Inclusive Practice

Mom and dad talk about how inclusion of their son with Down’s Syndrome had made a difference for their family and other kids and families. This is an emotional testimony…

Many critical decisions are made during an IEP meeting for a student with support needs, so effective and timely followup—with families, students, and other team members—is essential. Today’s post offers…

Technology can be a powerful tool to assist students with special needs or any sort of learning challenge. In particular the Chrome web browser allows users to install a wide…

“Inclusive school spaces are a physical, tangible reflection of the belief system that the school community holds. Classrooms, libraries, auditoriums, and playgrounds are responsive to the students’ interests and needs…

When decades of evidence have shown that segregated education disadvantages students with disability by producing inferior academic and social outcomes in a “low expectations” environment, then it is fair to…

A much-needed book that provides the knowledge and guidance itinerant teachers need to integrate learning opportunities into daily routines and activities in order to support children’s inclusion in community-based programs.…

The Inclusive Schools Network, in collaboration with Finding My Way Books and Changing Perspectives, is pleased to share Understanding Ourselves and Others: A Summer Guide to Inclusive Play. Designed for K-8 students, the…

Stepping away from preconceived notions about “typical” users through an inclusive design process allows designers to create digital products that are user-friendly to the widest range of people. This article…

Inclusion is a legally-supported, evidence-based practice that continues to show positive outcomes for students with and without disabilities in schools. Where a child is educated is one of the most…

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is a division of the Department of Health & Human Services. We promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals and…

This “get to know me” guide for children and students with dis/abilities was developed through a partnership of the Louisiana Parent Training and Information Center and the Mississippi Parent Training…

New guidance on Assistive Technology Devices and Services for Children With Disabilities Under the IDEA helps increase understanding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act’s (IDEA’s) requirements for assistive technology (AT) devices…

The second edition of this bestselling text shows early childhood teachers how to blend the best of special and general education, develop effective curricula, and improve outcomes for children with…

Books for kids about inclusion and acceptance in your home library.

100 of the Best Picture Books with Image Descriptions of All Time selected by Readers of the School Library Journal Bookshare’s library of over 370,000 digital accessible ebooks can helpt…

This webinar presented jointly by the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) and the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI) explores how inclusive practices can be implemented by providers…

Expanded with timely new content and consistent with DEC Recommended Practices, the third edition of this bestselling book will fully prepare a new generation of early childhood educators to teach…

Incorporating a child’s favorite toy into a classroom area or activity is a simple but effective way to boost engagement in early learning environments. Adapted from Building Blocks for Teaching Preschoolers…

This California Department of Education, Special Education Division website contains a list of California agencies providing resources for families of children with disabilities.

Promote the participation of all children in the full early childhood curriculum. This kit provides guidance for how to make adaptations for daily activities and routines so that children ages…

To make sure all toddlers in your early childhood program are participating, learning, and thriving, you need to master the art of choosing and using effective adaptations. Practical solutions are…

Access this learning module to explore each topic of CARA’s Kit, from the introduction to the process to example adaptations. NOTE: The module at this link is FREE. If you…

”Welcome to Disability Pride Month! Celebrated in July to commemorate the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law in July, 1990, it’s a time to celebrate people…

The Center on Inclusion in Early Childhood is dedicated to sharing knowledge, fostering skills, and encouraging attitudes that promote inclusion as a core component of excellence in early childhood. The…

It’s important for children to feel represented in the books they read. It’s also important for books to expose children to the beautiful diversity of our world. This includes the…

We were asked to write this book as a way to share our knowledge regarding the work we do that focuses on educating programs to build equitable environments for all…

These resources were developed to provide information about curriculum modifications and adaptations for infants and toddlers. Examples include modifications that can be used in a variety of home and program…

Updated: Oct 2014 A DEC initiative that bridges the gap between research and practice, offering guidance to parents and professionals who work with young children who have or are at…

In an effort to continue its commitment to motivate individuals to take action and to include more people with disabilities in the workplace, in schools, neighborhoods and in all aspects…

Differentiated instruction allows us to tailor our teaching to the needs of individual students. Is it possible to offer very young children differentiated learning contexts and challenges? Does it involve…

This Web site created by Kathie Snow includes her widely used article on “people-first language” and other resources to support inclusion. She challenges outdated ways of thinking and helps parents,…

A child’s third birthday is an important day. Aside from being a time to celebrate, it also marks the transition from California Early Start Early Intervention Services to a preschool…

