Classes start June 9, 2022, and end August 18, online via Zoom
Start time: 5 pm
Applications are due May 27
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Are you a parent or ally of young children ages 2 to 5 with disabilities or developmental delay?
Do you want to create positive experiences that help all children thrive?
Do you want to better understand disability rights and equity and learn how to be a strong advocate?
Join The Arc of King County as we launch our summer 2022 cohort of The Inclusion Academy. Dates and classes are below.
If you prefer to apply by phone or need language access or other support, please contact Ramona Hattendorf at rhattendorf@arcofkingcounty.org, 206-829-7048.
About The Inclusion Academy
OUR GOAL: Belonging, membership, participation. For all children.
OUR FOCUS: Inclusive early learning and disability equity.
OUR PHILOSOPHY: Disability is a type of diversity, and whether children with disabilities or developmental delay thrive depends on how society responds to and nurtures them. So, we're helping people make the connection between inclusion and well being.
The Inclusion Academy is grounded in the science of early childhood development and the legal and research basis for inclusive learning. It is a Best Starts for Kids Innovation Fund pilot and a portfolio project of Frontiers of Innovation, the research and development arm of Harvard's Center on the Developing Child.
Class lineup
Classes are 90 minutes unless otherwise noted; they will be held Thursdays late afternoon/early evening, depending on which time works for most people
June 9 – Our Why and What Kids Need to Flourish (2 hours). 5-7 pm
June 16 – Brain Science 101 & Defining Inclusion. 5-6:30 pm
June 23 – Disability is Diversity. 5-6:30 pm
* No class June 30 *
July 7 – The Social Model, Inclusive Practices, and UDL. 5-6:30 pm
July 14 – Your Child’s Rights (the Legal Basis for Inclusion) (2 hours) 5-7 pm
July 21 – Research Says … & Preschool Options. 5-6:30 pm
* No class July 28 *
August 4 – About IEPs & Person-Centered Plans. 5-6:30 pm
August 11 – Defining Quality and Identifying Barriers. 5-6:30 pm
August 18 - How Change Happens (2 hours). 5-7 pm
Ongoing support is available for those who wish to pursue a community project to promote inclusive early learning or disability equity.
Optional advocacy workshops will include:
- Understanding School Districts (September 17);
- Messaging 101 (October 1); and
- Building Your Supports (October 15)
We can add more if there is interest.
Why we created The Inclusion Academy
Washington is bottom six in the nation when it comes to helping preschoolers with and without disabilities learn and play together. This affects their development and, unfortunately, reflects community values and priorities.
Decades of research tells us inclusion helps kids learn, and neuroscience helps us understand why: Developing brains need relationship. Belonging, membership, and participation help brains build the foundation kids need for lifelong well-being.
There is also a strong legal basis for inclusive learning.
Yet in Washington, preschoolers with disabilities are segregated at about twice the national rate. More so than most states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and the Bureau of Indian Education, we create separate spaces for children with disabilities, and that is not healthy.
Once Washington children get into K-12, the segregation gap grows for
kids with intellectual disabilities (ID). Washington is bottom two for including kids with ID in general education for most of the day.
The Inclusion Academy aims to change that. We want to help people understand what is going on and what is at stake, while also helping them develop strategies and practice skills to build inclusive communities.
Who should apply
Washington parents (and allies!) of children ages 2 to 5 navigating childcare or preschool or transitioning into kindergarten.
Enrollment preference will be given to King County residents, but we will welcome people from outside the region if space allows.
We are often asked if parents of older children can apply. Absolutely. A lot of information translates to older years. Just know we will be focusing on preschool years.
ADVOCACY SKILLS COVERED: Listening; analysis; presenting to others; vision planning; policy development; data mining; collaboration; and community building. Classes also touch on concepts like behavior as communication, person-centered planning, and universal design for learning.
WHAT TO EXPECT: A group of about 15 people learning together and from each other. We use presentations, small and large group discussion, class activities, and reflection in our classes, and we offer additional resources online. Participants also often share resources with each other.
TIME COMMITMENT: Three to six months, depending on whether you continue with a community project. The class portion takes a little less than 3 months.
