WestEd.org Infant & Toddler Group Care Supporting Inclusion of Children with Disabilities and Other Special Needs

WestEd.org Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to: Identify the benefits and challenges of including infants and toddlers with special needs in the child care setting. Be sensitive to the parent’s experience of having a child with a disability or special needs and recognize the parents as the expert in how best to support the child in the child care setting. Incorporate appropriate accommodations and adaptation into your care of a child with disabilities or other special needs.

WestEd.org It’s About Belonging “When inclusion... is fully embraced, we abandon the idea that children have to become ‘normal’ in order to contribute to the world. Instead, we search for and nourish the gifts that are inherent in all people. We begin to look beyond typical ways of becoming valued members of the community, and in doing so, begin to realize the achievable goal of providing all children with an authentic sense of belonging.” - Norman Kunc

WestEd.org Activity: Reflection on Belonging Think of a time when you felt as if you belonged to a group. What did people say that made you feel you belonged? How did it feel? Think of a time when you felt you didn’t belong. How did that feel?

WestEd.org PITC Essential Policies and Practices Small Group Sizes Primary Care Continuity of Care Personalized Care  Inclusion of Infants with Disabilities and other special needs Cultural Responsiveness

WestEd.org What is Inclusion? “[Inclusion is] the full and active participation of children with disabilities or other special needs in community activities, services and programs designed for typically developing children, including child care. If support, accommodations, or modifications are needed to ensure full, active participation, these are provided appropriately in the setting.” - Linda Brault, Inclusion Specialist

WestEd.org Universal Design for Learning In some cases, infants and toddlers with disabilities and other special needs will reveal their developmental progress in alternative ways. It is important to provide opportunities for children to follow different pathways to learning. Universal design refers to providing multiple approaches to learning in order to meet the needs of diverse learners. Universal design provides for multiple means of representation, multiple means of engagement and multiple means of expression.

WestEd.org “Move About” Activity: How We Think and Feel About Disability Move about the room and write a response on each poster. As the instructor highlights some of the responses, share feedback you have about any response that was particularly meaningful to you, or one that you reacted to strongly.

WestEd.org Welcome to Holland Listen to this parent’s story about having a child with a disability. How did this story help you understand the parent’s experience of having a child with a disability? How will understanding this parent’s perspective impact your interactions with a parent of a child with a disability?

WestEd.org Fear is the Biggest Barrier OF FOR Not fear OF the child, Fear FOR the child. With knowledge, this fear fades and competence blooms. You can be successful at including children with disabilities or other special needs in your program. - Linda Brault, Inclusion Specialist

WestEd.org “People First” language describes what a person HAS, not what a person IS. Are you myopic, or do you wear glasses? Is she cancerous, or does she have cancer? Is he handicapped/disabled, or does he have a disability? The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names. ( Old Chinese proverb)

WestEd.org Activity: What’s the Difference? Choose a potato and join participants in a standing circle. Hold your potato and really study it. Does it have any distinguishing features? Give your potato a name. Turn to someone near you and introduce yourself and your potato to them and their potato. Join another pair and introduce your potatoes in groups of four.

WestEd.org Put your potato back in the basket Can you find your own potato again? What did this exercise make you feel about differences?

WestEd.org Who are Children with Disabilities or Special Needs? Children with identified disabilities. Children who require additional help or support due to behavior, health or developmental issues. Be careful not to label or diagnose a child unless you are qualified to do so. - Linda Brault, Inclusion Specialist

WestEd.org Federal & State Laws Related to Inclusion of Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities

WestEd.org Americans with Disability Act (ADA) Jigsaw: Read your assigned section of the Handout: “Questions and Answers about the Americans with Disabilities Act. Highlight key concepts that you want to share with the group. Report the key provisions of your assigned reading to the group.

WestEd.org Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C In California, the California Early Intervention Services Act ensures that infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families receive coordinated services early enough to make a difference.

WestEd.org Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C (cont’d) Early Start’s system of early intervention services are intended to support and enhance the capability of every family of an infant or toddler with a potential or diagnosed disability, to meet the special developmental needs of their child. These systems allow caregivers to make referrals when they or the family suspect a delay in development.

WestEd.org Dyad or Small Group Activity Using one of the three infant scenarios in the course reader, work in pairs or small groups to discuss and list strategies for one of the following: a. Partnering with parents and early intervention specialists. b. Adapting the environment. c. Adapting your caregiving practices.

WestEd.org Together We’re Better Keep the focus on promoting authentic belonging for each child. Start with high quality, responsive, sensitive care and you will be already meeting most children’s needs. Practice makes permanent! - Linda Brault, Inclusion Specialist

WestEd.org Revisiting the Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to: Identify the benefits and challenges of including infants and toddlers with special needs in the child care setting. Be sensitive to the parent’s experience of having a child with a disability or special needs and recognize the parents as the expert in how best to support the child in the child care setting. Incorporate appropriate accommodations and adaptation into your care of a child with disabilities or other special needs.