CCDH - Training Pathways

Pathways to Inclusion Checklist

Below is a checklist of activities to improve program capacity to successfully include children with disabilities.

Recommended Step 0

• Determine Feasibility Of Including Children With Disabilities

• Assess current program’s overall quality

• Identify key stakeholders within the organization

• Assess leadership commitment

• Assess existing resources

If, in light of your feasibility assessment,a decision is made to include children with disabilities in your program, the following activities should be undertaken to make this inclusion a success

A. Review / Change Policies and Procedures

• Identify inclusion goals for the program.

• Review policies and practices on admission for barriers to including children with

disabilities (admission, prerequisite skills, behavior, dismissal, medical and staff

ratios)

• Revise policies and practices to reduce barriers and achieve inclusion goals

• Include staff training on inclusion as policy

• Implement and monitor new policies and practices

B. Secure Funding
• Identify funding needs associated with including children with disabilities

• Identify possible reallocations in current budget to meet needs

• Seek additional resources from in-kind, public or private grants, donations and program
fees

• Support legislative advocacy efforts

C. Provide Physical Accessibility to Site

• Perform site accessibility evaluation (paths of travel, hardware, restrooms, furniture,
signage, playgrounds)

• Review field trip plans for accessibility issues

• Identify accessible transportation possibilities

D. Ensure Safety
• Identify any additional safety issues involved in including children with disabilities

• Assess and adjust current emergency plan and procedures to apply to all children

• Establish guidelines and training to prevent and address behavioral crises

• Assess and adjust first aid and CPR/AED plan for all participants

E. Orient / Train Staff

• Have an inclusion component to all staff training

• Identify and meet staff training needs related to children with disabilities or a specific
child

• Include training on social/emotional growth and behavior management strategies in
training plan

• Identify and support an “on site” staff person to be the “go-to” for inclusion questions and
concerns

F. Create Inclusion Plan(s) for Children

• Gather information from participant’s family and other providers on goals and needs

• Determine support needed for participant to access learning, recreation and arts
programs

• Determine supports needed for behavior management and social growth

• Create and implement plan for how support needs will be met

G. Provide Materials, Equipment and Supplies

• Find ideas and sources for materials, equipment and supplies to assist with

accommodations in specific programs or for specific children

• Prioritize and identify funding for most useful items

• Assure materials are used through monitoring

• Assure equipment materials are maintained and replaced as needed.

H. Market Inclusion

• Record and share success stories about inclusion and its benefits

• Include all children in mission and program descriptions and in PR and funding
applications

• Make program materials available in accessible formats

• Display commitment to inclusion on site

• Make families of children with disabilities a target audience for recruitment efforts

• Build support for inclusion among families of children without disabilities

I. Build Alliances and Partnerships

• Designate a staff person to learn about and link with agencies that provide supports to
children with disabilities

• Maintain current information on other inclusive resources

• Establish formal and informal collaborative agreements

• Take part in / create inclusion networking opportunities

J. Provide Family Support

• Provide program orientation to parents and introduce program staff

• Provide opportunities for staff and parents to exchange information on goals for the child
and how to reinforce them in the program and at home

• Refer families to other inclusion resources and resources for other needs

• Provide convenient opportunities for parents to meet and support each other
• Provide invitations to events and other communications in accessible formats

K. Evaluate Inclusion Outcomes

• Identify and measure criteria for success on inclusion plan

• Solicit staff, parent and participant feedback

• Make work on inclusion part of staff evaluations

• Make adjustments to inclusion plan based on feedback and other measures

• Acknowledge success