The student will be able to:

1. Identify the supports needed for all children and their families, as it relates to building partnerships with professionals in other disciplines such as therapists, doctors, educators, case managers.
2. Design effective learning environments and experiences for all children including children with disabilities and other special needs conditions.
3. Identify a variety of children's programs in the community and have knowledge of services offered.
4. Work collaboratively with support professionals, community resources, IFSP and IEP teams, and children's family members in planning for successful inclusion for individual children.
5. Use observation as a tool for program planning and documentation of children's learning including early identification, screening, assessment, evaluation, monitoring and communicating data with inter-agency multidisciplinary teams.

1. Identify the supports needed for all children and their families, as it relates to building partnerships with professionals in other disciplines such as therapists, doctors, educators, case managers
   1. Define terms and explore the benefits and challenges of inclusion for:
      1. Children with special needs/disabilities and their families
      2. Typically developing peers and their families
      3. Children's programs—teachers, child care providers, group leaders
      4. Support professionals—therapists, specialists, medical staff, etc.
      5. General public and larger community
   2. Examine recommended "best practices" from early childhood education/child development (NAEYC Developmentally Appropriate Practices) and early intervention/early childhood special education (DEC Recommended Practices) to include internet research
2. Design effective learning environments and experiences for all children including children with disabilities and other special needs conditions
   1. Demonstrate concepts of making appropriate adaptations and modifications to physical objects and materials within various environments for individual children's needs
   2. Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate reasonable accommodations for program policies, rules and waivers or exemptions for laws and regulations
      1. Perspective of whole child development across domains (physical motor, communication, cognitive, self-help, social, emotional and sensory)
      2. Perspective of full participation (literacy, creative arts, music/movement, dramatic play, group time, manipulatives, outdoor experiences, meals & snacks, nap time, etc.)
      3. Perspective of diversity related to culture, language, family traditions/heritage
3. Identify a variety of children's programs in the community and have knowledge of services offered
   1. Child care programs
   2. Educational programs
   3. Recreation and leisure programs
   4. Parent supports
   5. Neighborhood resources
4. Work collaboratively with additional support professionals, community resources, IFSP and IEP teams, and family members in planning for successful inclusion for individual children
   1. Discussion of various support systems, employment opportunities and collaboration
      1. California Early Start, public school, special education related specialists, therapists, community resources
      2. Parents and families, child care providers, preschool teachers
      3. Para-professionals, assistants, shadow aides, respite home companions
   2. Strategies for working effectively with adults
      1. Consultation and coaching
      2. Adult learning styles
      3. Conflict resolution
      4. Cultural considerations
      5. Multidisciplinary teams
      6. Collaboration
5. Use observation as a tool for program planning and documentation of children's learning including early identification, screening, assessment, evaluation, monitoring and communicating data to inter-agency multidisciplinary teams
   1. Data collection, documentation and observation as a tool
   2. Types and uses of various observation strategies, assessment information, data collection and implementing program plans
   3. Referral process, participating in IFSP and IEP team work

Not applicable.

Class participation
SLO pre/post test
Quizzes and final exam
Curriculum adaptation/modification project
Oral/written report of children's program field trip experience as related to class content
Interview and written report of an educator or specialist currently working in a position related to course content
Self-reflection through journal writing

Lecture
Discussion
Oral presentations
Demonstration
Field trips

Croft, Cindy. Caring for Young Children with Special Needs. 2017.

"Inclusion Works: Creating Child Care Programs that Promote Belonging with Children with Disabilities." California Department of Education, 2021. https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/documents/inclusionworks2ed.pdf

1. Reading and study of the text
2. Reading and written response to test questions, assignments and relevant articles and online reading material
3. Reaction writing assignments to guest speakers, video viewings, and experiences such as research projects and field trips
4. Research, planning and written evaluation of individual or group creative projects