The Early CHOICES inclusion initiative promotes increasing high quality inclusive early care and education for each and every child birth to age 5. Our goal is to increase the number…

The Early CHOICES, Illinois Inclusion Initiative promotes increasing high quality inclusive early care and education for each and every child birth to age 5. Our goal is to increase the…

Early CHOICES is a Preschool LRE Initiative of the Illinois State Board of Education. We promote increasing high-quality inclusive education for each and every preschool-aged child by providing technical assistance…

Playlist for early childhood programs with interviews with teachers, therapists, and parents and clips of inclusion in action. Below is a sample video of an interview with parents of children…

Created by Parents Helping Parents and the Inclusion Collaborative of Santa Clara County, CA through a grant. The sample video, Early Learning Tool Kit: Visual Tools and Binder Materials, Parents…

Early Intervention Strategies for Success is a blog produced by the Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center. It offers practical articles and discussions about implementing early intervention supports and strategies.…

Looking for videos about Early Intervention? You’ve come to the right place!There is nothing as powerful as seeing early intervention (EI) in action or hearing about the impact of intervention…

This 12 episode series shares the experiences of practitioners and families from across the country, illustrating how the fields of early education and early childhood special education are successfully supporting…

In this Q and A with Patricia Snyder, she describes embedded instruction and the education of children with disabilities along side their typically developing skills.

The Embedded Instruction grant connects the DRDP (2015; California Department of Education 2016) assessment to curriculum and instructional practices to strengthen the relationship between assessment and instruction and provide planned…

The Embedded Instruction grant connects the DRDP (2015; California Department of Education 2016) assessment to curriculum and instructional practices to strengthen the relationship between assessment and instruction and provide planned…

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire)—In 2019, more than 716,000 preschool-age children received special education services. Yet only 38 percent received these services through the early childhood program they attended. Ivanhoe has…

December 2016 In this report we sought to identify research that demonstrates the benefits of inclusive education not only for students with disabilities, but especially for students without disabilities, since…

This one-hour training module—a revision of Collaborating with Families, which was originally developed in cooperation with the PACER Center—addresses the importance of engaging the families of students with disabilities in…

Give yourself an infusion of joy all year long with this free 2025 calendar from Brooks Publishing, featuring tips from Brookes experts on reducing stress, avoiding burnout, and enjoying small…

In partnership with the National Down Syndrome Society, the newest Barbie fashion doll was designed with purpose and inclusivity at the heart of every choice. With a shorter frame, rounder…

With developmental, behavioral, and learning disabilities on the rise, there is much that remains poorly understood, from cause to cure. However, there is one widely-accepted fact: early and intensive intervention…

“A collaboration with Lifehouse Agency, the Marin County Office of Education and Dominican University to bring the first inclusive Preschool to Marin County. Let’s learn and play together to foster…

Hayward Unified School District has created a website focused on inclusive practices funded through their Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program (IEEEP) grant, and is designed to provide a “one-stop” resource…

New Resources: Disability Information Guides Frequently Asked Questions: Infants and Toddlers Tip Sheets for Infants and Toddlers Mini-Suites: Infants and Toddlers Video: Infants and Toddlers

Young children vary in their skills, knowledge, backgrounds, and abilities. Effective teaching requires individualized teaching and chances to learn for all children to access, participate, and thrive in early learning…

This in-service suite gives an overview of eight types of curriculum modifications. Teachers can use these simple changes to classroom activities to increase a child’s engagement and learning. A training…

If you are new to the job, the Disability Services Coordinator Orientation Guide provides a foundation for your work. If you are seasoned, it can be used as a refresher…

The Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five (ELOF) presents five broad areas of early learning, referred to as central domains. The framework is designed to show…

Head Start and Early Head Start programs need to serve children with disabilities who qualify for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). However, programs also need to…

Head Start and Early Head Start programs need to serve children with disabilities who qualify for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). However, programs also need to…

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for increasing access to education environments and opportunities, including in infant and toddler settings. Learning environments, materials, and activities are planned ahead…

Feb 2019 In general, society and the media have two extremely polarizing views on people with disabilities. They are viewed as either remarkable and heroic or victims and pitiful. Since…

“After I learned about the practical nuts-and-bolts of inclusive education (what it looked like), I found that the biggest barrier wasn’t that people didn’t know how to include students with…

