The opportunity for children with disabilities to participate in these experiences with other young children has great value. Children become aware of differences and similarities between themselves and their peers. As they play together, they develop a sense that everyone, regardless of ability or disability, has an important contribution. In addition, children benefit from an environment where emphasis is placed on being responsive to individual strengths and needs. If inclusion is going to work, parents must be included as well.
Parents understand their child's strengths, needs, and interests.
Collaboration with parents means asking for input and suggestions, sharing expertise, communicating regularly, and building a partnership strong enough to support the excitement and challenges of child care. All parents have similar questions and concerns about child care. Since parents often mirror provider's attitudes, a child care provider's enthusiasm for and commitment to inclusion can help reassure parents. In most cases, including children with disabilities does not require any more program resources than including other children in the program. Even when children do require accommodations, programs may not charge the family more but may choose to spread the cost, if any, evenly among all the families enrolled.