Program Planning for Special Needs

Page 8

Families come in all shapes, sizes, and makeups. Blended, part-time, military, special needs; they are all families just the same. Each family has its own norms, challenges, and needs; families who have a member who has special needs are no different. They simply have a different set of challenges.     

​When planning program accommodations and adaptations it is important to consider the objectives for children with special needs just as you would any other child in your program. There are multiple things to consider such as physical, cognitive, and social and emotional development for special needs children. In addition to these things there may be medical necessities (medication, adaptive equipment, feeding supplies, etc.) that need to be considered and planned for when developing a program. ​All of this can be summed up under the term "inclusion."  

Inclusion
​Close your eyes and imagine a classroom where typically-abled children are working alongside children with disabilities. All of the children are participating in the activities in different ways and learning new concepts at their own pace. In an inclusive classroom the children are also learning from their peers on deeper levels than they may be aware of. A child with limited speech may begin picking up more phrases from a child whose speech is developmentally on track. A child with a mobility challenge may be encouraged to try new ways to interact with his friends while playing in the block area because of the peer support.   

Children with special needs should be included and supported in an inclusive child care program. This takes some forethought and planning and should include some of the following elements:

• People first vocabulary
• Environmental accommodations
• Encourage and support acceptance
• Materials that showcase diversity and assist in learning
• Honest conversations about disabilities
• Adequate staffing and appropriate training 

Course Navigation Menu

1. Course Agenda

• Pre-Quiz (1/5)

2. Families with Special Needs
3. ADA Accessibility
4. Provisions of the ADA
5. ADA Program Compliance 
6. Child Care Setting

7. Early Childhood Setting (2/5)
8. Program Planning
9. Inclusion
10. Assistive Technology (3/5)
11. Benefits of Inclusion
12. People First Language
​13. Environmental Accommodations

14. Accommodations (4/5)
15. Positive Interaction Strategies
16. Staff Preparation
17. More Alike than Different
18. End of Course Assessment (5/5)
19. Course Evaluation Form
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