Inclusive Colorado Child Care
Empowering Providers to Create Inclusive Learning Environments for All Children
Paige Garman Jun 11, 2024
Since its inception in July 2020, the Colorado Early Learning: Universal Design & Inclusion Project (formerly known as the Preschool Development Grant: Inclusion & Universal Design Project) has had an immensely positive impact on child care providers across Colorado.
Training and Support for Child Care Providers
Through small group learning, an Introductory Universal Desigh for Learning (UDL) course, and monthly topic trainings, the project team has trained nearly 220 licensed child care providers in homes and centers to create classrooms that meet the needs of all children including those with delays and disabilities. Each program also received an “Adapted Materials Kit”, which contains a variety of low cost items for adapting learning environments to support the children in their care.
Addressing Key Needs in Early Childhood Education
According to the Colorado Shines Brighter Needs Assessment (2020), increasing inclusivity and access for children with special needs is one of the early childhood system’s 12 key needs:
- 1 in 7 Colorado parents identified their child as having a delay, disability, or special need.
- Of those, 34% indicated that their preferred child care provider was unable to accommodate their child.
These statistics were a driving factor behind the launch of the project which was designed to increase inclusion for children with delays and disabilities by supporting and educating child care providers.
Notable Accomplishments and Impact
As the project wraps up its 5th cohort, there are some notable accomplishments to mention. To date, the Colorado Early Learning: Universal Design & Inclusion Project has served a combined 11,099 children. In a one year follow-up survey with participating child care providers, 98% stated they were more confident supporting children with delays and disabilities. Across all areas of training, participants reported a high level of ability to make accommodations for children with support needs. Providers also shared that, on average, 24 children in their care were directly impacted by their participation in the project trainings.
"Initially, I was not sure this project was for me because I did not have any children with severe needs; however, I was so wrong. The changes I made to my home have been beneficial for ALL children, and will make me proactive instead of reactive when it comes to caring for the needs of ALL children. The changes did not require extensive time, classwork, skill, or money. They just required me to think in a different way about being inclusive of all children. I will be forever thankful I was included in the project,” - Gloria Bornhoft Bergner, Gloria's Country Child Care Home.
Pathways to Further Development
By completing both the Colorado Early Learning Project, and the Introductory UDL course offered through the project, participants are also able to receive PDIS professional development credit and move directly to another project offered through the Center for Inclusive Design & Engineering, Project Include.