Inclusion Academy now recruiting for summer 2022!

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.

• To apply, please click here
• Downloadable flyer, to share

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.

Early learning advocacy: Growing ECEAP

 This is part of a series of legislative updates on the state's 2022 General Session. See also:

• No childcare for kids with disabilities
• Transitional kindergarten  

BACKGROUND: The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) is Washington’s state-funded pre-kindergarten program for 3- and 4-year-old children from families furthest from opportunity. All children enrolled in special education services are eligible for ECEAP, but the state doesn’t fund enough slots to give everyone eligible a spot and uses a priority points system to weight applicants. 

The program is modeled after the federal Head Start program, which includes standards for program quality, family support, and classroom structure.

Most ECEAP slots are for part-day preschool, which can run 3 to 4 hours a day, for 4 or 5 days a week; some are school-day (6 hours) and others are working day.

In recent years, advocates won big victories and got state legislators to agree that every child who is eligible for ECEAP – and whose families want to participate in the program – should get a spot. This means growth from 15,077 slots this year to 27,500 slots by the 2026-27 school year.

DISABILITY TIE-IN: ECEAP and Head Start are some of the few inclusive preschool options for children with developmental delay or disabilities. As the state builds capacity, children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) will have more options to learn alongside peers without disabilities.

ADVOCACY FOR 2022: The Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP has several 2022 advocacy goals to address expansion and other issues:

• Quality curriculum – Ask: $1.3 million to pay for curriculum and assessment
• Summer ECEAP – Ask: $9.3 million to provide 9 weeks of needed extra services for 2,000 children
• School-day and working-day slots – Ask: $9.3 million to convert part-day slots to longer school- and working-day slots for 2,777 children
• Expansion & flexibility – Ask: Funding for 350 additional ECEAP slots in 2022 and 40 flexible slots for families with emergent need
• Pandemic impact – Ask: $5 million for hazard pay/retention bonuses to address staff shortages and other pandemic impacts
• Complex support – Ask: $1.8 million to fund greater demand for trauma services and staffing during the pandemic

The Early Learning Action Alliance, and statewide coalition that The Arc of King County is a member of, also has several policy priorities that would benefit ECEAP:

• Reduce barriers to workforce recruitment: Reform the background check process with a long-term investment to ensure a 72-hour turnaround for early learning applicants. Support funding background check application and fingerprint processing fees for early learning workers. 
• Maintain an enhanced rate for providers: Fund a per-slot, quality support rate for DCYF to provide curriculum and assessment supports to Early Childhood Education and Assistance program providers. ($1.3 million)
• Minimize learning loss among our youngest learners: Fund nearly nine weeks of ECEAP during summer 2022. ($5.9 million)
• Improve educational availability for children: The budget will increase affordable, high-quality, early learning programs by converting a portion of the part day Early Childhood Education Assistance Program slots to school and working-day slots. ($9.3 million)

If you want to engage on this issue, write or call to your legislators and let them know about the budget requests.

• You can find your legislative district and state legislators here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/
• You can find contact information for all legislators and see who is on the budget writing committees here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rosters/

Talking points shared by advocates:

• COVID-19 has hit ECEAP and Head Start families especially hard and providers have stepped up with both in-person and remote education services; helped families secure food and supplies; connected families and kids with mental health supports; and helped families navigate through lost jobs and health challenges.
  
  
• ECEAP is one of our state’s most effective tools to eliminate racial disparities for our youngest children, and 66% of ECEAP children are children of color.  There continue to be large disparities in health and education outcomes for white students and children of color, and ECEAP helps close the readiness gap.
  
  
• Research shows that ECEAP works, and the benefits extend well beyond kindergarten. A Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) concluded the impact of ECEAP on later student test scores is nearly twice the average effect of pre-K programs in other states.

Now Recruiting! What You Need to Know About The Inclusion Academy

For parents and allies of children 2 to 5

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Apply today! Our Spring/Summer 2021 Cohort starts May 27

Applications are due May 14

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 us as we launch our fourth cohort of The Inclusion Academy. Classes start May 27 and continue Thursdays through August 12.

• To apply, please click here
  
  
• Downloadable flyer, to share
  

If you prefer to apply by phone or require interpretation or other support, please contact Bridget: bnickol@arcofkingcounty.org, 206-829-7016.

Below, we share the what’s and why’s of the program.

 

ABOUT THE INCLUSION ACADEMY

"They aren't ready for us" is something we hear often. This opportunity is about changing that.

OUR GOAL: Share information you need to support and advocate for young children AND offer space to practice and pursue disability activism. Our focus for the program is inclusive 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 targeting society. All children need to experience belonging and membership.

