What is Inclusion?
Inclusion Reflection Plans
Inclusion Resources
What is Inclusion?
Inclusion means inviting all children to participate in a child care program and intentionally planning for ways to help every child be successful, whether or not that child has an identified disability.
Benefits of Inclusion
Inclusion is a valuable opportunity for everyone: providers, teachers, parents, children, families and facilities. Inclusive practice provides opportunities for
- Developing an understanding of individual needs
- Learning to value and appreciate individual differences
- Growing in experience, skills and confidence
- Discovering community resources
- Demonstrating equal opportunities and rights for all
- Building partnerships through collaboration
- Strengthening the professional reputation of child care professionals
Inclusion and the Law
Inclusion is required by law. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that child care providers not discriminate against persons with disabilities on the basis of disability and that children and parents with disabilities are provided an equal opportunity to participate in the child care center's programs and services. Centers have to make reasonable modifications to their policies and practices to integrate children, parents, and guardians with disabilities into their programs.
How to Support Inclusion
- To best support inclusion, all child care providers are encouraged to observe and track children's development, attend training or classes in special needs or inclusion, and connect families to resources and outside agencies as necessary.
- Additionally, IdahoSTARS has developed an Inclusive Self-Reflection that will help you to reach these goals.
- The Inclusion Self-Reflection is designed to be completed by classroom teachers to best reflect current inclusive practices in the classroom as well as goals for improvement.
- The Inclusion Self-Reflection is designed to help you identify current practices and plan for future improvements. These plans will help you create or revise your own policies, procedures and systems which will benefit children and families in your care.
Inclusion Reflection Plans
Help completing your Inclusion Reflection Plans is available through the University of Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development. Dr. Michelle Eaton is available to answer your questions through the 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine. Dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-926-2588 and ask for Dr. Eaton at the University of Idaho. Michelle’s direct number is 208-885-3127 and her email address is meaton@uidaho.edu.
Inclusion and the Idaho STARS Quality Rating System
Inclusion is one of the six Quality Standards in the IdahoSTARS Quality Child Care Rating System. The “Inclusion Standards” measure the (a) tracking of children’s development, (b) IdahoSTARS training in Component #9 (Special Needs) taken by the Director/Owner, and (c) if programs connect families to resources and outside agencies as necessary. Please visit the Quality Standards in the IdahoSTARS Quality Rating System for more information.
Inclusion Resources
Tracking Children’s Developmental Growth
Tracking children’s growth will help you to see a child’s strengths, challenges and interests. Having this knowledge will help adults create a rich learning environment that meets the needs of all children. Additionally, adults will have a stronger idea of a child’s developmental progress, and can make referrals to other agencies (such as Child Find, counseling, nutritionist, etc.) when appropriate. You may want to visit the Inclusion Website and Resources.