In this blog post a mom of a preschooler with Down Syndrome explains how to make a one page info-graphic that displays her daughter’s strength’s, what works and what doesn’t…

An initiative of the Lien Foundation, How We Do School is a nine episode series of short films that explores how Finnish and British Columbia schools address the increasingly diverse…

It’s true–getting “stuck” on a student’s challenges can make it tough to move forward with an effective IEP that meets his or her needs. Give this a try instead: flip…

A brochure that provides information on the Americans with Disabilities Education Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as they relate to early childhood programs, plus a list of…

Together We’re Better. All Means All. Inclusion Means WITH – Not Just IN

Start the school year right by sharing information about your child, as well as what inclusion means to you. Being intentional about disability acceptance could be the key to friendships…

This website launched in April 2019 connects a group of inclusion advocates, including Inclusive Class, ParaEducate, and Think Inclusive. This proactive group promoting inclusion reaches out using the hashtag, #BetterTogether,…

Huffington Post article discusses the Summary of Evidence on Inclusive Education above

How does your mindset determine your effectiveness as an inclusive child care provider and educator? In this webinar, presented by Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak, we’ll explore the role Emotional Intelligence (EQ)…

Julie Causton, PhD and Kate MacLeod, M.S.Ed co-founded Inclusive Schooling in order to support administrators, educators and parents who wish to create more caring, creative inclusive schools for all learners.…

What Does Inclusive Education Look Like? Dr. Julie Causton of Inclusive Schooling shows you with the new book and video, “Because of Oliver.” “Ever have a hard time explaining what…

Our outdated school systems of drawing sharp lines, labeling and segregating students has never made sense. The first in a series, this book takes a playful look at what is…

ICI is committed to developing resources and supports for people with disabilities and their families, fostering interdependence, productivity, and inclusion in school and community settings. To achieve that goal, the…

This resource guide describes what inclusion means in all types of settings for everyone. It explains what inclusion is and is not.

This Module offers information on how to set up effective inclusive early childhood classroom environments for young children. It also provides details about the interrelated physical, social, and temporal components…

“Least restrictive environment, or LRE as it is more commonly called, is one of several vital components in the development of a child’s IEP and plays a critical role, influencing where a child spends…

Let’s Participate! is a model demonstration project designed to assist IDEA Part C and Part B preschool programs in implementing and sustaining promising practices in the effective use of assistive technology…

September 23, 2019 Physical abilities often determine how “useful” somebody can be, and perhaps this thinking is what needs to change for us to believe that we have value. In…

This free, teacher approved, award-winning app is for children with and without disabilities and their caregivers is in English and Spanish. Join Leila Diaz as she guides young children and their…

“NAEYC is excited to announce that the fourth edition of the Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) position statement is now available. First published nearly 40 years ago, this foundational position statement…

All children have the right to equitable learning opportunities that help them achieve their full potential as engaged learners and valued members of society. Thus, all early childhood educators have…

This website was developed by a cooperative agreement between CAST and the US Department of Education (IDEAs that Work). Accessible educational materials, or AEM, are materials and technologies usable for…

This website was developed by a cooperative agreement between CAST and the US Department of Education (IDEAs that Work). Accessible educational materials, or AEM, are materials and technologies usable for…

A national initiative with partners across early care and education working to develop indicators that address inclusive policies and practices at the state, local program leadership and early care and…

The National Professional Development Center on Inclusion (NPDCI) is working with states to ensure that early childhood teachers are prepared to educate and care for young children with disabilities in…

Subscribe to this monthly newsletter from an expert in early childhood inclusion to get free resources on a variety of topics. Example topics include: May 2021: Free resources to support…

Strategies for para-educators in inclusive classrooms. Fear and Inclusion

Access this learning module for PEAT’s Suite to explore and practice using environmental features, as well as universal, modified and specialized assistive tools. NOTE: The module at this link is…

This series helps promote essential program practices to ensure quality within family child care and center-based programs that serve infants and toddlers. It addresses the following topics: Continuity of care…

This series helps promote essential program practices to ensure quality within family child care and center-based programs that serve infants and toddlers. It addresses the following topics: Continuity of care…

This 21-page document goes through the history of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (including amendments to the law), a thorough explanation of the LRE, case law that supports inclusive…

This 21-page document goes through the history of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (including amendments to the law), a thorough explanation of the LRE, case law that supports inclusive…

