A Head Start Staff Perspective on Inclusion
by Audrey Dentith, Disability Services Coordinator, NOR WESCAP Head Start, Phillipsburg,
New Jersey
Collaboration and inclusion are indeed possible!
When a child with physical disabilities was included in our Head Start program this year, everyone became a winner! He was given every opportunity to participate in all activities in the classroom, and, like a sponge soaking up all of the possibilities, he blossomed in the presence of his peers. His peers accepted him immediately and had a wonderful opportunity to learn about diversity in their world. The local school district was able to witness this first example of preschool inclusion in our State.
The entire Head Start staff learned about the power of inclusion and the need to collaborate with each other for the good of the children. As a result of this child's placement in our program, the Head Start staff, the local Child Study Team and their related teaching staff, along with three therapists who provide ongoing treatment, and the parents, met on a monthly basis to review the entire program of this child.
Everyone learned that communication was wonderful! Examples of communication were watching a physical therapist demonstrate proper seating arrangements for more powerful speech while the entire team listened to a summary of classroom activities which demonstrated appropriate transference of therapy goals to the outside world. They also shared ideas for adapting regular equipment to meet the needs of a special child in creative and inexpensive ways.
Collaboration among Head Start and school districts is possible and necessary for the future of our children. The time for working together is now and we are witnesses that true collaboration can be achieved and inclusion is the plan for the future.
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