The Blind Advantage

Bill Henderson 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.

Bill 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.

Readers can contact Bill Henderson by e-mail at whenderson50@comcast.net.