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.

WHY WE CREATED THE INCLUSION ACADEMY

Washington is bottom four 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 even a strong legal basis for inclusive learning and civil rights protection.

Yet in Washington, preschoolers with disabilities are segregated at about twice the national rate. More so than most any other state, we create separate spaces for children with disabilities, and that is not healthy.

The Inclusion Academy is about changing that. It is about helping 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:

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. 

WHEN DO CLASSES MEET? Thursdays, late afternoon or early evening. We will select the time that works for most participants, based on application responses. Most classes will run 2 hours; please set aside 2.5 hours for the first one.

 

CLASS LINEUP:

• May 27: Our why, the developing brain, and what children need to thrive
• June 3: Defining inclusion
• June 10: Disability is diversity
• June 17: How people frame disability (and what that means for barriers)
• June 24: Practicing advocacy skills 1
• July 1: Defining high quality early learning and the research basis for inclusion
• July 8: Children’s rights - The legal basis for inclusion
• July 15: Exploring early learning options
• July 22: Advocacy in action – A panel of leaders
• July 29: Navigating reality 1: The school district
• August 5: Navigating reality 2: Helpful tools for the school years and beyond
• August 12: Practicing advocacy skills 2 (and group celebration!)

Once classes end, we support you as you apply your learning through a project. This is where the activism starts!

ADVOCACY SKILLS COVERED: Listening; analysis; communications; 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.

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. After classes end, projects start – or as we like to think of it, activism happens. We also offer social and group learning events several times a year for people who want to stay connected.

TIME COMMITMENT: Usually six to nine months. The first three months will be spent in weekly classes. You should plan on two to three hours a week from late May through mid-August. Beyond that depends on how much time you want to put into your project.

COST: This course is free, thanks to a grant from King County's Best Starts for Kids. Participants who do community projects get a small stipend to help offset costs.

LOCATION: Classes will be held online, live, using Zoom video conferencing. They will be recorded and posted to a private website, where you can watch later if you miss a class. We share resources and class materials on this site. Class participants can reflect and post on the private site, as well.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

DO I NEED TO LIVE IN KING COUNTY? No, but preference will be given to people who live or work in King County.

WILL THERE BE IN-PERSON CLASSES? We are planning for an online experience for the class portion. We hope to host learning or social events later this year where people can meet in-person, if they choose.

DO I HAVE TO ATTEND ALL THE CLASSES? No. But most of the classes rely on participation. If you know now that are going to miss more than two classes, this may not be the right time to take this course.

CAN I MAKE UP A CLASS IF I MISS IT? Yes. We record all Zoom classes and post them to a private website. We also post any presentations and handouts there. But you will miss out on small group discussions and interactive activities.

CAN I APPLY IF MY CHILDREN AREN'T AGE 2-5? Absolutely. Parents with children slightly younger or older will benefit from classes and advocacy skills development. But the focus will be on early development.

DO I HAVE TO BE A PARENT? No! Professionals, other family, and other allies are welcome to apply. Systems change relies on our collective effort, and each person lends important skills, wisdom, and experience!

WILL THIS HELP ME RESOLVE MY SPECIFIC CONCERN FOR MY CHILD? This is not a legal clinic or IEP strategy session. The Arc has a helpline if you need assistance with something specific (ask@arcofkingcounty.org) and offers an IEP Parent Partner program. But completing The Inclusion Academy will help you speak to the importance of inclusion, ground you in key civil rights protections, and help you understand early learning options. You will also develop and practice advocacy skills. It is important to know, though, that The Inclusion Academy is fundamentally about shifting attitudes and practices. This type of systems change requires collective action.

No matter where you are in your child’s journey, you can expect to gain skills, knowledge, and perspective that will benefit you now and in the future.

WHO TEACHES THE COURSE? The Inclusion Academy is a program of The Arc of King County. Staff facilitators include:

• Bridget Nickol (she/her), early learning initiatives coordinator. Bridget is a sibling of an adult with a developmental disability and has worked in area schools supporting children with disabilities.
• Eric Warwick (she/her), community advocacy coordinator. Eric has lived experience both as a student receiving special education, and as someone who has worked in Washington schools supporting children with disabilities.
• Ramona Hattendorf (she/her), director of advocacy. Ramona’s first career was in journalism. She transitioned to civic engagement and public policy, first as a volunteer and parent advocate in her children's schools, about 15 years ago. She has two young adult children, one with a disability and another who experienced developmental delay.

 

MORE QUESTIONS? Please contact Bridget Nickol, early learning initiatives coordinator at The Arc of King County, bnickol@arcofkingcounty.org, 206-829-7016.