This position statement replaces the 2013 Frameworks for Response to Intervention in Early Childhood: Description and Implications. The purpose of the revised statement is to define an early childhood multitiered…

January 2019 The implicit and explicit messages early childhood practitioners send about disability have important consequences for young children’s developing identities and sense of belonging. The authors discuss how practitioners…

Oct.25, 2017 This session will facilitate learning about the four major components of Embedded Instruction (What to Teach, When to Teach, How to Teach, and How to Evaluate). An overview…

October 2019 This study investigated the national prevalence of 10 developmental disabilities among US children aged 3 to 17 years between 2009 and 2017. From 2009 to 2011 and 2015…

October 2019 This study investigated the national prevalence of 10 developmental disabilities among US children aged 3 to 17 years between 2009 and 2017. From 2009 to 2011 and 2015…

Available resources and indicators of high quality inclusive practices are presented in this compilation. Assembling many different resources in one place allows for easy comparison of potential indicators of quality.…

“Inclusion begins by saying, yes, we will educate every child.”

Recently published in the ZERO TO THREE journal, this document calls on federal and state-level policy makers and program leaders to purposefully consider the needs of our nation’s youngest children…

A visionary call to action from inclusion experts Jenna Mancini Rufo and Julie Causton, Reimagining Special Education guides readers in creating more equitable schools and services, through practical strategies teachers…

“Arm yourself with a summary of the research on inclusive education.” This 11 page brief prepared by Dr. Jenny Mancini Ruffo sites a base of research spanning over 40 years,…

This Resource Guide for the Early Childhood Collaborative Itinerant Teaching Model was developed by Early Choices and the Illinois State Board of Education. It draws from the Policy Statement on…

In a matter of a few short years, RTI has become a familiar phrase in the early childhood field. Because RTI is an emerging practice, it is critical that the…

Feb 2019 If AT can be so beneficial and crucial to student learning, why are educators and school teams sometimes hesitant to use it in the classroom? It’s possible that…

“While inclusion is an important goal for many families and teachers and is a hallmark of a high-quality early learning program (DEC/NAEYC 2009; NAEYC 2020), effective implementation requires planning, intentionality,…

This guide, created by Seattle Children’s PlayGarden with King County Public Health’s Best Start for Kids Initiative, is a very thoughtful, respectful tool kit intended to open hearts, minds and…

This report describes the legal and scientific basis for an inclusive versus segregated education, summarizes national patterns for educating students with disabilities in general education classes, examines federal and state guidance,…

This report describes the legal and scientific basis for an inclusive versus segregated education, summarizes national patterns for educating students with disabilities in general education classes, examines federal and state guidance,…

“As a person with a disability, I (Nikhil) have grown up surrounded by nondisabled figures in the media and in my daily life. As I get closer to reaching adulthood,…

Founded in 1990, the Sibling Support Project is the first national program dedicated to the life-long and ever-changing concerns of millions of brothers and sisters of people with special health,…

Founded in 1990, the Sibling Support Project is the first national program dedicated to the life-long and ever-changing concerns of millions of brothers and sisters of people with special health,…

The SpecialQuest Multimedia Training Library is an easy–to–use, comprehensive training curriculum for individuals working with young children who have disabilities, birth–five, and their families. The Library is designed for use…

At STEMIE, we use adaptations to ensure each and every child, including young children with disabilities can fully participate and engage in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) learning opportunities…

In this document, we define and describe evidence-based teaching strategies, as well as provide examples of each teaching strategy that adults may use to ensure young children with disabilities can…

STEMIE (Innovations for Inclusion in Early Education) and Learning and Teaching with Learning Trajectories collaborated with early STEM incubators to develop and refine the learning trajectories for science, technology, engineering,…

Step Up AT coaches teachers, teacher assistants, teacher support specialists, school districts, and other agencies to adopt evidence-based assistive technology (AT) practices. This evidence-based, customizable program helps improve early literacy outcomes…

Supporting Inclusive Practices (SIP) Project, funded by the California Department of Education, supports LEAs in their inclusion efforts with their youngest learners, specifically students of color.  This innovative project includes…

Our ability to smell, taste, hear, touch, and see plays an essential part in our everyday lives. These senses help us interpret thoughts and feelings about our surrounding environment and…

TASH supports the inclusion and full participation of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of their communities as determined by personalized visions of quality of life.

