Inclusion Basics

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Two children: one is touching an adult sized chair.

What is inclusion? What are the policies around inclusion in early childhood settings? Why is inclusion important? The resources linked below can help answer these questions and more! Check out the policy statements from the Division for Early Childhood, National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the US Department of Education to learn more about how inclusion can be defined and applied in early childhood settings.

DEC NAEYC Joint Position Statement

US Department of Ed. Policy Statement on Inclusion in Early Childhood Programs

Materials to use in coursework and lectures

Access, Participate, Learn: Effective Inclusion Practices

Powerpoint presentation that gives an introduction to inclusion.

Meaningful Inclusion in Early Childhood (Video)

This video explores parent's perspectives on transitioning their children to early childhood settings. Teachers also outline what meaningful inclusion looks like.

Circle Time Magazine Season 3: Inclusion

Circle time magazine is a talk show style web-series produced by Cultivate Learning at the University of Washington. In Season 3, the Circle Time team focuses on inclusive practices, covering topics such as assessment, referral and evaluation for special education services, Individualized Education Programs and Individualized Family Service Plans, and more! The introductory episode provides a brief overview of the supports that educators and families of young children can access within the disability system.

Tools to share with your students

Teacher’s Guide: Member of the Class

This checklist (created by the Head Start Center for Inclusion) is meant to be used by teachers to help them see if a child is truly a member of the classroom community. It is completed from the child’s perspective.

Planning for an Inclusive Classroom: Supporting Children with Disabilities

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) developed 17 tips for making classrooms more inclusive.