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Some child care providers include children with special needs in their programs. How are they able to provide high quality daily care?

UW-Madison education professor Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell and graduate student Simone Devore wanted to know what factors contribute to the inclusion of children with disabilities in center-based and home-based child care programs. Hanley-Maxwell asked six child care providers to tell the story of their journey into inclusive child care.

The providers' stories revealed what contributed to their ability to include children with disabilities in their programs:

• Their commitment to making inclusion work
• Their ability to find a balance between resources and needs
• Their success in problem solving with parents
• Their access to emotional support and technical assistance

Based on this, the researchers believe that the following strategies contribute to the successful placement of children with disabilities in child care:

• Evaluating whether the provider's resources match children's special needs
• Developing a mutually supportive relationship with parents
• Gaining access to emotional support and technical assistance
• Believing in, and having a personal interest in, providing inclusive services
• Having opportunities to learn about inclusive practices

For more information about this study contact Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell at (608) 263-3415 or cheryl@education.wisc.edu.