People with disabilities have an exciting and rich history that should be shared with the world. This website is dedicated to sharing this history. Features include a timeline of disability…

The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) is an organization designed for individuals who work with—or on behalf of—children with special needs, birth through age eight, and their families. DEC, a…

This site has an extensive list of links to nonprofit organizations and government agencies serving people with disabilities in California.

It’s more than play! Through play, kids learn valuable skills they’ll use for a lifetime. The Genius of Play is your one-stop source for play ideas that build on these…

Julie Causton & Kristie Pretti-Frontczak’s describe the key takeaways from their podcast episode that provides talking points to address family concerns about inclusion and gives you access to additional resources…

One of the key features of this website is a preview of a series of training modules that individuals can choose to partake in. These modules cover routines based assessment…

Where education meets advocacy… Think Inclusive Favorites on YouTube Five Secrets to Being a Special Education Teacher and Still Love Your Job

“Unfortunately, children often experience a lack of empathy for their differences, both among their peers and among the adults in their lives. Empathy is a learned skill; it can, and…

The Think Inclusive Podcast (presented by MCIE) exists to build bridges between families, educators, and disability rights advocates to create a shared understanding of inclusive education and what inclusion looks…

In this recording, Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak discusses why presuming competence is necessary to address the diversity of the modern classroom, how our intentions can lead to ableist practices, why the…

Founded in 2009, the National UDL Center supports the effective implementation of UDL by connecting stakeholders in the field and providing resources and information about UDL basics, advocacy, implementation, research,…

Parents want the best for their children. We do, too. For the first time ever, 15 nonprofit organizations have joined forces to support parents of the one in five children…

Parents want the best for their children. We do, too. For the first time ever, 15 nonprofit organizations have joined forces to support parents of the one in five children…

This book by Pamela Brillante and Karen Nemeth, published in 2018, focuses on proactively designing PreK through Grade 3 classroom environments, instruction, and assessments that are flexible enough to ensure…

This material was adapted by Abby Cohen, JD, with permission from materials developed by the Child Care Law Center in San Francisco, California and includes information on the Americans with…

Publications and videos that answer these questions and more: What is the ADA? Who is a person with a disability? Who must comply with the ADA? Where can you call…

Winner of the 2016 Emmy Award for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program, Born This Way follows a group of seven young adults born with Down syndrome as they pursue their passions…

Is Your Early Childhood Program Ready for Inclusion? Part 2 In First Steps to Preschool Inclusion, Sarika Gupta and her colleagues lay out the features of classrooms ready to support…

Inclusive child care seeks the full integration of children with disabilities into the child care and pre-school setting. Accomplishing this goal requires the use of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)…

The California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is the agency through which the state of California provides services and supports to children and adults with developmental disabilities. These disabilities include…

The mission of the Center for Inclusive Child Care is to create, promote and support pathways to successful inclusive care for all children. The project is a comprehensive resource network…

The Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR), produced under the US Department of Education Office of Special Education, serves as a central resource of information and products to the…

Circle of Friends (CoF) provides the opportunity for students with disabilities to build genuine friendships with non-disabled peers. Nationwide, CoF establishes a social inclusion program on school campuses that increases…

From Frank Porter Graham at the University of North Carolina the Connect Modules provide training on practices to solve dilemmas in early childhood settings with videos, activities and narratives to…

CONNECT Online Courses From Frank Porter Graham at the University of North Carolina the Connect Modules provide training on practices to solve dilemmas in early childhood settings with videos, activities…

ConnectAbility is a Canadian website and virtual community dedicated to lifelong learning and support for people who have an intellectual disability, their families and support networks. The core of our…

In her talk “Assembly of the Healthy Child: The Next Steps,” educational psychologist Kathleen Gallagher discusses how investing in high-quality early childhood programs, especially for children whose families live in…

Find these Inclusion Videos under the “General Interest” tab: Ryan’s Story (Video) July 2018 | Length: 3:10 mins Getty’s Door To Inclusion (Kindergarten) (Video) Getty’s Window to Inclusion: The Chance…

A Joint Position Statement of the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

ECTA is comprised of several recent OSEP-funded TA centers (NECTAC, CELL and TACSEI and ECO within the next two years). The purpose of ECTA is to improve state early intervention…

The guide identifies both required elements for transition and recommended practices to support families and their children as they successfully navigate transition from Early Start to other services at age…

Friendship Circle of Michigan is a non-profit organization that provides programs and support to the families of individuals with special needs. With over 75,000 visitors a month, the Friendship Circle…

