement – with the power to make meaningful difference for generations to come.
We are proud to be part of the motionball and the special olympics movement. Alessia was a special olympics athlete for 3 years winning 5 gold medals in track and field.
She continues to be part of the Special Olympics by participating in the motionballU event at McGill and the motionballl Montreal event.
Montreal Gala 2023
At the Montreal Gala, Alessia was asked to give a speech about motionball and special olympics.
She also gave a shout out for DIS the DIS!
The Inspirations Montreal connection
Inspirations: Promoting inclusion and mental well-being, is the hub of special needs news in the Greater Montreal and surrounding areas. And now, we have expanded our mandate to include positive mental health and well-being. A non-profit sponsored in part and produced by the English Montreal School Board – Quebec’s largest English school board and leader in catering to children and young adults with special needs – Inspirations is Montreal’s only English-language publication of its kind. It also includes French-language content. Find the EMSB database of special needs resources on our website.
DisTheDis: Redefining Ability with Alessia's Journey
Inspirations News Podcast
Meet Alessia Iglio, the inspiring force behind the DisTheDis movement. Diagnosed with dyspraxia on the autism spectrum, she’s turned her personal challenges into a mission to redefine what it means to live with a disability. In this episode, Alessia and her dad Pietro share her journey of resilience and how she’s empowering others to see ability where others may see limits. Join us for a powerful conversation about overcoming adversity, changing perceptions, and embracing the power of ability.
Awesome: Daughter teams up with family on advocacy venture
by Olivia Integlia
Alessia Iglio has achieved far more than most her age. At just 21 years old, she is the executive director and co-founder of Dis the Dis, a movement focused on changing the discourse around disability.
Iglio’s track to success did not come without its challenges. At just 20 months, she was diagnosed with developmental coordination disorder, or dyspraxia, a neurodevelop- mental condition causing a global delay and impaired coordination in motor skills, such as tying laces or writing.
“Alessia goes from A to C to get to B, whereas other people just go from A to B,” explained Angie Spatari, Alessia’s mother. “But in the end, she gets there. Everything she tries [...] she manages to conquer.”
Iglio first got the idea for the Dis the Dis movement while she was a student at Summit School. In 2022, she was selected among her peers to make a speech during the annual Awaken the Potential golf tournament.
Iglio thought of ways she could inspire the crowd. Having been bullied for her disability at a previous school, she wanted to talk to her audience about the negative language often used towards the special needs community.
It was then that her mother gave her the idea to create a poster with the “Dis” in disability crossed out, alongside other negative words used to classify people with disabilities.
“This three-letter word is so negative,” said Iglio, “Even though [someone] has a dis- ability, it doesn’t mean they can’t do it. It’s just going to take them longer to do it.”
She could not have predicted what happened next. “I made the poster, I told [the crowd] what it was about, and they were going crazy about it [...] I was very sur- prised because I made a room of full-grown men cry.”
Just like that, the Dis the Dis movement was born. Iglio, with the help of her parents, then decided to create a website where she sells merchandise and spreads her message around the world.
Spatari said her daughter has always been strong-willed and has always had grandiose ambitions. She thinks back to when Iglio first began taking swimming lessons. Despite doctors discouraging her from the sport due to sensory issues, she pursued it anyway.
“The neurologist always said, ‘I’m glad you didn’t listen to me,’” said Spatari. “She cried, and she cried, but we didn’t give up [...] and now she’s a fish. It’s the same thing with skating.”
Iglio’s ambitions are ever-growing. Currently, she is a student at the English Montreal School Board’s Wagar Adult Education Centre, where she is pursuing culinary education. She hopes to inspire others to equally pursue their passions despite any hurdles they may face.
“If you wake up and you say, ‘Today, I’m going to give it all I got, even if I’m really low,’ then you’re still doing your best, and I’m very proud of you just even getting out of bed because it’s a tough position for people with and without disabilities.”
She also aspires to expand the Dis the Dis movement. “I’m hoping to write a book about it and do a speaking tour at the Bell Centre,” said Iglio, “I want to show [every- one] that you could also take the Dis out a disability.”
For more information: www.disthedis.org.
Alessia has appeared in Inspirations Montreal on 2 occasions in ads for SUMMIT School.
The Centre Greene connection
Centre Greene Centre:
Centre Greene is an independent, not-for-profit organization with a strong commitment to its community dedicated to providing quality social, cultural and recreational services. We are open to the community at large regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, ability or socio-economic status. We aim to provide inclusive programs and services supporting education, informational programs on issues of interest, cultural activities; and to improve community physical and mental well-being through sports, recreational and leisure activities.
Centre Greene strives to be a welcoming community informed by our individual journeys and enriched by the thoughtful partnerships with individuals, groups, and organizations. We value the many identities that an individual brings to the community, and honor and appreciate the intersections of these identities.
(C) 2023-2025 PMIco, Pietro M.Iglio & Dis The Dis
