Inclusion is a Feeling of Belonging

Inclusion is a feeling....of belonging



In a survey by KidsData.org 11% of school-age children in California were enrolled in Special Education in 2010.  First 5 California reports that over 10% of children ages 0-5 years in California have a disability or special need that may impact their ability to play and learn. About 1 in 6 U.S. children are diagnosed with a developmental disability, according to a new Center for Disease Control and Prevention study published in May 2011.

As a child care provider, in your pool of potential clients, 1 in every 10 will have a child with a special need. Child care providers who don't usually enroll children with disabilities will be encouraged by the following points.

• An inclusive child care program is first of all a high quality program; the skills needed to promote inclusion are, basically, the skills of any competent provider.
• Most typical toys, play materials, and equipment are appropriate for children with disabilities and can be adapted, if necessary. Major modifications to the program or facility are probably not likely.

• An inclusive child care program is rewarding for all of the children, families and staff in the child care program.

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), environments that encourage young children's social and emotional development will stimulate all aspects of their learning.

Inclusive environments provide typically developing children opportunities to develop positive attitudes toward children who are different from them. They are also given opportunities to learn empathetic behaviors, and when and how to use such behaviors. Typically developing children in inclusive child care settings also have opportunities to develop more realistic and accurate views about individuals with special needs. They are provided models of individuals who succeed despite challenges.

Children with special needs thrive in inclusive environments where they can interact with their typically developing peers, learning new social and communicative skills. Their social lives are enriched as they can make friends from a wider berth. They can learn new skills by imitating their typically developing peers (especially important since 95% of what children learn is from modeling). Children with special needs are also provided with realistic life experiences that further establish them as members of the community as a whole.

Families of children with disabilities or other special needs have the same need for child care as do other families and the type of care children with special needs require is very similar to that needed by any child. Make a commitment to strengthen and support inclusive child care by including children with special needs in your program.

Visit these websites for the details on inclusive programs:

Inclusion Works! by the California State Department of Education
California MAP to Inclusion & Belonging

Center for Inclusive Child Care