Friendship Circle of Michigan is a non-profit organization that provides programs and support to the families of individuals with special needs. With over 75,000 visitors a month, the Friendship Circle…

Friendship Circle of Michigan is a non-profit organization that provides programs and support to the families of individuals with special needs. With over 75,000 visitors a month, the Friendship Circle…

Meet Grant. He’s is six years old and has Diastrophic Dysplasia. He wants to share with you his own unique path to walk as a dwarf and prove he’s just…

Our overarching goal is to increase the competence, confidence, and effectiveness of personnel in Head Start programs to include children with disabilities. Look here for training materials, tools for teachers…

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special…

Santa Clara County Office of Education Inclusion Collaborative leads the effort to provide every Santa Clara County Child with a quality learning environment. Its focus is the successful inclusion of…

Inclusive Strategies and Solutions from a Classroom Teacher 3 Downloadable Posters Aug 2019 10 Reasons for Inclusive Schools Is It Inclusion? The Co-Teachers 10 Ways to Show Your Students that…

KIT stands for Kids Included Together, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was founded in San Diego, California in 1997. The mission of Kids Included Together is to support recreational,…

Access the rare disease information you need, download rare disease reports and find patient organizations on this site devoted to rare diseases.

A positive emotional climate at home and inclusive educational experiences while at school can have long-lasting beneficial effects for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a recent study…

These videos, produced by the Colorado Department of Education and Larry Edleman, help providers better understand ways to use observation, documentation, and assessment to inform practice. You can watch the…

Seeds of Partnership provides assistance on behalf of the California Department of Education (CDE) to support the direction, initiatives and focused goals related to requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities…

Sesame Street’s new website includes tips for parents and siblings, as well as guides to help kids on the spectrum learn everyday basics like brushing teeth and going to the…

Sesame Workshop created Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children, a nationwide initiative aimed at communities with children ages 2 to 5. Developed with input from parents, people…

The Teaching Pyramid approach provides a systematic framework that promotes social and emotional development, provides support for children’s appropriate behavior, prevents challenging behavior, and addresses problematic behavior. The WestEd Center…

Kids with special needs are marginalized in our communities, and we are doing it with the best of intentions. Inclusion expert Torrie Dunlap, CEO, Kids Included Together, shares why we…

The “Policy Statement on Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs,” (PDF) released jointly by the Departments of Education (ED) and Health and Human Services (HHS) on September…

Ableism means “discrimination in favor of able-bodied people.” Since at least one out of five people will become disabled in their lives — and ableism is still largely unaddressed and…

ABOUT DEMYSTIFYING DISABILITY An approachable guide to being a thoughtful, informed ally to disabled people, with actionable steps for what to say and do (and what not to do) and…

In this film, Michelle Middleton takes a humorous look at people’s reactions to her cerebral palsy. The 26-year-old has created the piece, with the help of Fixers, to encourage others…

Jan 2019 We are all at different points on our journey and learning and language and vernacular is constantly changing. I will always continue to call people what they prefer…

The words you use and the way you portray individuals with disabilities matters. This factsheet, from the ADA Network.gov provides guidelines for portraying individuals with disabilities in a respectful and…

See the video and discussion about why. Sure, people with Down syndrome may need extra assistance. Sometimes they even need significant assistance, and adjustments, to meet a particular need. But…

Ollibean is a dynamic community of parents, families and advocates in the disability community working together for a more socially just, accessible and inclusive world. Read the Blog posts by…

For too long, people who happen to have conditions we call “disabilities” have been subjected to devaluation, marginalization, prejudice, and more. And the first way to devalue someone is through…

This pamphlet is intended for early childhood care providers who want to learn more about how to promote neurodiversity in early childhood. This could include early interventionists, developmental specialists, speech…

“Some say we shouldn’t worry about the words, just the way we treat people. But if you think about it, what you call people is how you treat people. If…

(Excerpt from Abstract) Although euphemisms are intended to put a more positive spin on the words they replace, some euphemisms are ineffective. Our study examined the effectiveness of a popular…

Co-founders of Spread the Word, Soeren Palumbo and Tim Shriver, Jr. talk about the growth of Spread the Word to a global effort for inclusion. Spread the Word: Inclusion (Video)…

Jan 2019 Disability is a facet of humanity, and as such, the language people choose to use to capture it can be as varied and diverse as the people who…

In this PowerPoint Mary Ann Shaw, full time faculty member at Saint Francis University, provides an engaging summary of what to say and what not to say when talking about…

This Blog post is about disability language and autism. It is written by Amy Sequenzia, a nonverbal autistic (as she requests to be called).

