Providing Educational Options for Children with Disabilities and Their Families within Head Start Programs
by Nora Buchman, Region VII RAP, Kansas City, Kansas
Developing integrated educational opportunities for preschool children with disabilities and their families in rural areas is especially challenging due to a combination of factors, including generally depressed economic conditions, families located over vast areas, and the lack of human, financial, and material resources. To address these issues, a collaborative resource effort by the Tri-County Special Education Cooperative in southeast Kansas, the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program's Head Start Program, and the University of Kansas University Affiliated Program (UAP), has developed an option for the delivery of special education and related services by an educational agency within a Head Start program.
This program, initiated through a project by the University, brought together the local special education service agency and the Head Start program to jointly create an inclusive educational program for preschool children with disabilities. Central to the development of this program was the philosophy that it should be developed within the re sources of the local service programs for it to be maintained with out external financial, personnel, or material sources. The program was built around the Head Start class room and general curriculum by placing an early childhood special education teacher alongside the Head Start teacher within the classroom.
The daily routine is similar to any preschool program with the special education services delivered within the daily schedule. Following general large group activities (e.g., opening circle) children enter a designated area for free choice activities. From this area, children move into and out of designated learning centers and teacher-directed activities. These activities are directed by both staff of the Head Start and special education agencies. By doing this, children with disabilities are integrated into the instructional activities as well as the physical environment and are provided directed opportunities for social interaction. Specific Individualized Education Plan objectives for the students with disabilities are embedded within these learning opportunities.
Through the development of this inclusive program we have learned many things. Among those are that a written interagency agreement is a distinct advantage. This agreement should specify what staff are responsible for in the program, what each agency will provide, and a general philosophy from which the joint program will function. Staff and administration of each agency must be committed and believe that the collaborative program is valuable, beneficial, and that services are to be delivered in the best interests of all children. We have noted that parents of children with disabilities develop positive relationships with parents of non-disabled children that carry over into other activities. Children have made dramatic, positive behavior changes in settings with non-disabled peers and are often afforded social opportunities outside of school that they might not have otherwise been afforded. And probably most critically for those children without distinct physical disabilities, visitors to the program are generally unable to identify those children with special education needs.
For additional information, contact Dr. David Lindeman, University of Kansas UAP, 2601 Gabriel, Parsons, KS 67357. (316)421-6550, ext. 1859.
Other head Start/UAP Partnership Grants
The program described here is one of three Head Start/UAP Partnership grants awarded in 1992. Three-year projects were also awarded to UAP programs at the University of Kentucky and the University of Colorado. These UAP programs work with the Head Start grantees in their States to support inclusion of more children with developmental disabilities into Head Start programs.
To learn more about the services available from UAP, or other programs in your State providing services to persons with developmental disabilities, please contact your RAP. The Administration on Children, Youth and Families is collaborating with the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (which awards grants for the UAP's Developmental Disabilities Councils, and Protection and Advocacy programs in every State) to develop and promote relationships between programs to improve services for Head Start children with developmental disabilities and their families.
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