About the Book
Interested in preschool inclusion, but not sure where to start? This introductory guide gathers everything you need to know to launch a successful inclusive early childhood program--and get critical buy-in from your whole staff. A must for leaders of early childhood programs, this reader-friendly primer reveals how inclusive education benefits all children, how school staff and parents can work as a team to make it happen, and how to knock down common barriers to inclusion. Combining the latest research with the nuts and bolts of program development, this book will help current and future early childhood leaders assemble highly effective inclusion teams and develop programs where every child learns and thrives.
READ THIS BOOK TO
- Understand what inclusion is and what it looks like in practice
- Assess your program's readiness for inclusion
- Determine what your program needs to make inclusion work
- Learn which federal laws support inclusion in different early childhood settings
- Collaborate with staff and parents to develop and sustain key program changes
- Break through the myths and misinformation that create resistance to inclusion
PRACTICAL FEATURES: Quick tips, vignettes, reflection activities, FYIs, and helpful resource lists make this an ideal preservice text and a practical team-building tool for inservice professional development.
A featured book in our Successful Early Childhood Inclusion Kit!
See how this product helps strengthen Head Start program quality and school readiness.
About the Author:
Sarika S. Gupta, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education and Disability Studies at The George Washington University. She began her career as an early childhood teacher 18 years ago. Her experiences in regular and inclusive settings, and as a coach in Head Start classrooms, inspired her to study systems-level factors that can facilitate teachers' capacity to intentionally and effectively include children with disabilities in early childhood settings. She extends this into her current work, encouraging professionals to think about inclusion as a "systems" approach to supporting young children with disabilities.
William "Bill" Henninger IV, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Family Studies at the University of Northern Iowa in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. He obtained his PhD from Iowa State University in Human Development and Family Studies, with a specialization in Early Childhood Special Education. He has also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in early childhood special education leadership and policy at the University of Colorado - Denver. Prior to obtaining his PhD, Bill worked for Juniper Gardens Children's Project in Kansas City, Kansas. JPGC is a research center affiliated with the University of Kansas, which serves inner city Kansas through early intervention research. Bill's major research interests include social emotional development of typical and non-typical children and adolescents. In his spare time he enjoys hanging out with wife and dogs.
Megan E. Vinh, Ph.D., is an Educational Consultant with Technical Assistance and Consulting Services, a research and outreach unit at the University of Oregon. She provides technical assistance and consultation to states agencies of special education, under a grant funded by the Office of Special Education Programs, to improve services for young children with disabilities and their families. She has experience with projects related to early childhood outcomes, early childhood special education, preschool inclusion, and evidence based strategies to promote social and emotional development of young children.
Dr. Strain is James C. Kennedy Endowed Chair in Urban Education at the Morgridge College of Education and Director of the Positive Early Learning Experiences Center, University of Denver. He is the author of more than 300 scientific publications, has served on the editorial boards of 22 professional journals, and has been principal investigator or co-investigator of grants and contracts totaling more than 80 million dollars. Dr. Strain is particularly interested in expanding inclusive preschool options, comprehensive services for young children with autism, and prevention and intervention for children with challenging behaviors.
