Studies on parental views and experiences of the integrated programme implemented in mainstream early childhood settings for children with disabilities are dominated by the perspectives of mothers and teaching personnel. Additionally, most of these studies are largely from Western countries. This hermeneutic phenomenological study attempts to…

Providing appropriate programs for young children with disabilities is a priority of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 (IDEA), recently reauthorized as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) of 2004. The IDEIA requires that programs be provided in natural or least restrictive environments, and…

Increasing numbers of young children with diagnosed disabilities and unique learning needs are enrolled in early childhood programs. If early childhood inclusion is to be a successful educational approach, it is imperative that all early childhood teachers understand and are able to provide individualized instruction to young children with special…

Increasing numbers of young children with disabilities are receiving services in inclusive settings such as Head Start. It is important to note that positive outcomes for young children with disabilities are due in large part to practitioners' understanding and implementation of both recommended practices in both early care and education and early…

Describes the educational philosophy and practices of the Sunrise Children's Center in Amherst, New Hampshire, which serves all children, both disabled and nondisabled, from the ages of two to six years. The description of the program is highlighted with stories of children in the center. (BB)

Notes that as more young children with disabilities are included in classrooms for children who are developing typically, practitioners must continue to identify and refine strategies for making inclusion successful. Discusses a successful inclusion program that is observation based and child initiated. Discusses a procedure that facilitates the…

Due to advances in medical technology more early childhood students who are medically fragile are entering school and being included in general education. The field of special education lacks a broad research base regarding this unique population. This qualitative study examined the perceptions of nine early childhood teachers on the inclusion of…

The Step by Step program was begun in 1994 as an experiment linking sound early childhood educational (ECE) practice with concepts of democracy to create classrooms in which children practice choice and learn critical thinking skills, and in which parents actively participate in their child's education. This manual extends the concepts of…