Ableism is the favoring of able neurotypical people, and the exclusion and devaluation of people who are disabled and neurodivergent. Ableism may not be intentional (in the same way that…

If you’re still not sure when it’s okay to say the R-word, maybe it’s time to listen to the 6.5 million people who have intellectual disabilities in the United States…

The language we use about disability is an important way of influencing our own and society’s attitudes. Whizz-kidz offers a list of updated terminology intended to help you. It reflects…

July 2018 When you call an individual high-functioning, it can be used in a way to diminish their struggles, or suggest we don’t have it as hard as typically considered…

In this video, Dr. Julie Causton founder and CEO of Inclusive Schooling, talks about how to work from a strength-based approach. And, she invites all of us to be intentional…

Indicators of Quality Inclusion in Early Childhood Colorado Department of Education | February 2017 The Indicators of Quality Inclusion in Early Childhood (IQI-EC) was developed through comprehensive review of early…

These four sets of indicators were designed by a group of national partners to support state leaders, local administrators, and front-line personnel in the early care and education system providing…

Quality Indicators of Inclusive Schools: An Equity Approach to Teaching All Learners (PDF) Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education | October 2023 This self-assessment tool is based on the Maryland Coalition…

“Play is not frivolous!” This is the first sentence of one of the introductory paragraphs of the August 2018 report on play by the American Academy of Pediatrics. In addition…

The State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) is established by state and federal law as an independent state agency to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families receive…

Three core principles of child development include fostering responsive relationships, strengthening core life skills, and reducing sources of stress. Play is an effective way of supporting all three. With support from the…

“Did you know that the most important interactions you have with a child can happen through play? By engaging in playful serve and return with a child, you can literally…

Play in Early Childhood: The Role of Play in Any Setting (Video) Sept 2019 | Length: 8:12 minutes The science of child development points to three core principles that can…

It’s more than play! Through play, kids learn valuable skills they’ll use for a lifetime. The Genius of Play is your one-stop source for play ideas that build on these…

Welcome to the “Emotional Wellness Playbook”! You are about to discover a carefully curated collection of play-based activities that are designed to help kids develop emotional intelligence and learn to…

If you are looking for ideas to help keep your kids occupied while engaging them in hands-on, playful activities and games, you’ve come to the right place. Our new Genius…

…we can, and we are, translating play online, adapting games, even with young kids, so they can move and laugh and interact over video. And when schools reopen, we have…

Available for free in interactive viewing mode or download an e-version for $9.99 In this issue, the authors explore various aspects of play including the role of play, developmental stages…

Learn how to make the most of loose parts play in the learning environment! Loose parts are collections of open-ended materials that can be used in many different ways. They…

Play is an important part of children’s learning and development. Find articles on how to intentionally connect play and learning, ideas to share with families, and the latest research about…

Play is central to how children learn—the way they form and explore friendships, the way they shape and test hypotheses, and the way they make sense of their world. Much…

You can access a free PDF of the book on this web page, along with translations available in Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. You can also purchase a physical copy…

Playtime helps kids discover joy of being active. Research shows that active kids are stronger learners. By playing together, children practice how to get along. Kindergarteners with stronger social and…

A year-round approach to fostering the power of play will significantly boost children’s early language skills. Let’s hear from our Assistant Director of Early Years, Tracy Jackson OBE as she…

This publication, part of the Best Practices for Planning Curriculum for Young Children series, discusses the critical role of play for children, particularly in early childhood. Play is an important…

TKCalifornia is an online hub for finding easy-to-use resources for administrators, teachers, and parents as California expands Transitional Kindergarten (TK) to serve all 4-year-olds. Many educators over the years have…

Preschool classrooms are full of opportunities to learn through play. They can also serve as inclusive spaces where students feel supported in their social and creative development. But crafting a truly…

Play is the ‘rocket fuel’ of child development. Driven by natural curiosity and an urge to explore and discover, play helps children master control of their bodies, activates their imagination…

Disability rights activist Emily Ladau, author of Demystifying Disability, an NPR and Booklist editors’ pick for 2021, argues that ableist language holds us back from not only having more productive…

“In March, New York City was one of the first places in the country to brush up against the impact of the pandemic on play. While the virus brought the…