12th National Early Childhood Inclusion Institute Program

agenda | wednesday
Collaborating to Develop a Community of Inclusive Early Childhood Education Programs
Shabel Hastings & Nancy LeGant
Age Group: 3 to 5
Windflower
Primary Target Audience: Local Administrators
This session will highlight how a group of early childhood specialists across multiple organizations, disciplines
and funding streams came together in a large demographically and geographically diverse county (population
1 million+) to serve young children with special needs in quality community-based early education programs.
Presenters will share strategies used to identify quality child care through the local qris system that supports
inclusion. Additionally this session will address the integrated inter-agency procedures and funding strategies
that facilitate intentional teaching.
Dilemmas for Inclusion. Roundtable Discussion for Practitioners and Administrators:
Classroom-Focused Inclusion Challenges and Strategies
Kathleen Gallagher, Sally Bober, Cindy Capps & Jessica Page
Age Group: Birth to 5
Mountain Laurel
Primary Target Audience: Practitioners, Local Administrators
We believe that high-quality, inclusive learning environments are best for young children (0–5 years) with and
without disabilities. However, education and caring for children in inclusive settings can be extraordinarily
challenging. It is difficult to meet the diverse needs of children, families and colleagues, and the demands of
partner-regulators, and school districts. In this roundtable we will share some of those challenges, and generate a
collection of strategies and wisdom for going forward in our work. The voices of teaching professionals, inclusion
specialist, therapists, and administrators are welcome and needed in this roundtable discussion. Come prepared
to listen and share. This session was on the program of the 2011 Inclusion Institute.
Inclusion: Legal Foundations and State Strategies
Abby Cohen
Age Group: Birth to 5
Redbud A
Primary Target Audience: All
Participants will learn about the variety of legal sources for inclusion in early childhood settings: highlights of
civil rights laws such as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and its
impact on child care, idea Part c and Part b Section 619, and Head Start and child care licensing laws. Strategies
that states are using to promote inclusion, such as affirmative provisions in licensing, quality rating systems, and
supportive subsidy practices will also be shared. This session will have the opportunity for questions and discussion.
This is a repeat of a session on May 15. It was on the program of the 2011 Inclusion Institute.
Professional Development: What Solutions Do You Have to Meet the Challenges?
Carol Trivette
Age Group: Birth to 5
Dogwood B
Primary Target Audience: Professional Development Providers
This session will discuss briefly the professional development model and the early literacy practices that are used
in the Center for Early Literacy Learning. This information will set the stage for discussion about the challenges
of doing professional development in the field. Most of the session will be an opportunity for you to share your
exciting solutions to the challenges of support adults who are learning new practices.
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