With the support of the child care director and Jimmy's parents, planning and consultation between the special education itinerant teacher and the classroom teacher at the child care center, and the hands-on work of the assistant teacher, Jimmy learned to participate in all activities in the classroom. By the end of the year, he had learned to follow the routines of the classroom with only a little assistance from the teacher. He independently participated in classroom activities, and made progress in his educational program. The parents reported that they were pleased with Jimmy's progress and participation in the program. Across the five years of this project, we have talked with hundreds of early childhood program providers, parents, and directors, and spent thousands of hours in early childhood settings.
Inclusion is about belonging and participating in a diverse society.
As we talked to families, one point became crystal clear. For Jimmy's parents, his participation in a child care center in his community was an important goal. Other parents have emphasized the importance of participation in community activities, religious activities, and family activities. Individuals in different location sometimes have different views about what inclusion means. In some locations, inclusion was defined as children with special needs attending a Head Start program, with both a Head Start teacher and special education teacher sharing the role of lead teacher.