Include Me!
Karen Froelich, RN,
BSN, Public Health Nurse
Every child deserves to be
included in a family, in a neighborhood, and in their wider
community. To the professionals in early care and education,
inclusion “as a value, supports the right of all children,
regardless of their diverse abilities, to participate actively
in natural settings with their communities.”
(National Association for the
Education of Young Children). These natural settings include
homes, libraries, preschools, grocery stores, playgrounds, and
child care centers—anywhere children can be found.
The Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) applies to all privately-run programs serving children
and their families, with the exception of those run by religious
organizations. If a preschool or child care center leases or
pays rent to a church and has no other connection to the church,
the program has to comply with Title III of the ADA. Otherwise,
they are exempt from providing an equal opportunity to
participate in the program and services. Although early
childhood programs of ELCA congregations fall under this exempt
category, it is the hope of this author and the ELCA that every
effort will be made to comply with its requirements voluntarily.
The goal of the ADA is to reasonably accommodate individuals
with disabilities in order to integrate them into the program to
the extent feasible, given each individual’s limitations.
Accommodation may take many forms, such as structural changes to
remove barriers, changes in policies, practices or procedures,
and auxiliary aids and services. The U. S. Department of Justice
answers questions about the ADA and provides free publications
by mail and fax through its ADA Information Line and on its ADA
Home Page on the Internet .
ADA Information Line:
800-514-0101 (voice)
800-514-0383 (TDD)
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
Many programs already have
children with special needs in their care, but do not see
themselves as being qualified to provide “special” care.
Qualified staff teaching and caring for children with special
needs combine an attitude of acceptance, willingness to give
attention to individual needs, recognition of each child’s
unique characteristics, and a capacity for unconditional love.
Every child benefits from caregivers with these qualities. Staff
also need knowledge and understanding of a wide range of normal
cognitive, social, emotional, physical and sexual development of
children at different ages. Herein lies the challenge between
balancing the needs of the individual with the needs of the
group. A diverse group of children require staff to exercise a
variety of skills in managing an individual’s behavior within
the group.
When most people hear the words
“mental health”, they think of schizophrenia, depression,
anxiety or other types of mental illness. For the purposes of
this article, “mental health” is viewed as social and
emotional development. Whether a child has special needs based
on their behavior and delayed social development or a medical
condition, a special plan of care will guide the staff in
meeting the child’s needs and providing consistency in
carrying out the treatment or behavior plan. A Special Plan
of Care outlines how the early childhood center will modify
their program to include the child, any special equipment or
services the child may need, medication or treatments to be done
while in care, and lists other professionals which may include
the child’s pediatrician, psychologist, physical, occupational
or speech therapist. (See Sample Special Plan of Care below).
To successfully provide a
welcoming environment for children with special needs, know when
to ask for help and find out about local agencies that can
support your efforts such as the local health department, child
care resource and referral, local or state chapter of the
National Association for the Education of Young Children, early
invention programs for children birth to three, and the
Evangelical Lutheran Education Association.
Sample Outline for Special
Plan of Care
Facility Name:
Facility Address:
Child’s Name:
Date of Birth:
Times and Days in Early Childhood
Center:
Describe the child’s special
need during group activities:
Child’s present functional
level and skills:
What emergency or unusual episode
might arise while child is
in care? How should the situation
be handled?
Accommodation which the facility
must provide for this child:
Are there particular
instructions for sleeping, toileting, diapering or feeding?
Are special emergency and/or
medical procedures required? If so, what procedures are
required?
What special training, if any,
must staff have to provide that care?
Are special materials/equipment
needed?
Other specialists working with
the child (e.g. registered dietician,physical therapist):
Primary Case Manager (usually the
MD):
Telephone:
Address:
Early Childhood Facility Manager:
Telephone:
Karen Froelich serves as Public
Health Nurse/Health Consultant for the Partners in Child Care
Program in Snohomish County, Washington.
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