Professional Development Opportunities for the 2025-2026 School Year
September 2025
The California Making Access Possible (MAP) to Inclusion and Belonging Project, recently updated their web page on Professional Development Opportunities Supporting Children with Disabilities for the 2025-2026 program year. This news brief highlights a series of free inclusion webinars offered by the California Department of Social Services and WestEd through the Beginning Together Project, select state and national conferences and a free webinar series hosted by Brazelton Touchpoints with parents of children with disabilities as speakers.
Free Inclusion Webinar Series in English and Spanish with Follow-up Collaborative Conversations and Support on Inclusion
The California Department of Social Services and WestEd are offering a series of five webinars on Inclusion during the 2025-2026 year designed to support inclusive practices for center-based programs, family child care homes, Head Start/Early Head Start, preschool programs, and family/friends/neighbor caregivers. Direct service providers, administrators, special educators, trainers, coaches, and others who support inclusion are all encouraged to attend.
Each webinar will be held in the evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in English with Spanish interpretation.
Following each webinar, participants will be invited to a ninety-minute virtual small group session called “Collaborative Conversations: Follow-up to Inclusion Webinars and Support on Inclusion”. These sessions are designed to facilitate conversations with others in similar roles to discuss specific areas of interest or concern in relation to supporting inclusion and will be facilitated by a Beginning Together trainer who can provide technical assistance, additional information, and resources.
Dates and Titles of the Webinars
- August 20, 2025 (Wednesday): Improving Behavior with the CA Teaching Pyramid (Completed)
- September 24, 2025 (Wednesday): Inclusion Works! Part A: Universal Design & Belonging
- October 29, 2025 (Wednesday): Inclusion Works! Part B: Collaboration & Adaptation
- January 21, 2026 (Wednesday): Inclusion Works! Part C: Modifications & Accommodations
- March 3, 2026 (Tuesday): Building Relationships Across Teams: Connections and Continuity
For more information and registration, visit the Beginning Together website
California Conferences
CAL ECSE Symposium 2025Here in California in early October is the CALECSE Symposium with one of the Keynote Speakers being Dr. Shelley Moore. “This symposium will provide professional learning and capacity-building sessions encouraging us all to “Reach New Heights” in innovating current systems to provide positive outcomes for California’s youngest learners with disabilities.”
Innovations Collaborative
Later in October is the 2025 Innovations Collaborative State Conference hosted by the Santa Clara County Office of Education. Held in person at the Santa Clara County Office of Education and available online as well, this conference is dedicated to building learning environments where all children and young adults can thrive.
In February Head Start California’s 2026 Annual Conference is coming to Ontario with a fresh, festive theme: Step Right Up: Empowering Families, Inspiring Children. This vibrant five-day event brings together Head Start and Early Head Start professionals for a one-of-a-kind experience filled with learning, connection, and celebration.
National Conferences
The Zero to Three: Learn Conference in early October in Baltimore is for everyone supporting infants, toddlers, and families — educators, healthcare providers, mental health professionals, researchers, advocates, and policymakers. Chandra Ghosh Ippen, PhD is featured in the Plenary.
Also in early October is the Division for Early Childhood International Conference.
This year’s conference brings together individuals from around the world to share insights, innovative practices, and the latest research focused on early intervention, early childhood special education, and inclusive practices. With a range of engaging sessions, dynamic workshops, and collaborative networking opportunities, attendees will gain valuable tools and inspiration to foster growth, inclusivity, and success in young children with disabilities.
Upcoming Webinars!
Check out other professional development opportunities under Upcoming Webinars on MAP. The newest is Brazelton Touchpoints free, 4-episode virtual conversation series that offers a warm and inviting opportunity to connect with parents and families of children with differences in or challenges to their development. The speakers are all parents of children with disabilities.
Episodes are on the following Mondays, from 3–4 pm ET / 12–1 pm PT:
- September 29, 2025 – Presuming Competence and Challenging Assumptions
- October 20, 2025 – Holding On to Hope and Confronting Grief
- November 17, 2025 – A Mother’s Perseverance Against All Odds
- December 15, 2025 – Drawing on Family and Cultural Strengths to Thrive in Life
Find links to the websites for all of these organizations on the Professional Development page of MAP as well as the Podcasts and Recorded Webinars available there.
This activity is administered by WestEd and is sponsored by the California Department of Social Services, Child Care and Development Division.