Materials for Reflection

In general, applicants are hoping to learn ways to infuse inclusion of children with disabilities and special needs into all topic areas of the Program for Infant/Toddler Caregivers (PITC). They were also interested in specific techniques for working with infants/toddlers with disabilities and special needs and their families. Responses are organized into general themes that emerged with some representative applicant comments.

There were many questions regarding attitudes, as well as questions about specific disabilities, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), working with parents, early indicators, resources and techniques. Responses are organized into general themes that emerged with some representative applicant comments.

There were only two real responses to this question: 1) the attitude, knowledge and training of the caregivers and 2) resources. The primary barrier seems to be fear.

Attitude, Knowledge and Training of Caregivers

• Fear! Lack of good training! Misinformation about the Laws around Disabilities. More fear! Stereotypes are alive and well when it comes to this population of children. Caregivers don’t feel equipped!

• A lack of knowledge/experience on the part of providers (this usually equals fear).

• Parental and staff attitudes seem to make the experience positive or negative for a given child or group.

• Inadequate training of staff for intervention strategies or lack of effective resource personnel.

• More attitude than anything else. Then there are the wonderful stories too that need to be told!

• Fear on the part of staff that they won't be able to meet the child’s and family’s needs.

• Caregivers and/or parents wanting to overcompensate for/overprotect a child with a special need (further limiting the child’s opportunities and/or ability to explore, experience, and develop.)

• Barriers to including infants/toddlers with disabilities in caregiving settings include fear, lack of training and support for staffs so that they can address this fear and begin to feel that they can adequately meet the needs of these children.

• Fear of the unknown. Teachers don't feel competent or well prepared due to lack of formal training.

• The unknowns, the myths, stereotypes beliefs, fear. Caregivers have not experienced working with infants with disabilities or special needs; therefore, they continue to believe they cannot care for the infants. They continue to think the infants would be "more safe" in a special place.

Resources (Accessibility, Ratios)

• Some Directors have concerns that they will have to hire additional staff that their budget cannot afford. Having to make costly renovations to the environment to include Infants/Toddlers with disabilities.

• Belief that a child with disabilities needs a 1 to 1 staff ratio (fear). A challenge vs. a barrier is coordinating appropriate T and TA for specific disabilities.

• How providers/specialists work together in the child care setting.

• For parents: difficulties in choosing and using child care; concerns about their children vis a vis the other children in care; tremendous separation issues and guilt about putting children in child care or hiring in-home caregivers and an inability to trust anyone to provide care good enough.

• The time constraints — How to provide needed care, possible extra procedures, etc. without extra help or volunteers.

• Recruiting families and welcoming them into setting. Training caregivers in making appropriate accommodations and working with parents. Educating administrators to provide outreach and make appropriate accommodations.

• Navigating the system of services for children with special needs.

• The greatest barriers I have experienced have to do with lack of training for providers and the scarcity of professional trainers to provide on-going support to providers.

There were many ideas shared by applicants. Participants are hoping to increase their own knowledge about children with special needs, improve their skills as a trainer or consultant and increase opportunities for inclusion in their communities. Responses are organized into general themes that emerged with some representative applicant comments.