1. Strengthening the team
12th Biennial National Conference Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …
Strengthening the team
Collaborative Approaches To Early Childhood Inclusion
7-9 September, Melbourne, Australia
Lenice Heffernan and Caitlin Townsend

2. Dexter 9 weeks early 17 weeks in 3 hospitals
1 month - moderate bilateral posterior periventricular leukomalacia
10 months - cortical vision impairment
12 months - cerebral palsy
13 months – hepatoblastoma
Level 5 Spastic Dystonic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy with Coreo Athetosis
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

3. Dexter Brain Damage Surgery Cancer 9 Weeks Premature
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

4. Local services offered limited support
Early Intervention
Local services offered limited support
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

5. Preschool 3 year olds go to pre-school Emails sent - only 1 response
Started process in October 2013 –
7 months prior to turning 3
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

6. The Pre-commencement Process
School meetings
CPA reports
Funding applications
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

7. The Pre-commencement Process
Developing an inclusive environment – together!
Early childhood education and care settings are stimulating environments where children of all abilities can learn through imitation and play (Allen & Cowdery, 2012).
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

8. Parent Concerns Too hard for the teachers
Difficulty with feeding / drinking
Communication
Friends
Therapy
LEFT ON HIS OWN
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

9. Educator Concerns
Will we be able to provide Dexter with the most authentic and enjoyable experiences?
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

10. Commencement
July day per week hospitalisation after the 1st week
days per week
days per week (2 consecutive)
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

11. A family-centred practice
Commencement
A family-centred practice
‘recognising the family as an expert on their child’s abilities, needs and interests’ (Cologon, 2014)
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

12. Success? Friends Birthday parties Report Cards Communication Books
Therapies
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

13. Success? For Staff For Other children
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

14. The Bike
With a smile on her face and a gentle hand on my shoulder, a mother of a four and a half year old boy who had been in my care for more than a year asked if I had a moment for her to tell me something. “Absolutely” I replied, “but is everything okay?” She assured me that everything was great and that she had a lovely story to share with me.
The mother explained how her son had been coming home for a couple of weeks complaining that I would never give him a turn of the bike at school. The mother told me how she was initially confused as she knew our preschool did not have any bikes and so she questioned her son and explained that preschool had no bikes. Her son continued to tell her that I just wouldn’t let him have a turn of the bike.
The mother then told me that after some time the child revealed more information. He told her that I always gave Dexter a turn of the bike and that it wasn’t fair because he [her son] just wanted a turn. The mother laughed and then explained how she quickly realised that the bike her son was referring to was Dexter’s wheelchair!
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

15. Research has determined that adults who were exposed to people with additional needs during their childhood have more positive attitudes and less anxiety about additional needs (Diament, 2013).
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

16. Final Note What will you choose?
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …