We need expertise with developmental delay on Early Learning Advisory Council

To engage on these bills:

• SB 5247- Updating Department of Early Learning advising and contracting mechanisms
• HB 1719 -Updating Department of Early Learning advising and contracting mechanisms 
• Send a note to lead sponsors: Email Rep. Hans Zeiger, SB 5427; Email John Lovick, HB 1719

Click on bill number/link above, then click on "Comment on this bill." (It will be on right.) As usual, your stories are what is most important to share.

BACKGROUND:

Families who have children with developmental delay or disability often struggle to find and keep child care or early learning opportunities.

At The Arc of King County we respectfully challenge the state to think inclusively about young children with developmental delay or disability and take a firm, proactive stance to make sure families have options.

From a parents’ perspective, there are zero to very limited options for inclusive early learning – or child care of any kind. There is little or no training for staff on how to work with a child with behavioral differences, or how to have a conversation with a family if a provider thinks a child might need to be evaluated for developmental delay.

We think that can change.

A first step would be to include someone on the Early Learning Advisory Council with expertise on inclusive early learning and working with young children with developmental delay or disabilities. Another step would be to include families of children with developmental delay or disabilities on any type of advisory or outreach group.

LEGISLATION:

The Department of Early Learning is requesting a change in membership of its advisory council. Our request to add someone with expertise in developmental delay and inclusive early learning was left out of the agency-requested bill. We testified Thursday, February 3, to the Senate Early Learning and K12 Education Committee (video here).

FOLLOW UP COMMUNICATION:

Re: Follow up to SB 5247, Department of Early Learning advising and contracting

To: Senate Early Learning and K12 Education Committee

Dear Chair Zeiger and committee members,

Thank you for considering changes to the Early Learning Advisory Council to include someone with expertise in developmental delay and disability. Many people, even those engaged in the early learning provider and advocacy fields, simply aren’t tuned into the barriers families face trying to access child care or preschool, or to the possibilities of where we COULD go as a state. We really need someone in the mix who can help people understand the scope of the problem and the lifelong consequences for children and their families, as well as connect with providers and show them what an quality, inclusive care setting looks like.

I asked staff to share handouts from a federal policy statement on inclusive early learning. It lays out both the legal case (issues with discrimination based on ability) and the scientific base. Programs that are inclusive of children with disabilities benefit all children. The statement includes a list of recommendations – which start with making sure you have the right people at the table.

I want to emphasize that this isn’t a request to do anything additional; it is simply a request to make sure the great work we are already doing is inclusive by design and benefits children experiencing developmental delay or disability. As we build and grow early learning opportunities in this state, we must ask the right questions so that the best policies and practices are put in place.

Here is a link to the policy paper so you have it electronically:

• INCLUSION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS

• Executive summary here

Also, you might be interested in this joint policy statement:

• COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION OF  THE MATERNAL, INFANT, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING PROGRAM AND THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT PART C PROGRAMS

It discusses home visiting and IDEA Part C (in Washington, our Early Support for Infants and Toddlers program). This is not about the Early Learning Advisory Council, but does connect developmental delay and disability with the home visiting presentation you heard during the same committee meeting. It also calls out the need for coordinated strategy at the state level to overcome collaboration barriers at the local level between these programs. The right people need to be at the table, anticipating issues and helping stakeholders work through them.

The earliest years are critical to brain development, which is why it is essential that we reach and include children with developmental delay in all of our early learning and child care programs.

- Ramona Hattendorf, Director of Advocacy The Arc of King County